Guest guest Posted July 13, 2007 Report Share Posted July 13, 2007 > I am so frustrated! I am itching, but not jaundiced...does anyone know > what can be causing this? Please help! > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > Visit the Auto Green Center. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 > > I am so frustrated! I am itching, but not jaundiced...does > anyone know > > what can be causing this? Please help! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > > Visit the Auto Green Center. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 > > I am so frustrated! I am itching, but not jaundiced...does > anyone know > > what can be causing this? Please help! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > > Visit the Auto Green Center. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 > > I am so frustrated! I am itching, but not jaundiced...does > anyone know > > what can be causing this? Please help! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > > Visit the Auto Green Center. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 > > I am so frustrated! I am itching, but not jaundiced...does > anyone know > > what can be causing this? Please help! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. > > Visit the Auto Green Center. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'm glad you've found this group, and I'm sorry to hear your wife is having problems with itching. When I was diagnosed years ago, I was helped by Atarax (a skin-oriented antihistamine), and by staying cool. Avoid hot baths and hot clothing. Keep the skin moist; Eucerin cream is good. Use soft, smooth clothing and sheets. I liked Wintersilk knit silk gowns. I found ordinary kitchen cornstarch to be soothing. Sometimes a fan or a lambswool duster helped. The itching went away when my liver healed. Recently I found a website in which my current doctor, Dr. n s, talks about treating pruritis in liver disease. Below is the website. The discussion of itching takes place between minutes 28 and 30 -- you can skip straight to this area, if you wish. She says that she finds antihistamines useless in this kind of itching, as they just put the patient to sleep without treating the underlying cause. (I was plenty happy to be sleepy when I itched!) She describes medical approaches that she uses. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6vB5V5d3yQ & eurl=http://www.truveo.com/Management-of-Autoimmune-Liver-Diseases/id/528624011 Best wishes to both of you. I'm glad you wrote. Harper AIH dx 2000 CD dx 2002 In a message dated 2/21/09 10:59:39 PM, terrygenehood@... writes: > my wife is having alot of trouble with itching and we have tried alot of > diff things what should we do and what do we use to help what med is there to > help her > ************** You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how to find them. Start with AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 , I'll give it another try, but I'm not hopeful. I would have sent the group the information if I could have understood it. Th presentation, which is poorly filmed live from a talk, is hard for me to understand. I have a small laptop screen. Perhaps someone with a larger screen or speakers can get it. Or, now that we know such information exists, maybe we can find it elsewhere. These aren't OTC remedies; one would have to get a doctor to handle them. Harper ************** You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how to find them. Start with AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hi , Thank God I don't have severe itching, but I have saved these tidbits from the digest in case the dreaded day ever comes. I hope something here may help your wife.. The first two posts are prescription drugs: I use the tanning bed to relieve itching - it worked for me by relieving the itch to a certain degree - better, was the tip I got from the book Hepatitis and Liver Disease..the doctor advised taking 1 pkt. Questran first thing in the a.m.and another right after breakfast. Nasty stuff but the relief is definitely worth it. Rifampin which has stopped my itching completely. It took a few days to get it stocked at my Walgreens (no one else had it either!) because it is a TB medicine! I appreciate every day & nite the absense of itching Helpful hints for itching from PBCers *Drink plenty of water or other fluids. *Avoid salty and fatty foods. *Keep the itchy area cool and moist. Apply washcloths soaked in ice water. However, remember that repeated wetting and drying will actually dry your skin. *Keep cool and stay out of the sun. Heat increases itching on many with PBC. *Avoid taking a hot shower or bath. Keep the water as cool as you can tolerate. *Try an oatmeal bath to help relieve itching. Wrap 1 cup of oatmeal in a cotton cloth and boil as you would to cook it. Use this as a sponge and bathe in cool water without soap. You may also try a commercial product, such as Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal bath. *Avoid dry skin, which will worsen itching especially in cold weather. *Avoid scratching as much as possible. Scratching leads to more scratching. Cut nails short or wear cotton gloves at night to prevent scratching. Covering a wooden spoon or brush with a thick sock makes a great back scratcher and doesn't cut the skin. *Wear cotton clothing. Avoid wearing wool and acrylic fabrics next to your skin. *Use as little soap as possible. Use gentle soaps, such as Basis, Cetaphil, Dove, or Oil of Olay. Avoid deodorant soaps when you have a rash. *Try washing your clothes with a mild detergent such as CheerFree or Ecover. Rinse twice to remove all traces of the cleaning product. Avoid strong detergents when you have a rash. *Take several breaks during the day to do a relaxation exercise, particularly before going to bed if stress appears to cause your itching or make it worse. Sit or lie down, and try to clear your mind of distracting thoughts. Concentrate on relaxing every muscle in your body, starting with your toes and going up to your head. *Some PBCers increase their ursodiol dosage by one or two tablets and this seems to help. