tylenol w/codene-Canada

[dodger201]

I've been reading through a lot of information on this forum and decided to join.  I've been addicted to these over the counter tylenol for years, am not up to about 20 -25 / day.  My abdomen is very bloated, could this be a sign of liver/kidney trouble?  I had a photo taken yesterday and I thought "man do I need to diet", it is almost impossible to get a doctor in Ontario, so how could I get liver tested? is there a way? I'm very afraid now after reading all about what this med can do.  I'm a single moter of 5 and my children need me, I'll get off them, maybe slowly sounds best? but has anyone out there felt completely bloated (like almost pregnant looking kind of bloated)?  I too have to take laxatives just to have a movement.

[formernurse]

So glad you will go to a clinic tomorrow.  The abdoman bloating could be due to a number of things, but with the urinary symptoms could be kidney infection or to do with kidneys.  Also do you have generalized puffiness (edema) like the top of the feet or if you wear a finger ring is it tighter?  If feet are puffy push your finger down on them for count of 3-4 then let it up quick.  If it shows an indention that is slow to fill in you are retaining water and the md might give you a mild diuretic.  Just a thought.  I am not a Dr. and have no idea of you medical history.  Your wt. gain over the past few months needs to be brought to drs. attention too.  

[dodger201]

Please let me know how to set up a profile? I just signed up and poof I was talking.  I'll set one up after dinner, and promise to let you guys know how I do.  Thanks again

[Greatgreebo]

You can do this sister! We are all waiting to hear back from you. Set up a profile and keep the journal section posted with updates if that is easier for you.
Let us know how the clinic visit works out.
You are on your way to a cleaner, healthier life!!
Greatgreebo

[dodger201]

Wow, you guys are just the cat's meow....I sit in my house and tend to the children and never talk to anyone, so this is like a party for me.  No yellow eyes or skin, and the stomach was hard as a rock last night I even carried it upstairs (haha) like I did when I was having my twins, but today mushy and a little sensitive, wouldn't call it a tummy ach, sensitive to the touch and a little more touchy on lower left, but I will try a walk in clinic tomorrow, no doctors available and its an 8-9 hr wait in an er and I have the children with no family or sitters, so while they are at school I'll try the walk in and see if I can get sent for tests.  Big thanks to all of you, guess I am addicted, also on anti-depressants, its been a tough go last 7 yrs alone, but I am always tired, no energy, Id say I am always 10 lbs overweight but this last 8 months its up to 40lbs.  Urine, dark and a real fowel smell, strong strong smell, I've noticed that for a long time too, guess that's my clue to get crackin.  Thanks friends, thanks so much I will let you know how I get on.

[alexandra fox]

Hun, please don't be embarassed - you are dealing with addiction, which to my mind is a form of craziness - I too took them for the buzz, way exceeded the amount needed to address my headaches. And me too, my first forum, and I used it for support and encouragement to get clean.- now am 9 days off the rubbish.

OK - a liver test is a blood test - they take blood and test it for a whole lot of enzymes that the liver naturally produces - if there is a problem, usually some of the enzymes are elevated. I went and had a comprehensive blood test, asked them to check everything under the sun and found slight elevation (although at the end I was taking ibufrofen since the tylenol was making me feel c rap.

I did not have 9 months preg bloating, more like 3 month, and just overall puffy and fatter looking than normal, although it was not fat but water retention, once I stopped the pills I just peed and peed and am still peeing. I emphasise I am not a doctor, and I do not want to give advice or alarm you needlessly, but if its ONLY abddominal bloating, to that extent, and if enema didnt help, then I would pretty much hot foot it to the doctor. Feel at the level of your lowest right rib, kind of push just under there, that is where the liver is located.

Your levels of tylenol are way way over the limit, especially if this has gone on for years. I know you are scared, I remember the cold fear in my belly when I was all puffy and had a bleeding ulcer bec of my pills and was living in fear of liver or kidneys packing up - please get to a doctor as a priority. And maybe start cutting the pills down just for now, while you prepare for detox - you are taking about 160mg - 240mg codeine per day, not a huge habit, but with 5 kiddies to look after, it will definitely be uncomfortable.

Just a couple q - are your eyes or skin looking yellowish? are you naturally plump or is this bloating somehting new? is your stomach firmly swollen like basketball or is it mushy?

[Greatgreebo]

At this point it doesn't matter why you started taking them, what matters is that you want to quit.
I am NOT a doctor, but I am an EMT. I think you should consider heading to the emergency room. Blue feet and bloating are not a good sign. Abdominal bloating can happen when your liver is having problems. Are your eyes or skin jaundiced (yellow) at all?
Be straight with the ER doctor.
Perhaps contact 'formernurse'...she is on this forum. You can set up a profile and then one-on-one message other people who have profiles.
DON'T take a diuretic. Your physical symptoms seem to warrant a trip to the hospital. They can do testing (including a liver function test) quickly there.
Post and let us now how you are doing and if you will go to the hospital.
Your life is more important than your pride. Don't worry about anything except getting healthy at this point.
Greatgreebo

[voiceofreason]

I found this online

What are some of the symptoms of liver disease?

The most important thing to recognize about liver disease is that up to 50 percent of individuals with underlying liver disease have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are very non-specific and they include fatigue or excessive tiredness, lack of drive, occasionally itching. Signs of liver disease that are more prominent are jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark urine, very pale or light colored stool or bowel movements, bleeding from the GI tract, mental confusion, and retention of fluids in the abdomen or belly.

[dodger201]

Thanks so much for the quick reply, you may not believe this but this is my very first ever Q&A forum.  Mine are 8 mg of codene, 20 or 30 tabs a day and here is the embarassing part, there was no pain involved, I take them to get a buzz (energy, happy) but need more and more and I too have 6 drugstores that I visit.  How can I get a liver checked?  is it a blood test? and were you bloated like a 9 month pregnancy bloating?  just last two days slight pain on left side of abdomen under waist line. Now I am pretty nervous and think I'll stop cold turkey - you say pills can retain fluid? never heard of that. no swollen ankles but my feet are blue (must be circulation)?  let me know what kind of bloating you had.  Last night I gave myself an enema thinking this bloating was due to constipation but the results of the enema did not warrent the bloating and no improvement anyhow.  It is so uncomfortable, is there a diuretic I can take for few days?

[alexandra fox]

Hello and welcome - I was addicted to codeine and tylenol, higher amounts than you, and also had that bloating you describe. I am not a doctor - and I would urge you to make a point of getting yourself tested because years of acetominophin abuse is really bad for the liver - bloating could be due to liver, due to fluid retention (pills tend to have that effect - are your ankles and legs swollen?) and constipation (for this add fiber to the diet - the laxitives just continue the problem).

could you let us know what amount of codeien/ tylenol your tablets are? I came off about 500mg codeine per day - when I was up to about 36 tylenol tablets per day at one stage, I found myself constantly nauseous, at times clammy, ill, unenergetic because I think the tylenol was stuffing up my liver.

Please keep posting, and please have your liver checked - it is a wonderfully regenrating organ but the tylenol really does affect it badly. I will keep an eye out for you here