Tips on itching

[Char0127]

Morning all,

My mum has recently been diagnosed with cirrhosis, she has been in hospital for around 11 weeks apart from 6 days she was home, she’s on limited fluid intake due to fluid retention in her stomach and feet/ankles. She’s home now and whilst very slowly improving one thing she is really struggling with especially at night is itching, I wondered if anyone else had experienced this intense itching and what advice you could give?

She will be asking her GP next time they speak but just wanted to ask on here too.

[Pasturesnew]

It's piritus. It's like ants under the skin. Gets worse at night!!! Dermacool cream helps for a short time. It does go away but it takes a good few weeks. Glad your mums home. X

[Char0127 in reply to Pasturesnew]

Thank you for your reply, I will ask her to ask the GP about that cream, that’s good to know hopefully it will go away, it’s driving her mad, she can’t sleep at night because of it x

[BoHo73 in reply to Char0127]

My Consultant recommended E45/Aqueous cream with menthol. It helps with peripheral neuropathy as well. 😊

[Dexter786 in reply to Pasturesnew]

I had this for a few weeks and used garnier moisturiser from your local boots and it helped as it cooled the skin. There are other medications available but you need to speak to your GP

[Aplaceinthesun]

I have Cirrhosis, had my last drink start of December 23. My symptoms first started about 10 months ago with the rash / itching and sad to say I'm still scratching, it has improved, at one point it was everywhere but my face, it is just a few spots here and there on my body, but it is still on my legs (knee to ankle) and it looks like a very bad case of Chicken pox.

I was given a steroid cream Trimovate which helps a bit, keeping skin hydrated might help as dry skin itches, but I've tried everything and nothing gave much relief, I think staying off drink and a good diet will help more, or maybe putting something cool on her skin as mine went crazy if I got too hot in bed.

I hope I'm not sounding too negative, and things improve for your Mum soon, everyone is different, it might go soon or be there for a while

[Char0127 in reply to Aplaceinthesun]

Thanks for your reply, not negative at all it’s realistic, if she could just get a little bit of control over it so she’s able to get a good nights sleep. Thanks for the advice.

[Furpal]

Hi, I had this too. I just bought a reasonably priced aqua cream and just put on the spots that were itching and it really calmed me down. I have to say it takes some time but the itching does go away. Plus you get some sleep at night. Anything cool helps as well.x

[Char0127 in reply to Furpal]

Thank you for your reply, I think that’s the main thing is because it gets worse at night she’s getting no sleep and that makes her feel worse, never ending cycle, thank you will have a look into that cream for her x

[Furpal in reply to Char0127]

It's an Aqueous cream which you don't have to spend a fortune for and I have some olive oil cream which is also lovely for your skin. I don't spend much on either of them because at one point I was using so much. Good luck, I hope we hear some snoring soon xx😀

[Char0127 in reply to Furpal]

Ah yes I know what you mean, you can get fairly big tubs of that can’t you? Will be worth a try! Yes me too! Will keep you updated 🤣 xx

[Bobkiki]

Hello there,This sounds truly frustrating and extremely tiring ☹️

I wonder if piriton or another antihistamine may work, my son was prescribed it to combat eczema itching, maybe it's worth a try (?)

All the best x

[Hayley2904 in reply to Bobkiki]

piriton at night helped me, my itching was around my liver area funnily enough with weal like rashes

[Char0127 in reply to Bobkiki]

Thank you for your reply, yes that’s the main problem is not sleeping because of it, she spoke to her GP who has prescribed some antihistamines, she just have to be careful as when she was in hospital her kidney function was a little bit all over the place, fix one problem and cause another! X

[Ericabear]

Hi, my husband suffers with this and the Dr prescribe cholestyramine which helps. Ask if it would be suitable for your mum. Good luck

[Char0127 in reply to Ericabear]

Thank you for your reply, I shall make a note of that for her to ask thanks x

[Erish]

I take a cirterizine, antihistamine every evening and the difference e is amazing. Without it I itch ferociously. I buy them from Pounland £1 for 30, but you can buy them anywhere. I was told this type of antihistamine is OK to take but not the other kind that sits with it, Loritadine I think.

[Char0127 in reply to Erish]

Thank you for your reply, that’s good to know, she’s been prescribed an antihistamine from the GP yesterday so shall see how she gets on with that, I wondered how safe it was for her taking them as her kidney function was a bit all over the place when in hospital but the GP says this one will be safe to take x

[SanFranciscoGirl]

Dear Char,

From my chronic drinking, I had itchy skin, mostly on the bottoms of my feet, palms, and upper arms. I also developed small patches of skin Psoriasis, but the itch on my scalp was torture and started losing my hair from scratching the scalp follicles too much.

After quitting drinking, it took about 3 months for the itching to go away. I was diagnosed with AFLD, but no HepB, NASH, Fibrosis, or Cirrhosis (I was SO lucky!).

It’s almost been a year sober, and I feel good. I also cut out over processed carbs and sugar, starting walking daily, and lost weight without even trying. I wish the best and say a prayer for for your mom and everyone still suffering!

I am so glad I quit drinking when I did. It had to be a miracle because I was going to die from this disease. I got so tired of being sick and going to the ER for alcohol dehydration and vomiting!

[Char0127 in reply to SanFranciscoGirl]

Thank you for your reply, so glad to hear that you are feeling good, always nice to hear positive stories, my mum wasn’t a heavy drinker they believe she just had a low tolerance to alcohol and over the years of drinking the amount she did it’s caused her as much harm as if she was drinking excessive amounts everyday, she hasn’t had a drink since Dec 23 so I’m hoping she will continue to recover as she looks after herself.

I hope you continue in your recovery & wish you the best ♥️x

[Dogbot]

Hi your poor mum I remember them painfully do see your doctor but there is a lot of creams on the market personally I used E45 for the desperate times but you must not use it continually it’s a Hydrocortisone which will in the end make your skin thin so I used manly Eurex gel very nice. I have the left overs from Shingles on my neck and I use Aloe Vera gel spend a bit more and get a good Aloe Vera gel 100 percent it’s worth it, good luck to you and mum 💕💕

Stay safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave

[Takeiteasy1]

Antihistamines can help (Benadryl)

Also worthwhile to ask doc about cholestrymine drink powder, that helped me immensely.

[Pumptrainer]

I’ve had cirrhosis for over 6 years and itch was a nightmare until prescribed cholestyramine powder by my consultant. Absolute god send. Daily powder in water, tastes disgusting and you have to plan your whole medication timetable around it as it interacts with other drugs but 🤞I am generally itch free

[Daytym]

I take extra strength Benadryl. Along with an itch cream.