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your dosage. Hugs, Dees, PBC dx 99 stg 2/3, Fibromyalgia 99, Fort Myers, FL. 53 **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=http:%2\ F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I found a way to get to increase the image size for this presentation by Dr. n s of UCSF, and below I've copied (I hope) what I see at 29:06. At the bottom I've added her comments on Urso and Eucerin use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6vB5V5d3yQ & eurl=http://www.truveo.com/Management-of-Autoimmune-Liver-Diseases/id/528624011 29:06 Pruritis - Treatment - Drugs Cholestyramine -- binds bile salts. Doxepine -- mast cell stabilizer Rifampin -- microsomal enzyme inducer Naloxone -- opiate receptor block (Ondasetron -- blocks 5-HT3 receptors) (Antihistamine - sedative) o Don't give Urso close in time to Urso or " you'll just poop them both out together. " o Use Eucerin cream rather than lotion, which " just disappears " . Best wishes. Harper ************** You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how to find them. Start with AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 , did you try to copy and paste the entire link into your browser? That worked for me. I sent a post to the PBC Digest in response to Joanne's post about Witch Hazel and aloe vera helping her: Joanne's email reminded me of all the things I tried for the unknown cause of the blood running down my body from scratching itchies pre-PBC dx, (used to sleep in gloves but of course couldn't work in them) and reminded me how different we all are. I used witch hazel and 99.9% aloe vera but those helped none whatsoever, nor did anything else anyone has recommended. All Witch Hazel did was dry out my skin and increase the itchies. I was unable to shave my legs, let alone use depilatories. I started keeping a diary, which I still have, covering a couple of years and all the dozens of things I tried that failed. Nothing worked until biopsy post-dx I was put on questran and actigall and AmLactin 12% and doxepin and triamcinolone ointment and sumycin…with so many things, don't know what or which combo got rid of them, although it did take a good 6 months. I was fortunate in that the dermatologist and hepatologist were affiliated, so both knew the " kind of itch " I needed to be treated for. I also took hydroxyzine when I couldn't bear the itch but eventually developed a tolerance too high (according to my notes, the dose would have put any normal person out, by which I mean sleep). With all the body's mysterious ailments, sometimes trial and error is the only option. Kay, TX, AIH/AMA-NEGATIVE PBC > Harper, > > I tried viewing your doc's presentation, but my computer would only allow me to view it up until the point where she began discussing vitamins. Double ugh here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 very interesting post, Joanne...I was on pred when I developed the dreaded itchies but maybe I had been weaned down too low for pred to help? Don't know, just glad that abated... Kay, TX, AIH/PBC > > Anne, I too took the Atarax and it was the only thing that helped. But, I did have a spell when nothing worked....and that about drove me nuts!!! If I have that problem again down the road I will ask to try prednisone. At the time I didn't know about using that for itching. I remember Lacy Jay who had to take the prednisone for her itching as the Atarax nor anything else helped her. She stayed on low dose prednisone until her transplant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I'm not the one to thank. I can't remember who told the group about this video. Someone else was the source, and I'm very grateful to that person. The doctor in the video is my hepatologist. In her office, there's a handout from the National Institute of Health. I find it very helpful, and I've given out a link for the handout. As new people may not have seen it, I'll send it again: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/autoimmunehep/ Harper In a message dated 2/23/09 8:50:25 AM, bonitabreez@... writes: > Harper, > > I got the entire video to play with the new link. It didn't get hung up at > all. There is so much information there. Thank you very much! > > > ************** You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get s updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Hi Kay, We've tried Questran and UrsoForte and Ursodiol. Couldn't tolerate any of them. The side effects made life really impossible. So...it was back to the drawing board. I'm taking 50 mg of Hydroxyzine which I don't think it a very large dose, but it's enough to knock me out at night. And