Guest guest Posted February 27, 2002 Report Share Posted February 27, 2002 Thank you Aubrey for taking the time to answer, it helps alot. > Fatty liver may cause itching if it is significant enough to cause elevated > bilirubin levels. Although there is not a direct corelation between how high > the bilirubin levels are and the amount of itching, liver disfunction must > be present to have related itching. That being said, there were times when > my bilirubin was high and I had no itching and times when it was lower and > the itching was horrible. For example late in the disease process, close to > when I had my tx, my bilirubin was sky high (60+ in the international units) > and I had no perceptable itching. Please also see an ealier post that > discussed an article by Dr. Bergassa about itching and bilirubin and her > findings or belief that they are not related. This veiwpoint may be > speculative. > The answer to your second question is somewhat answered in the above > paragraph. I would think that having normal liver function tests, unless > your liver is failing after years of disease, would mean that your itching > is unrelated to liver disease and another cause should be looked for. > The signs and symptoms you mention could be present if the itching is liver > related. Jaundice requires a fair bit of bile duct blockage and may not be > present yet. Pale stools can happen but may be intermittent as when sludge > blocks the CBD and prevents bile from getting into the intestines. If this > happens you would probably experience an episode of RUQ pain, pale stools > and dark urine. But this may also come on gradually and occur with no > significant pain being present. > > > The mention of the water cure for many ills is a bit disingenuous. While > many North Americans don't drink enough water, drinking 8 eight ounze > glasses is not really required. Five would be more than enough with some > other fluids during the day. The bigger problem is that we tend to drink > things that dehydrate us instead of drinking water; coffee, tea, soft drinks > and perhaps sugar saturated fruit drinks. Real fruit juices are not as big > of a problem. Some of those claims made for water are not true. > > Aubrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2002 Report Share Posted February 27, 2002 Fatty liver may cause itching if it is significant enough to cause elevated bilirubin levels. Although there is not a direct corelation between how high the bilirubin levels are and the amount of itching, liver disfunction must be present to have related itching. That being said, there were times when my bilirubin was high and I had no itching and times when it was lower and the itching was horrible. For example late in the disease process, close to when I had my tx, my bilirubin was sky high (60+ in the international units) and I had no perceptable itching. Please also see an ealier post that discussed an article by Dr. Bergassa about itching and bilirubin and her findings or belief that they are not related. This veiwpoint may be speculative. The answer to your second question is somewhat answered in the above paragraph. I would think that having normal liver function tests, unless your liver is failing after years of disease, would mean that your itching is unrelated to liver disease and another cause should be looked for. The signs and symptoms you mention could be present if the itching is liver related. Jaundice requires a fair bit of bile duct blockage and may not be present yet. Pale stools can happen but may be intermittent as when sludge blocks the CBD and prevents bile from getting into the intestines. If this happens you would probably experience an episode of RUQ pain, pale stools and dark urine. But this may also come on gradually and occur with no significant pain being present. The mention of the water cure for many ills is a bit disingenuous. While many North Americans don't drink enough water, drinking 8 eight ounze glasses is not really required. Five would be more than enough with some other fluids during the day. The bigger problem is that we tend to drink things that dehydrate us instead of drinking water; coffee, tea, soft drinks and perhaps sugar saturated fruit drinks. Real fruit juices are not as big of a problem. Some of those claims made for water are not true. Aubrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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