I am having a bad day. My liver hurts, my hands are itchy, and I'm in opiate withdrawal from tianeptine.
I used to drink a lot (sometimes 24/7 for months at a time, sometimes much less). I also used and abused OTC steriods like superdrol, madol, methylstenbolone from 2007-2012. I finally stopped when my liver became extremely swollen and inflamed. The swelling and pain went down after months of abstinence. I went to the ER 3 times, had numerous blood tests, 2 ultrasounds and 1 CT scan. Every doctor has told me my liver is fine. Still, the pain returns every time I touch a drink, or take any amount of APAP. So I babied my liver for 2 years with not one drop of alcohol.
About 6 months ago, I went a little crazy with some RC stims, and had a series of grand mal seizures that landed me in the hospital for a week. I was told that while I had some acute kidney stress, that my liver was perfectly fine. I was even given IV APAP for pain (I broke my shoulder while seizing and they wouldn't give me opiates because I'm a drug addict). My wife ordered the doctors to stop the APAP anyway, but they assured that my liver is perfectly fine, my kidneys were recovering, and if anything, my brain was the only thing that could have been permanently damaged. Since then I became addicted to Tianeptine, and in the process of trying to deal with the WD, I had 2 pints of beer last night, and my freaking liver hurts this morning just like it did 2.5 years ago. My skin is only slightly itchy, and my liver is not noticeably swollen, but this is how it always starts.
I can't believe that I have permanent liver damage that none of these stupid doctors can find. Obviously, if I quit for more than 2 years, but my body still cannot tolerate alcohol, that would indicate permanent damage would it not? If I took these useless, worthless doctors at their word, I would probably end up dead.
The doctors also notified child services that I was an unfit parent because they found THC in my blood - even though the RC stims were undetected (mostly it was 4-benzylpiperidine - really weak stuff that doesn't seem to produce a high at any dose - just seizures). Now I get drug tested by the system, and this is why I have to take more toxic drugs like tianeptine to avoid detection, because I'm an addict not ready to get clean, but I would be fine smoking cannabis as that seems to be the only drug my beat-up 33 year old body can handle. I have read the tianeptine can affect the liver, but unlike alcohol and APAP, it doesn't seem to aggravate my condition at any dose - and, of course, the docs tell me I'm fine.
I've read posts around the web that tell a similar story to mine about liver pain, alcohol, and clueless doctors, and it makes no sense. What are the doctors missing? Could this be a form of acquired autoimmune hepatitis? It's clearly something and they keep telling me it's nothing. A friend of mine that I used to drink with (and who I often out-drank) died 3 years ago at 29 from cirrhosis, and I don't want to be next.
I used to drink a lot (sometimes 24/7 for months at a time, sometimes much less). I also used and abused OTC steriods like superdrol, madol, methylstenbolone from 2007-2012. I finally stopped when my liver became extremely swollen and inflamed. The swelling and pain went down after months of abstinence. I went to the ER 3 times, had numerous blood tests, 2 ultrasounds and 1 CT scan. Every doctor has told me my liver is fine. Still, the pain returns every time I touch a drink, or take any amount of APAP. So I babied my liver for 2 years with not one drop of alcohol.
About 6 months ago, I went a little crazy with some RC stims, and had a series of grand mal seizures that landed me in the hospital for a week. I was told that while I had some acute kidney stress, that my liver was perfectly fine. I was even given IV APAP for pain (I broke my shoulder while seizing and they wouldn't give me opiates because I'm a drug addict). My wife ordered the doctors to stop the APAP anyway, but they assured that my liver is perfectly fine, my kidneys were recovering, and if anything, my brain was the only thing that could have been permanently damaged. Since then I became addicted to Tianeptine, and in the process of trying to deal with the WD, I had 2 pints of beer last night, and my freaking liver hurts this morning just like it did 2.5 years ago. My skin is only slightly itchy, and my liver is not noticeably swollen, but this is how it always starts.
I can't believe that I have permanent liver damage that none of these stupid doctors can find. Obviously, if I quit for more than 2 years, but my body still cannot tolerate alcohol, that would indicate permanent damage would it not? If I took these useless, worthless doctors at their word, I would probably end up dead.
The doctors also notified child services that I was an unfit parent because they found THC in my blood - even though the RC stims were undetected (mostly it was 4-benzylpiperidine - really weak stuff that doesn't seem to produce a high at any dose - just seizures). Now I get drug tested by the system, and this is why I have to take more toxic drugs like tianeptine to avoid detection, because I'm an addict not ready to get clean, but I would be fine smoking cannabis as that seems to be the only drug my beat-up 33 year old body can handle. I have read the tianeptine can affect the liver, but unlike alcohol and APAP, it doesn't seem to aggravate my condition at any dose - and, of course, the docs tell me I'm fine.
I've read posts around the web that tell a similar story to mine about liver pain, alcohol, and clueless doctors, and it makes no sense. What are the doctors missing? Could this be a form of acquired autoimmune hepatitis? It's clearly something and they keep telling me it's nothing. A friend of mine that I used to drink with (and who I often out-drank) died 3 years ago at 29 from cirrhosis, and I don't want to be next.
I haven't had beer since that night, and the pain faded slowly. As of right now, it's finally gone. I have more beer in the fridge, but I will not drink it. My body is telling me it does not want it, and it's time for me listen. Again. I'm more sure than ever that I did too much damage over the years, and there's no going back, even to being a moderate or occasional drinker. I'm OK with that.