Dear Members: I have been offline a few days but I honestly think about what most all of you post and sincerely hope everyone is doing ok....

That's a tough thing it seems because if we were all ok we may not need to even be on a support/message board/forum.

My latest is that I have serious liver problems and along with about 20 others, and I am just finding out that seems no docs wish to rx pain meds to liver/kidney patients.

I suppose they are afraid of the liability or being sued. I have written letters to my doc and I would never sue someone who is helping me live a better quality of life while I am here.

I have a biopsy coming up but the catscan report said highly suspicious of cirohsis. Probably from tylenol intake based on what I have been told. I did not know tylenol was that toxic for the organs.

Well, then again sometimes I ask myself would have made a difference. If I am in bed and feel sick because I am in severe or intractable pain I suppose I may take meds regardless. For me its all about quailty of life.

I am sure there are some that have different opinions. I respect that. I sure hope all of you have a quality of life or living. Thanks for all your support,

Risky Business

Hi Risky,

I'm glad to see you back with us. Tylenol mixed with alcohol can be highly toxic. I suppose it's the luck of the draw. I've taken tylenol and other otc's to stave off a hangover more times than I can count. My liver seems to be a happy little camper in spite of myself.

I don't know why you can't be given pain meds...that's really sad and I'm sorry you are suffering like this.

Have you tried looking into the new radical treatments out there? I personally don't know of such but that doesn't mean it isn't available. Get into the Internet and dig up whatever you can. I could very well be leading you down the wrong path but if you're dying; what do you have to lose?

Please don't just settle for this; press your doctor's for answers or pain management or something!

I do know I am addressing a subject I know nothing about and I'm not too comfortable giving any sort of advice... I guess I just want you to feel better and to give you the knowledge that I'm here.

I hope others will join in and offer their words support too.

------------------
Gina

Dear Risky, please forgive me if I ask any questions that might be obviously wrong. I am so new to this.

Is it possible for you to go into another doctor and pretend something else is wrong and get pain pills. I know you are not supposed to but could it work in your situation?

I want to thank you for your info, I had no idea Tylenol was so bad. I am trying to kick habits now but hitting small little bumps in the road. About 4 days ago I began to get sharp pains in my abdomen and after the trip to a doc today for basic tests the pain has moved an inch and now i can feel a knot.

What caused it - What is it? Who knows. Your story just REINFORCES to me I have got to stop pumping stuff in. I have always just figured if its not hurting me RIGHT then, then its ok. If I am not puking its ok. I didn't realize how these things effect my heart and organs.

I hope your post will help others also.

Good luck, Love Cristyn

[This message has been edited by Citykittie (edited 03-15-2003).]

Thank You Both: You always lift my spirits. By saying I am dying it is a combination of instincts and more importantly what docs have told me the last few years.

We all are dying....in a sense. Yes, Gina I have researched, and seen other docs. I probably could lie and obtain meds...but with my situation, I may just be hurting myself.

I try not to speak to much about my illnesses, because I figure everyone has their own problems. I will say I faced the truth about 2 months ago when I was admitted thru the ER and they gave me a transfusion, and after a week I was better...and released.

Then my doc said the catscan showed an enlarged spleen and liver. Very suspect of cirrohsis. Also, that I was released too soon from the hospital. now I am waiting for the liver speciaalist.

My doc seems to think it's going to be a rough go with my intractable pain when I have liver problems because he says no doc wants to prescribe narcotics with liver problems.

If anyone knows of a silmilar sitation, please let me know. I have talked to my doc about morphine capsules, or dilaudid....at least it has no tylenol.

Thanks for all your generous posts,

Risky Business

Risky,

Even the healthiest people in the world are dying...we are all born to ultimately die. It's what we do with our lives between birth and death that accelerate the process of dying.

Yes we all have our problems; even the healthy folks. But this board is for you to talk to us and explain whatever you feel comfortable explaining. You are not under any obligation to talk about your problems but I also think that you might really want to. Please don’t feel inhibited or unworthy of your feelings. There isn’t one person on this board that can call themselves above any of us. God and Jesus are the only perfect ones among us.

I am glad that you aren’t willing to lie about your health problems to your doctors. That certainly won’t get to the root of what is causing you your pain.

I’m sure you know that you can’t take all responses to you to heart. Some people will give you advice that is completely wrong for you, no matter how well intentioned.

