Cirrhosis and Pain Meds

[Sarah1949]

I have compensated cirrhosis and neuropathy as a complication of my Hep C. I have been taking up to 90 mg Codeine (without the Tylenol) for a few months now. Without it I pretty much can't leave the house. With it, I have started walking 8 blocks or so each day.
This should be fine but at times, like today :), I feel like the med is accumulating n my liver because of back ache and smelly dark urine. My question is do you think it better to not take anything for 4-5 days in order to give the liver a break. Or is the withdrawal effect even harder on the liver?
Sounds kind of OC I know but I worry about decompensation. And yet still want to have a life.

[Dee1956]

You may have found an answer by now but I was wondering if Neurontin had been mentioned?  That or the Lyrica.

When I treated the first time I had awful pain, my docto prescribed Neurontin.  It helped me quite a bit with pain.
It did not get rid of it all but I was thinking it might help you along with the codeine

Good luck
Dee

[Dee1956]

Hi there, I know how hard it is to discover and you do need people to talk to to ask questions.
If you go up to the top of the page you can click on post a question and people will be more than happy to help you.
Take Care
Dee

[flyinlynn]

pfk13

Herbs, vitamins, supplements and colloidal silver will not cure hep c and can cause additional damage if taken in excess. You should always consult your doctor what is safe for you to take if you have liver disease or cirrhosis.

The old medicines were difficult but there are new meds approved in the last year that have cured many long time suffers of hepatitis c. The new treatments are of shorted duration and much better tolerated by most patients.

So basically the only choice if you want to cure hep C is see your liver doctor, get treated, get cured.

Or you can waste your time and money on quackery risk your health from that pseudo science and develop liver damage to cirrhosis and succumb to end stage liver disease with all it's horrible symptoms.

Your choice
Lynn

[pfk13]

Hi Denene7000, I ws dx'ed with hep c in 2008.  Got it in 1992 from a blood transfusion.  I never took the RX's for it because the side effects are terrible - like chemotherapy they make you very sick. I cleared out the hep c virus after 3.5 years on herbs, vitamins & supplements.  It came back 1.5 years later - but that happens also with the RX treatments sometimes.  Now, I might try colloidal silver.  I have read many very positive testimonials about it.

[Sarah1949]

Denene, you may want to post separate from this post in order to get responses to your questions.
Just go to the top of the page here and click on "Post a Question". The way you are posting now will only attract people who are interested in talking about the topic here, which is pain medication and cirrhosis.

You may want to explain what you have been diagnosed with. For example, Hepatitis C or cirrhosis. That way people will know what you need help with.

[Denene7000]

Is there anybody out there?

[Denene7000]

This is so hard to take in. Alone. Need people to talk to who understand.

[Denene7000]

Just diagnosed. Afraid.

[Denene7000]

Gj

[Dee1956]

Hi I am very sorry for your pain.  Are you drinking enough water?  Lack of water can make your urine dark, not the only reason, just an idea. Also lack of water, hydration of the body, it can make the pain worse.
I was in quite a bit of pain during my first tx for HCV and was given neurontin for the neuropathy.  I also had a lot of cramping so took calcium and magnesium which helped me sleep, not saying you are having this problem but it did help to relax.
It is gone now but I took it while I needed it and was able to take a very low dose.  Perhaps you could lower the codeine with that.  
Good luck
Dee

[fntn]

Yes, it's always a tricky balance of whether to medicate or not, especially wrt pain. But "grinning and bearing it" has it's consequences as well both physically and mentally.

I'm in a different boat than you since I'm already decompensated and a liver transplant is a known necessity. On top of that, I'm down to one kidney so the choice was made to spare the kidney vs the liver (easy choice in my case but not yours I think). I take straight pain meds without any additional blending with Tylenol, etc.

It's also a requirement for me (from my viewpoint) since my pain is 24/7, even with the pain meds. Life without it would be very limited by activity and fatigue so I'm very happy to see my PM doc as you can imagine.

[Sarah1949]

Pain management doctor who referred me back to my pcp because he said I didn't need a contract because the drugs I wanted were not strong enough. He and my pcp also gave me oxycodone but I'm afraid to take them. I seriously fear decompensation.
My hep doctor says Tramadol is easier on the liver but that's not my experience. He's ok with the codeine but would rather I take nothing of course.

[fntn]

Hopefully your hep is monitoring things wrt the medication and pain issues? Also, are you seeing a pain management doctor or is this pain therapy due to a plan that your hep or pcp came up with? I have been referred to a PM doctor who is doing a great job in juggling my various needs and limitations.