[Ripose]

I almost died about 4 years ago from alcohol and Tylenol. My liver and kidneys were quickly failing and my wife was told I would be dead within 2 hours. Somehow I survived and spent a few months being free from Tylenol and booze.

I started back up with Tylenol but no booze and soon I was taking an incredible amount of them.
At one point I was taking up to 50 extra strength Tylenol a day and 3 times I almost died while at home.

Now I take about 30-40 regular strength going down to none if I feel too sick, but within a few days I'm right back at it. I have been doing this for about 3 years now and God only knows why, I am still alive.

I will die from this soon if I can't stop but every attempt to do so fails.

I don't feel suicidal but what else could this be?

Please post anything you can that might help!

[Altered Moment]

What is it you get out of taking them?

[Ripose]

What is it you get out of taking them?

Good question. They do stop my back pain but I don't need so many to do that. I think I really have an issue with feeling well and a large amount of Tylenol keeps me feeling sick. There have been a few days where I started to feel good and I could not handle it. I thought my head was going to explode from the unknown sensations. Plus I don't think I really deserve to feel well.

I won't tell my pdoc because he would put me back in the psyche ward and there is no way I am ever going back to that place. I would rather die.

[Altered Moment]

So you don't get high off of them or feel better but they make you feel sick?

I would think you would have to tell a pdoc or T in order to get help with it. It sounds psychological to me.

My biggest concern is what it is doing to your liver.

[Ripose]

I would think you would have to tell a pdoc or T in order to get help with it. It sounds psychological to me.

I won't tell my pdoc because he would put me back in the psyche ward and there is no way I am ever going back to that place. I would rather die.

I wonder about my liver too. I am getting an endoscopy soon which will reveal any problems.

[gma45]

I hope you can stop taking the Tylenol. It is not good for your liver at all! I took many hydro's that have a lot of Tylenol in them. I damaged my liver. Liver disease is not something you want believe me! A endoscopy will not check your liver. Liver disease can be a silent killer. But a blood test can tell if your liver is having problems then they do a ultra sound and also a liver biopsy. Please stop taking the Tylenol! It will kill you!

[Ripose]

They did a blood test and an ultrasound, now they are doing the endoscopy to check for esophageal varices which are caused when blood flow through the liver is impeded.

As for quitting Tylenol I will need something to replace it for a while. My pcp is upping my risperidone which might help with the manic episodes when I'm not on Tylenol.

Any other suggestions to help me out?

[Travelinglady]

Oh, yes, too much Tylenol! Research is now showing that taking anything over 325 mg for a dose doesn't decrease the pain any more. And liver problems are a major, major concern.

I am wondering what to suggest, since you said you are thinking the goal is to make you feel BAD! Honestly, if need be, then start with a new therapist with this issue as your presenting concern. You won't be hospitalized unless you are potentially a danger to yourself or others. And you certainly aren't being nice to yourself. There are other mental wards/hospitals, I assume, if need be. Some are better than others. The concern is to get you well! Okay?

[Bluesday]

Tylenol always seemed too weak to me. I have had problems with taking too much aspirin, especially when mixed with caffeine.

[Ripose]

Well I just ran out of Tylenol, so all I have for the night is 2 Ativan. I'll try my best not to go the store tomorrow, I'll post again after that.

[meganmf15]

Originally Posted by Ripose

Well I just ran out of Tylenol, so all I have for the night is 2 Ativan. I'll try my best not to go the store tomorrow, I'll post again after that.

You need to go inpatient detox, or you'll be on the liver transplant list soon.

[Altered Moment]

I am assuming your PCP knows if he is running tests. What does he say about a strategy for getting off of it?

I am not sure why your pdoc would want to put you in the psyche ward unless it was to detox you.

[splitimage]

I understand why you'd take overdoses of Tylenol in order to feel sick. It's a form of self harm. Lots of people do it. I used to do it with Tylenol 1's which are over the counter in Canada and contain Codeine so you also get high as well as making yourself sick.

I found Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to be the most useful therapy, of all the therapies that I've done, in stopping self-injurious behaviour. You might want to look into that.

splitimage

[Ripose]

I've never heard of Dialectical Behaviour I'll have a look at that. Thanks for the info.

[Lemon Curd]

I use 2 Aleve to help me with pain.
Tylenol is way too rough for my stomach.
Advil doesn't work on me.
When I really hurt my back, doing chores, I took more.
I felt I had no choice.
I still have farm chores, must be done.
After about a week, I did finally backed off.
I turned to ice. Love the feeling of numbness ice brings.
Heat don't work for me.
Dude, you're scaring me with the amount of Tylenol ya take.
I don't know you personally, but in such a short time, I know I would miss your witty comments. In other words, I'd miss you guy.

[Ripose]

I know that Tylenol will eventually destroy my liver but my MI prevents me from stopping. I only lasted 2 days without it when I last posted about it. My MI also stops me from asking for any help, it's not just Tylenol I need help with but other medical issues as well. I have turned down all treatment options offered to me about both mental & physical.
If Tylenol does not kill me than COPD (or related) will.