You are obviously looking for your answers via your doctor’s assistance. In reality, they (your doctors) might be all you have and this board will only serve as an opportunity to learn and to give of yourself to others. I fear Cirrhosis; I certainly have cause to. My grandfather died of Cirrhosis just after I was born. I am trying to get the silly thoughts of “it will never happen to me” out of my thinking; I do know I am such a prime candidate for such a dehumanizing death. That’s that damned “denial” thing running amok within me.

It’s always easier to hide your head in the sand than to face yourself in the mirror.


------------------
Gina

I wish you well... the texanvirginian team is cheering you on!

Yeehaw! or is that Yahoo!!! Oh well... the sentiment is the same!

------------------
Gina

[This message has been edited by GinaLee (edited 03-16-2003).]

------------------
Gina


[This message has been edited by GinaLee (edited 03-17-2003).]

Risky, pardon me for asking, but are you soley on pain meds, or are/were you a drinker? I was curious because I take mammoth amounts of morphine and I worry about my liver. Can pain meds give me cirrosis (sp)? I don't drink at all, and don't take Tylenol.

Thanks, Dawn

Hi Dawn and Members: Well, to try to answer your question Dawn...I have never been a heavy drinker and more recently an occassional beer. When I was in my 20's and partying I would have hangovers sometimes from too much.

I am 42 now and there's a lot that has changed. Back to your question yes, tylenol could do damage but it usually takes years and a daily basis. Of course not all of our systems are the same.

My doc says I have what he calls portal hypertension that is causing my liver problems. I am not too sure. That may be part of it...but I sure 100 per cent think my tylenol has damaged my liver.

But I have been on tylenol for 7 years off and on. The reason I had to stop advil was my stomack starting bleeding and I have had 3 scopes put into my stomach and be told by specialist it would wise NOT to take advil, aspirin, antiflammitories that causes me to bleed. I am anemic.

I hope this helped some and I keep all of you posted. Take care all,

Risky Business

Hi Dawn and Members: Well, to try to answer your question Dawn...I have never been a heavy drinker and more recently an occassional beer. When I was in my 20's and partying I would have hangovers sometimes from too much.

I am 42 now and there's a lot that has changed. Back to your question yes, tylenol could do damage but it usually takes years and a daily basis. Of course not all of our systems are the same.

My doc says I have what he calls portal hypertension that is causing my liver problems. I am not too sure. That may be part of it...but I sure 100 per cent think my tylenol has damaged my liver.

But I have been on tylenol for 7 years off and on. The reason I had to stop advil was my stomach starting bleeding and I have had 3 scopes put into my stomach and be told by specialist it would wise NOT to take advil, aspirin, anti-flammitories that causes me to bleed. I am anemic.

I hope this helped some and I keep all of you posted. Take care all,

Risky Business

Hey Risky -

Thanks for getting back to me - I appreciate it. Your answer does help me - thanks.

BTW, I posted a reply to you that I want you to see. It's under Gina's thread titled " For Risky and others" or something like that.

I admire you alot, and I tell you why in that reply - check it out when you have a free minute.

Thanks again - Dawn

Hi Risky...I hope you are doing well. I was also on NSAIDS for 10 years for TMJD and it also caused me bleeding and stomach problems which requires me to take Losec once daily and the last 2 years narcotics for the pain. I was on percocet 4 x a day for the last year and a half untill the doc got concerned about liver damage and put me on Oxycontin 20mg twice a day with the percocet for breakthrough. Isnt Hypertension high blood pressure? I have hypotension ( low blood pressure ) it makes me lightheaded and dizzy when bending over and standing too quickly. I had my liver scanned and blood tests done a year ago and all was fine. My question is should I be tested again since its been another year of tylenol use? I have recently been diagnosed with renal ptosis ( floating kidney ) but I dont think thats from tylenol. I have been following your posts and you are one of the kindest people I have seen on these boards to reach out to others when you are in pain yourself is a wonderful quality. God Bless you and take care of yourself.
Autumn.

To Dawn, Autumn Angel, Gina and all members: Thanks for your kind words and thye fact you seem to like me really makes my life better and makes me feel so much better.

I love people and we all need we all need each other I believe. If I take a day or 2 getting back to any of your posts please be patient and understand I do not get on the computer everyday.

You guys are the greatest and I care about you all.

I will be posting soon,

Risky Business

Its ok Risky no rush..though I look forward to hearing from you your posts and kindness are well worth the wait. How are you feeling today? And you sound a bit surprised that we like you well in my personal opinion anyone that takes the time to care about others while going through so much themselves is well worth caring about and wanting to get to know. I wish we could keep in touch off the boards but I am thankful we have these boards they have helped me more than ever. Take care my friend.
Autumn Angel http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif