Pain,pain ,pain........

[Lord_Fate]

I'm 40 and was diagnosed this year with end-stage liver disease and chronic hep C, the hepatologist at UWMC said there is no point treating the hep c as it would kill my liver and me with it. I find out tomorrow if I am to get on a transplant list or not. My primary doctor(3rd one in a year) cut me off pain meds (Hydromorphone 4mg), cold turkey, is this normal? and now won't give me any more???? He DID give me a prescription for a motorized wheelchair, I can barely walk......WHAT can I do?

[sail10]

I know this about pain medicine . If you take the recomended dose or lower the chance of addiction is very small . If you take well above the recommended dose you can get addicted . It looks like your Doctor might think the latter .
I pray for you to get a transplant and recover , in Jesus name , Amen .
                                               sail10

[eureka254]

There does come a point in cirrhosis when the liver cannot tolerate treatment and the meds would do more damage than good -- my hope is that you are able to be listed for transplant.  

In regards your pain meds -- perhaps you could call the hepatologist at UWMC and see what he has to say?  Maybe your doc stopping the pain med has something to do with you being listed?  If you are a transplant candidate, the transplant center should be available to help manage your pain and symptoms -- in either case, if you are being evaluated, it's essential you run all your medications (and stopping of meds, too) by the transplant team.  Good luck, and best wishes. ~eureka

[Lord_Fate]

I only took 1 or 2 4mg hydromorphone every 4-6 hours.....pharmicist says thats way within tolerble range. The thing that got me was the cutting me off cold turkey, I have NEVER "come down" of anything and it freaked me out!!! I was taking these for 4 mo. all I got was a # to a detox center, who couldn't help me and thought I was crazy,.....anyway I go today to UWMC for eval and blood draw, I had this done 2 weeks ago, what are they looking for? Thank you for the support, this really bites.....but I keep strong and smilin with hope...........

[HectorSF]

If you diagnosed with End Stage Liver Disease earlier this year why would one of your 3 docs prescribe Hydromorphone 4 months ago? It is a Class II morphine like opiate. It is metabolized in the liver and will speed the advancement of your liver disease. Plus it is highly addictive. At most transplant clinics you will be ineligible for a transplant if you are addicted to any drug.

I would concentrate on getting on the transplant list and stop worrying about the little things. Now that you have detoxed, I would stay that way.

Hopefully you will get on the transplant list.

Hectorsf

[franke566]

You did not specify where your pain is located.  If you are/were addicted to prescribed medication the prescribing physician is legally and ethically bound to titrate you off the medication.  Depending on how long you were on the medication, dosage etc. plays a role in the physicians decision.  There are any number of drugs that cannot just be stopped all at once without possibly causing a host of problems to include seizure and even death.  Since you were given a Rx for a wheelchair I assume your
pain is back related?  How long were you on the Hydromorphine and how long since it was stopped?

[franke566]

sorry, I read your later post and you've already detoxed and are still alive.  Try a tens unit for your pain.  I agree with other comments.  To get a liver you can't be addicted
so if you want a liver you are best to tough it out.

[nygirl7]

I had a tens unit after I broke my back it did help that was a good suggestion.

I don't understand why doctors just cut you off of painnkillers like that - it's not fair, it's not right and they shouldn't be allowed to do it.

[orphanedhawk]

Like you I  was first diagnosed with hep C , decompensated cirrhosis, end stage liver disease.I did the treatment and it failed. I've since had a transplant.

What eveyone is saying about your pain meds is correct.
You will be go through a variety of tests prior to your transplant and your meds could alter the results of these tests. Also, when you have your transplant, you will be put on pain relievers and they will closely monitor all of your medications.

What you or a helpful spouse or other person close to you needs to do, is be assertive.
You have a right to know what is being done and why. Ask questions and demand, if necessary, to get answers.
Good luck

[vew459]

I started 2mg of hydromorphone for 6mos after years of suffering in pain, I figured qualitiy over quanitity, I now weened and it was horrible, but now I am back in severe pain, I'd rather be able to function and deal, when in extreme pain can't even think, it consumes you! it is a catch 22, not only are pain meds hard on the liver but on the kidneys as well. Good luck in your choice, all the states are broke and some are denying paying for transplants, unless one can afford a transplant we are **** out of luck anyway. I feel ya!