cirrhosis itch

[carefull1]

Hi, just know how is the cirrhosis itch. Is it all over the body or in particular areas of the body i.e in back and is it all the time and lastly why the itch happens?

[alfredthegreat]

Hi carefull1. I think it varies from person to person. My itching was on my lower legs and ankles, my back, back of my hands and lower arms. Usually at it's worst when I was warm in bed. I used to stick an arm and leg out of bed to try and keep cooler. I have heard that it's something to do with the bile duct not working properly. Regards Alf

[Hidden]

It is different from person to person and is unpleasant. My worst area’s were my lower legs, badly swollen with Oedema. Ask your GP about Dermol to use in the shower and use a scrub for your back. There are a variety of creams on prescription, I used Zerobase. I also purchased Manuka honey cream for my sensitive areas, but it is expensive.

Good luck with the journey ahead.

[carefull1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks snoutie. Was the edema only on lower legs or ankles and feet aswell? And was one leg more swollen then it here?

[Hidden in reply to carefull1]

The ascities is around your abdomen and the oedema is on the lower legs, ankles and feet, gravity. One foot was worse than the other. Shoes were a nightmare and a long handled shoe horn a must. For various reasons my journey to transplant was over 4 years, the oedema only went post operation. But we are all different. Diuretics work for a lot of people but can have adverse side effects.

[carefull1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[alfredthegreat in reply to carefull1]

There is a medical grade manuka honey on Amazon. It's called Activon. It's £5.59 for a small tube or you can buy it in multiples. I never thought to use it for the itching but it was amazing on my foot ulcer, actually cured it!

[Barnetaccounts]

Hi Carefull, I suffer with terrible itching from about 8pm every night. I have been using an over the counter cream called Eurax and initially it was brilliant, just lately I found myself having to reapply it a couple of times a night.

I was admitted to hospital last week for a blood transfusion and realised I had forgotten the cream. The doctor prescribed Piriton which not only sorted out the itch also made me drowsy. I now swear by it and it has sorted out my issues FOR NOW.

Ray

[carefull1 in reply to Barnetaccounts]

Thanks Ray. Do you itch all over or certain places. How is the itch ? Does it go away once you itches, does that part feels hot etc?

[Barnetaccounts in reply to carefull1]

It would be mostly on my back or legs. Occasionally my chest and arms. It is just bizarre that it comes on every evening and not 24/7

[Hidden in reply to carefull1]

If you itch it then you may cause bleeding. If you are advanced with your cirrhosis, you may have a low platelet count, so the bleeding is difficult to stop. That then puts you at an infection risk. I would discuss this with your medical staff.

[Liberty82]

Careful I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet but I've had the liver itch and it's been all over. Even inside my ears and up my nose. I'm on pregabalin for neuropathy which causes crawling sensations and pins and needles under the skin. The liver itch is similar in that it feels like its under the skin so no scratching can ease it. The pregabalin really helps with the liver itch as it treats the sensation under the skin. Gabapentin is a very similar drug and I've seen that been mentioned in treating liver itch so maybe it's worth discussing it with your GP. Good luck x

[carefull1 in reply to Liberty82]

Liberty82, thanks for the advice. i have a strange itch on back, sometime its burning feeling.I was not sure if it was to do with liver (i do have liver issues) or skin.

[carefull1]

Thanks

[Liberty82]

I feel like the itch is almost a burning stinging sensation. I'm getting fobbed off by doctors but I'll continue to try and get to the bottom of it. I hope you can find something to help with the itch but the pregabalin is like a god send to me because it deals with what's going on in the inside rather than something topical x