Is this liver Toxicity or am I paranoid?

[makikomi]

First, can i say, how amazing it is that there are places like this that can offer sollice and advice for people with addiction problems. I have read alot of the posts and feel a bit better already. Thanks for that.
Heres my situation:
About 8 months ago i was prescribed Lortabs to treat some pain associated with a shoulder injury I incurred. LOVED the feeling and so I found a way to get more pills. The most i have ever taken in a day was 4 x 10/500's to no real ill effect. I knew I really shouldn't drink so I knocked that on the head almost completely. I'm a Brit and had been drinking since I was around 13, (now 30), mainly beer...I would say on average I was doin a 12 pack a week but not in the last 8 mnths.
Then I started noticing little twinges in my stomach area, moreso after taking a pill so I did some research online and found out about the toxicicity thing which scares the **** out of me. I now take one 10/500 a day for work, (half in morning, half in afternoon), and over the last month or so I have experienced some very uncool side effects.
I'm not sure if my worrying about liver toxicicity is making me have anxiety attacks,(short of breath, tunnel vision, feeling out of body, heart racing, 'helicopters' when I shut my eyes.)(this has happened 3 or 4 times) Or maybe my liver really is toxic, (although my stool is normal, no jaundice, little nausea now and then). but I thought I'd get your take on the situation, hopefully you can clear some of these things up for me.
As for my pill taking...I'm not taking anymore as of sunday, regardless. thanks for any help.

[z34coffeemug]

Any right upper abdominal pain?

[makikomi]

if abdominal refers to under my lowest right rib, and its more of a  tingle.

[makikomi]

I should say behind, not below.

[makikomi]

and its not constant. I took a half this morn and maybe twice I've fealt a little twinge where my liver is. *sigh*

[z34coffeemug]

Before I stopped drinking this time, I had a vague pain and or discomfort exactly where you said. My blood tests revealed liver dysfunction, but not permanent damage. When on pain meds my docs avoided drugs combined with Tylenol. No jaundice, I would hope no liver problems. Be careful.

[z34coffeemug]

If you don't mind what all are you taking and drinking: like I can really be of help, I am just relieved to have found this forum too.

[makikomi]

how do you mean taking and drinking? Other than what i said in my first post you mean? I take multivitamins every day. As for drinking... A beer or 2 once in a blue moon or maybe a scotch but only the one. I've practically given it up to be honest.

[makikomi]

Only took a half today (hydro 10/500), nothing this afternoon, no more for me....
I have been developing a cold/flu like headache, possible sign of damaged liver or withdrawel you think?
anyone?

[z34coffeemug]

Sorry about brainless post, I forgot your Primary thread. I have that flu-like **** as I only took one 10mg Oxycontin this morning along with 5mg Oxycodone Immediate Release. Had to redose 1x with 5mg Oxycodone. The Klonopin witdrawal and effects of my recent drunk are kicking me hard. As for liver toxcicity, I spent a couple of hours researching it on the internet. It sounds like the less Tylenol you can get the better. Withdrawal sucks but I am glad I found this forum. Perhaps we can get cleaner together. My liver and pancreas are a bit pained too. One thing I have learned is if we change the things we are doing to damage our liver it may repair itself.

[makikomi]

No more acetaminophen for me for sure, I'm having the scare of my life actually, very lightheaded/flushed/dizzy...shallow laboured breathing at times...trying to keep my mind off of it. good to hear that the liver may heal with discontinuing use. Its really going to feel good to be rid of this nasty stuff tho, just hope i didn't do any lasting damage.

[monkeyflower]

If you don't take it with food, it can be pretty hard on your stomach; that may explain the initial twinges you were feeling. As for the rest, those symptoms sound like anxiety, not liver damage. If you're worried about liver damage, just ask your doctor to run some bloodwork.

[kissysissy]

First of all, don't be scared, it just sounds like normal withdrawls, but you should go to see a Dr. who really can tell you what is going on.  
   Withdrawls can be scary, and make you feel like your dying.  Don't be afraid of pain or discomfort.  Feeling these bad feelings are actually a sign you are on the road to healing.  We have to go through the pain of withdrawl to get to the place of our bodies normalizing.  
  Tell your doctor about your anxioties too, so he/she can help you.  
  Your life is valuable, and you deserve to live life free of meds!

[makikomi]

thanks for the replies, yes I have been taking on an empty stomach, so that probably WAS the twinges.
Plus I have been constantly worrying if I was doing my liver in so hence the anxiety,(which i've never had before.

I'm off them now, withdrawels are making me feel tired but otherwise ok,
thanks again everyone for helping me through that.

Phew!

[z34coffeemug]

Concened about you. Please let me know how things are going. As you can see from my recent post, I am having mixed results. makikomi I do care: please update me. Best wishes!

[z34coffeemug]

I care, please contact me. ***@****

[jlogb99]

Hey bud - I seriously doubt liver damage. If you take this on an empty stomach you are going to get a burning/lump pain feeling in your stomach. You literally should not take this on an empty stomach. The amounts you were taking should not be giving you serious damage to the liver - although people's systems react in different ways. BUT - not to be the resident shrink here - if you are in CONSTANT worry mode about this - you will literally, LITERALLY feel what you are thinking about. Not to mention you indicated 2 of the 3 PRIME TARGETS in the body impacted by anxiety and worry (from the mind) - #1 - STOMACH - trust me, coming from a psychologist and a worry wart and #2 LUNGS (resp). Best way to test this is 1) don't take without bread or some food and 2) go get a test to see if your levels are elevated.

Hope this helps.

J

[makikomi]

Thanks everyone again for the info and support. I really believe I was imajining it all like yall said, but I stopped taking anymore just incase i do end up with a problem later on down the line.

The mind is a powerfull organ huh!

[CanToo]

To all those worried about liver damage: My experiences....the following are only suggestions.

Get on a good vitamin regimen while on withdrawal and drink plenty of water.  Vitamin's B-50,6 and 2; Vitamin A&D; Omega-3; Magnesium 250mg; Silymarin or SAMMI (for liver); lots of Vitamin C, at least 1,000 mg. (The Vitamin C "powder form" really helps to detox, but you need to be home and near a bathroom for a couple of days, then quit the powder) Follow the direction on all containers. Then you will need some Acidophilus or All-Flora, this balances your bacterium again in your digestive tract. Remember to read your labels.  Stay on these until your body returns to somewhat normal; after you are feeling better, eat a balance diet with a supplemental Multi-vitamin and you won't need any others except maybe Vitamin C and Silymarin if you take any drug, especially one that has Tylenol in it. Go to a Health Food Store and talk with someone there regarding drugs and rehabilitating the internal organs after being on drugs.  They are very knowledgeable and always willing to help.

I think taking vitamins and drinking lots of water has saved me throughout my "drug dependance." I'm doing well but still taking Fiornal once a day, in the morning only and am past the bad withdrawal symptoms, finally.  Have set next Monday as my "skip" day, will try my pill every other day and see if I can do that.  I'm finally getting rid of the chills.  
Between my doctor, chatting with two Websites, I think I can overcome this habit....it will be an accomplishment I will be very proud of!!!  
Thanks to you all for just writing on here, I have really had quite an education...should have done it ages ago.
Good luck to all, God Bless!
CAN

[gipsee]

I need to ask a question.

I've been reading and reading... doesn't all this "tapering" just postpone the inevitable.   Now I'm preparing to do the Hydro thing Cold Turkey.... I want to get into the new year clear headed.   I've been trying to taper in the mean time... My "D" date is this Thursday... don't ask me why Thursday I just made up my mind it's going to be Thursday.   I've gone through this before... I'm not new to addiction... I was doing great then got hit with three surgeries in three years and the last one was BRUTAL... and here I be two-years later still taking Vic's for arthrtis.   Everything still hurts.. in addition to that.. I'm smoking more than ever... it's just time for me.

But getting back to my original question the tapering ultimately leads to stopping?  Doesn't one still get withdrawl.

Thanks

Gipp

[The Hobbit]

I too am a Brit from Liverpool, and have been living in the States for 4 years. I was a heavy drinker from the age of about 16 onwards and then I found something that England doesn't have—vicodin. I have been abusing it now for about 2 years straight (3 5/500's a day), but I have really cut down now since I got married and moved out from my grandma's pills (I'm going to hell if there is one). I probably take 8 over the weekend now and that's if I can find some. My only concern too is the effects on the liver. I have read that 2000mg of aceteminophen is the safe level before toxicity, and 3 pills is 1500mg. I always take 2 simultaneously and a third 20 minutes later, and ALWAYS on an empty stomach to get a better effect. I have hardly ever had any nasty symptoms until recently I started to get a pain underneath my right rib (gut area) and last Monday there was a lot of blood in my stool. I have been 'convinced' that this is more likely to be due to the constipational effects of the opiates rather than gastro/colon/liver damage. But now I think about it, at work once I got really really dizzy about 4 hours after taking some pills. I went for a walk, could hardly breathe, and I felt clammy too—thought I was going to collapse. I thought it was acetaminophen poisoning at first, but do you think it could have been withdrawal? It hasn't happened since. I know that it takes around 8 pills before respiratory problems occur from overdose, but I have never taken over 4 pills simpl due to the effects on the liver. So, how damaging is this stuff to the liver in the doses I take? Does taking 3 almost at once have a more detrimental effect even if I am not exceeding the 2000mg limit? Maki, good look fella.