Hep C and back pain

Greetings, I have been researching sites; seems like this one has the most sense and it is a compassionate site. I have chronic pain, several bad disks, been going on for over 11 years. I also have Hep C, so after going through all the pill mill stuff, sending my enzymes through the roof, I am actually switching today to Fentanyl from the Butrans Patch. Is that spelled right? You will find how great a speller I am. I am here at times for advice, and to help others who are in pain. So glad this so far is not some drug addict site on the best way to shoot something up and kill yourself.

Thanks for having me. If I can help anyone, please don't ever hesitate, even if you just need a hug, I'll figure out how to do that, over the web...heeeheee as I am sure many of you will do the same.

Many Blessings.

Givenmegrace

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 9/9/2013 3:30:33 PM (GMT-6)

Hi, Gavemegrace, and thanks for starting your own thread. Welcome...again. I checked with RxList and it is spelled Butrans. So I'm guessing the Butrans didn't work well for you, or stopped working. Since this is a liver disease site, we don't deal much with meds.

When were you diagnosed with hep C? Have you ever received treatment? I contracted it in '68 or '69, was diagnosed in '93, and developed HCC in '2005. It was shrunk in 2006 and removed in 2007. In 2011, I had another HCC and needed a liver transplant. They are finally talking about hep C treatment, depending on the results of my transjugular liver biopsy later this month.

Please tell us a little bit about the management of your liver disease. Do you have family support?

Don't worry about your spelling. I will correct it for you.

Hugs,
Connie

Pills, especially with Tylenol, does increase enzymes. I stopped taking them for 1 week to test it and my AST and ALT dropped 20 points. That was just for 1 week.

I am sorry to hear you have Hep C. As Connie said talk about your treatment etc. I know lots of people here can help give you input on treatment options and side effects. Even though I do not have Hep C, it has been a wonderful place to have people with similar issues that you can talk to and relate with. It helps to have people who you can connect with on issues like this.

Grace,

Have you always told each of your doctors about the herbal supplements that you are taking? Make sure you do because some do more harm than good.

Just a thought, some folks neglect to mention these and I know there are some from Asia (there are others too) that are detrimental to liver patients. Always best to give them the whole picture :)

All the best to you.

I agree David. My dad is a recovering alcoholic, 32 years sober. He quit drinking when I was born and when my mom threatened to leave. He has not had a slip ever. People who have fought addiction have my utmost respect.

I have been blessed knowing that it was an issue for my dad to have always just stayed away from it except for maybe 1 or 2 times a year. Obviously since I had my bile duct issues forever now.

Thank You kindly everyone, I hope I didnt offend anyone as I am a recovering addict opiates, and anything I could get my hands on. Got clean in 97' when all this start happening the pain and MRI showed all the problems. It was just hard knowing I had to take something for the pain. I tried everything to avoid it but could not live with it. It was too much and I'm a pretty strong lady.

I thought I could handle taking pills and did not know I had hep c until 2000. I fell deep...s just say my face was in my soup. My husband ((also a recovering addict) was heartbroken to see me that way after all the work I put in, but this is a familiar story, I am sure, for many who now have to have something for pain.

To keep it short, after almost losing everything again most important my husband then of 2 years, its been 12 years now really couldn't understand my chronic pain until he saw the many MRIs ..stopped the pills ugggggg not another rehab after 4 years, yes 4 years in a very tough one (Delancey Street) in San Fran, Ca .

Was introduced to Butrans to help my enzymes stay down since then only patches and oxy for breakthrough.
Thank you for your advice about the supplements. One is called liv 52 I have been taken for years, I really believe this one has really helped me all these years.
I will mos def ask doc about all of the ones I take, so again appreciate that.

One thing I hope doesn't bother people, I can't sit for very long but I always want to finish my post, I may not always use punctuation little ' ' these here an there an may abbrev some stuff. Please forgive and overlook those. Like now I have pushed through to sitting here for almost 30 min and my neck and spine feel like a horse kicked me. So going now. Just want people to understand.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 9/12/2013 1:14:01 PM (GMT-6)

I know there is no spell check, Thanks Connie I will try my best to get thru a post without too much corrections needed, its usually due to me sitting too long and I start to hurry.

No offense we are all here to support one another in kindness and LOVE.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 9/12/2013 1:14:44 PM (GMT-6)