Re: Re: Itchy skin back-scratcher

[Guest guest]

http://www.backscratcherworld.com/52-411.htm

http://www.backscratcherworld.com/

________________________________

To: " livercirrhosissupport "

<livercirrhosissupport >

Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:05 PM

Subject: Re: Re: Itchy skin

 

What a priceless story! I can only imagine how nice his little nails felt. When

we were kids, we traded, bought and sold " back do's " and arm " do's " . This term

derived from when we were small enough to bathe together, and would routinely

wash the other's hair. This was a " hair do " . By 6th grade I owed my little

brother tens of dollars for many arm do's.Yesterday at Ace Hardware I scored a

telescoping back scratcher for $3.49. It looks like a miniature garden rake, and

works great.

Love, Bobby

 

________________________________

To: " livercirrhosissupport "

<livercirrhosissupport >

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 8:02 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Itchy skin

 

Hi Bobby:  I wish I could send my son over to visit you.  When he was little

he used to scratch my back and it felt so good.  I used to tell him he had

" kitten nails " .  He still gives us little back scratches once in a while. 

Just thought this would brighten your day.  Jackie E

________________________________

To: " livercirrhosissupport "

<livercirrhosissupport >

Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 12:37 AM

Subject: Re: Re: Itchy skin

 

Yes, the itch can be anywhere, or everywhere. It can be in a patient with high

bilirubin, or a patient with normal bilirubin. Doctors have theories, but one

one really knows why people with liver disease itch so darn much.

A few years back, I asked my hepatologist about my itching, and he was doubtful,

because usually itching is found in those folks with cholestasis, like Kim's

husband is having right now. High bilirubin is associated with cholestasis,

which means that bile is not flowing properly. It is thought that bile salts

build up in the skin and cause a terrible itch. The two drugs I am most familiar

with are cholestyramine, and rifimpacin. My loved one Ardis was given

cholestyramine in the last two weeks of her life. My hepatologist offered to put

me on rifimpacin, but told me that if I should turn yellow, to call him right

away. I Googled " Rifimpacin " and " jaundice " and found out that Rifimpacin is

very hard on the liver, and decided to not take it at all. My wife bought me 25

bamboo back scratchers from China on Ebay for 50 cents a piece, and now I keep

one with me wherever I go. Antihistamines are helpful, but the more powerful

ones like promethazine and

hydroxazine really make a person drowsy, another unwanted side effect. Love,

Bobby

________________________________

To: livercirrhosissupport

Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 5:40 PM

Subject: Re: Itchy skin

 

I'm curious about this symptom. I've seen it on lists of symptoms, of course,

but it's always vague.

To others who have dealt with this: Can the itch be anywhere? Is it usually all

over, or confined to a specific area of the body? Is there a lot of variation

from person to person?

I'm having trouble making sense of anything that's going on with my body right

now. I'm on so many meds to control complications, and there are so many

symptoms I'd brushed off as normal or due to stress (like fatigue) that

sometimes I just don't know what's caused by my failing liver and what isn't. I

think I might have the itchy skin, but then again, maybe I'm just itchy

sometimes?

Thanks to anyone who can give more info!

> >

> > I found your site today while googling Cirrhosis and itchy skin. My dad is

in the later stages of Cirrhosis and has horrible itchy skin on his back. His

doctor had him on a daily Prednisone for some time and, of course, this started

causing problems. Currently, he is taking luke warm showers and we re putting

Benadryl on his skin. He is also taking Benadryl allergy medicine.

> >

> > I read that an oatmeal bath would be helpful, however due to his declined

health and physical mobility, he is unable to get in and out of the bathtub.

> >

> > In my internet searches I found the following of which may be helpful.

> > cod liver oil

> > hydrocortisone cream

> > Lidocaine

> > Calamine

> > Camphor

> > corticosteroid creams

> > benzocaine

> > Vanicream

> >

> > Any ideas and suggestions would be most appreciated.

> >

>