I'll take that over not sleeping at all. My gastro wanted me to stop the Questran and Ursodiol to see if going gluten free would bring my Alka Phos back down. I have my biopsy follow-up appointment Wednesday and will ask for a liver panel to see where my enzymes stand. I've noticed recently that the itch is more intense after eating something fatty like nuts or cheese. If I were to try to scratch wherever I itch, I couldn't move my hands fast enough because this darned sucker just moves and roves around my body like a carnival ride. I can't even keep up with describing the locations verbally they move that fast. The only thing that helps is to squirm and scratch the worst spots that don't " rove " fast enough. The hepatologist doesn't believe this is liver related because I don't have itching on the soles of my feet or the palms of my hands. Do you itch in these places? Thanks for sharing your experience. I appreciate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Harper, I'm sorry.  I was referring to the wrong video. But I had the same technical problem with this video too. I loved her way of presenting things...could have listed to her accent all day long too. I do have doctors who are willing to try new things to help me stop itching, so I'm not really looking for OTC solutions. Been there done that. Thanks for anything you can pass along from what she said to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Harper, I got the entire video to play with the new link. It didn't get hung up at all. There is so much information there. Thank you very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 's post reminded me that I forgot to include UVB light therapy (phototherapy) for itching. The " funny " part about it is that I would drive for an hour round-trip to spend more time dressing and undressing than I did standing naked in the cylinder. So that should have been added to my doctors' cocktail of treatments. Pam, DSPS is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Here is a link: http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/delayed.html Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 , the bottoms of my feet never itched, best I can remember, and the palms did but infrequently and I don't remember noticing that itch until years after dx. It surprises me that your hep doesn't think your itching is liver-related, but he knows more about you than I do. Did Actigall also cause intolerable side effects? I hope your lft's show that your alk phos has dropped with your being gluten-free. Keep us posted. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Kay, Yes, the Actigall gave me major side effects. What I took was UrsoForte to begin with. A high dose I believe. I could only tolerate a little over a week because of feeling like I had the worst stomach bug of my life and so dizzy I fell twice trying to get from my bed to the bathroom. We tried Ursodiol in a much smaller dose I believe and that caused such stomach upset I couldn't bear to look at food. After going gluten and dairy free a while longer and then testing my liver enzymes, I plan to go back to the Ursodiol. Side effects be damned. I have a liver to protect (I think). Reading 's recent post referencing the liver stiffening up clicked with me. I've been getting chiropractic adjustments on and off all my life. For about the past year I can no longer tolerate the particular adjustment where they have you lay on your side on the edge of the table. The chiro pushes back on the top of your shoulder while pushing down on your knee making your upper body go one way while the lower goes the other way. I can do this laying on my right side where the left side is the side that's being stretched. But I can't do it laying on my left because when he tries to stretch the right side of me, the side my liver is on, it actually feels like tissue deep inside under my rib cage is tearing or pulling apart. The last few times I could manage that move it was very tender in that one spot for days afterward like a wound healing. Ahh...just typing this and giving attention to that little question mark I have in the back of my mind about this maybe, really being my liver is scary. I want like crazy to ignore it, but then there's the pain in my side, the itch...and now the stiffness seems to add up...that keep pointing me in the direction of my liver. The only other thing I can come up with is that maybe the itching is endocrine related, and maybe the pain and stiffness are old adhesions from my cholecystectomy in 1994. But that doesn't sound completely right either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 You write, " my husband went on a low dos of zoloft and it got rid of the itching but our sex life stopped. " Not to belittle the seriousness of the issue, but itching would halt most people's sex lives! Maybe Zoloft was the culprit, maybe illness in general caused the change. Discuss with doctor to find alternatives. Harper In a message dated 2/25/09 12:17:16 PM, loisann227@... writes: > my husband went on a low dos of zoloft and it got rid of the itching > but our sex life stopped > ************** You're invited to Hollywood's biggest party: Get s updates, red carpet pics and more at Moviefone. (http://movies.aol.com/oscars-academy-awards?ncid=emlcntusmovi00000001) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 my husband went on a low dos of zoloft and it got rid of the itching but our sex life stopped > > Kay, > > Yes, the Actigall gave me major side effects. What I took was UrsoForte to begin with. A high dose I believe. I could only tolerate a little over a week because of feeling like I had the worst stomach bug of my life and so dizzy I fell twice trying to get from my bed to the bathroom. > > We tried Ursodiol in a much smaller dose I believe and that caused such stomach upset I couldn't bear to look at food. > > After going gluten and dairy free a while longer and then testing my liver enzymes, I plan to go back to the Ursodiol. Side effects be damned. I have a liver to protect (I think). > > Reading 's recent post referencing the liver stiffening up clicked with me. I've been getting chiropractic adjustments on and off all my life. For about the past year I can no longer tolerate the particular adjustment where they have you lay on your side on the edge of the table. The chiro pushes back on the top of your shoulder while pushing down on your knee making your upper body go one way while the lower goes the other way. I can do this laying on my right side where the left side is the side that's being stretched. But I can't do it laying on my left because when he tries to stretch the right side of me, the side my liver is on, it actually feels like tissue deep inside under my rib cage is tearing or pulling apart. The last few times I could manage that move it was very tender in that one spot for days afterward like a wound healing. > > Ahh...just typing this and giving attention to that little question mark I have in the back of my mind about this maybe, really being my liver is scary. I want like crazy to ignore it, but then there's the pain in my side, the itch...and now the stiffness seems to add up...that keep pointing me in the direction of my liver. The only other thing I can come up with is that maybe the itching is endocrine related, and maybe the pain and stiffness are old adhesions from my cholecystectomy in 1994. But that doesn't sound completely right either. > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Lois, you wrote " my husband went on a low dose of zoloft and it got rid of the itching but our sex life stopped. " I never heard of an anti-depressant getting rid of itching, but it must have been a godsend to him. When the itching goes away, one doesn't want to do anything that could bring it back. And there are other reasons someone ill would lose interest in sex. Also, certain anti-dpressants are famous for killing sex drive. Prozac is one, and perhaps zoloft is as well. But there are so many other antidepressants that don't have that effect. If he has stopped the prozac since the itching subsided and sufficient time has gone by for it to be out of his system, the zoloft cannot continue to be the culprit, if it ever was. He definitely needs to talk to his doctor about this. Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Itching can indicate liver problems are increasing. My AIH was diagnosed after I developed itching without a rash. Harper AIH dx 2000 In a message dated 3/7/09 2:35:26 PM, proudgrandmamaof3@... writes: > Can anyone tell me what is happening and if I'm going into some new liver > disease stage? > ************** Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I wish I had more time to post and read. Itching is normal for us heppers. I only itch when I take a pain killer. What it means is that your liver is overworking, in simple terms. Are you on medication? The meds will cause your liver to work too hard to detox. I can get you the medical reasons, I work in a hospital. Before I came to terms with my hepatitis C diagnosis, I went drinking in clubs. I itched like crazy. My boyfriend noticed it first. I will tell you that my liver biopsy came back normal back then, so I know it is not a sign of cirrohosis. I believe toxins get in your skin pores, this is another way of detoxing, sweating, the itching is the reaction of your skin to the poisons we put in our bodies. Tylenol, and drinking caused me itching. What are you taking? -- [ ] itching Hello everyone. I'm having severe itching that has lasted about five days...so far. I cant go out in public as its quite obvious something is wrong. Does this go away and is it a sign that things are getting worse?Please answer directly - every time I post a question someone sends me a link to somewhere else. Im looking for some personal esperience please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 Yes I agree about personal experiences. I wanted to reply, so you would now I read this. I regret I am not able to give you any information.From our home to your home, we pray and speak blessings, success and prosperity.Walter L. Scheu, Sr., Th.D.RCFC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 3, 2009 Report Share Posted July 3, 2009 I'm not on any medication right now. I'm going to my first hepatology appt in two weeks. -- [ ] itching Hello everyone. I'm having severe itching that has lasted about five days...so far. I cant go out in public as its quite obvious something is wrong. Does this go away and is it a sign that things are getting worse?Please answer directly - every time I post a question someone sends me a link to somewhere else. Im looking for some personal esperience please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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