I hope to make one more attempt at therapy but I don't know what good it will do.

So in the meantime I have decided to just go with it and hope for the best and I will try to help others if I can.

Thank you for your concern everyone & have a great life!

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by Ripose

I know that Tylenol will eventually destroy my liver but my MI prevents me from stopping. I only lasted 2 days without it when I last posted about it. My MI also stops me from asking for any help, it's not just Tylenol I need help with but other medical issues as well. I have turned down all treatment options offered to me about both mental & physical.
If Tylenol does not kill me than COPD (or related) will.

I hope to make one more attempt at therapy but I don't know what good it will do.

So in the meantime I have decided to just go with it and hope for the best and I will try to help others if I can.

Thank you for your concern everyone & have a great life!

Well then it seems to me that is the block you need to get over. Why do you feel you do not deserve proper treatment and a healthy body?

[Ripose]

Why do you feel you do not deserve proper treatment and a healthy body?

Well I was raised by parents who did nothing to give me a sense of self-worth, and since even as a child I was ostracized by many people, both kids and adults. I guess that is it in a nut shell.

I am short, handsome, joke a lot, and generally very friendly if given the chance. But I am just plain weird most of the time according to most people. Meds help somewhat with MI but don't do squat for my weirdness.

[Altered Moment]

Your uniqueness. You have value and worth for just being you. Maybe in therapy self worth is what needs to be worked on.

Have you ever drank so much water your stomach ached, you felt you couldn't breathe, and your kidneys and head started to ache?
Water intoxication feels bad, but it isn't damaging unless you drink so much your brain expands. But 5-6 liter in 2 hours should be safe.

If you want to make it extra hard on your stomach, drink iced water. If you want to start of easy, drink hand temperature water.

I hope you can quit the tylenol.

(((Ripose)))

[Disorder7]

Tylenol is awful for your liver. I used to take it almost daily and my liver enzymes shot up really high. I stopped taking it and started using either aspirin or Ibuprofen for pain, but not daily, and my enzymes dropped back down to normal.

Basically, it was causing liver damage and I was clueless. I thought if it was sold over the counter it must be safe.

Unless you're trying to kill yourself, please get help so you can stop. I've known several people with various forms of liver disease. They all died within about a month of being told they had a problem. It's a very silent killer. You really won't have symptoms until you're at the end stage.
By then it's too late and all they can do is send you to hospice to manage pain until the end arrives.

[SnakeCharmer]

Ripose, I feel alarmed for you. That much tylenol and the human liver just don't make a good combination ... but you already know that.

SplitImage's suggestion about dialectical behavior therapy is a good one. Your pdoc can probably refer you to a source in your area. It helps people deal with feelings of low-self worth, as well as self-harm. What you're doing sounds like self-harm, compulsive behavior and a true addiction. Purists would disagree because tylenol is not considered an addictive substance, but you need large amounts and you when you try to quit or cut back you last about three days, which sounds a lot like a typical withdrawal pattern..

I'm not an alcoholic or drug addict, but I've used the fellowship and principles of AA to deal with every major life challenge I've ever had.

I suggest you get a copy of Alcoholic Anonymous -- the Big Book -- and begin reading it, substituting the word tylenol for alcohol. It doesn't matter what substance we're using, AA can help.

Some people object that AA is religious. I am not only not religious, I'm not a believer. It doesn't make any difference. I know there is something bigger and more powerful than me in the universe and it's the laws of nature. If you keep abusing your body, the laws of nature will catch up with you.

Maybe tylenol is just a symptom of a larger problem, maybe your MI, but right now tylenol is making your life unmanageable. You're allowing it to control you and if you keep going it will destroy you and whatever relationships you hold dear.

I know it's an unusual suggestion, but I'm pretty sure AA can help a tylenolic, too. AA is also full of other very nice people who have felt like outsiders, with low-self worth and just plain weird. The weird part doesn't matter one bit.

I wish you well.

[Ripose]

SnakeCharmer, actually I do have the AA big book and NA book too. It never even crossed my mind to dig out one of them. About 12 1/2 years ago I quit drinking and drugs and I made it 7 years clean & sober. I relapsed but now have been alcohol free for 3 years so far. I'm sure my liver must be beyond saving by now but I can at least get the books out. Who knows? I have been remarkably difficult to kill, I was told I would be dead by 32 and I am now 53.

The Tylenol makes me quite ill so maybe I can quit so I feel good for a short time anyways.

Thank you very much for your concern.

Edit: I just downloaded the 3 main NA books, my wife will look for the print books tomorrow.

[Sinking Feeling]

I'm no doctor but I can't help wondering if this tylenal thing is part of a OCD?

[Ripose]

I'm no doctor but I can't help wondering if this tylenal thing is part of a OCD?

That is very possible as most of the time I seem to do it out of habit not need. I don't even think about taking them until awhile after I have.

Good point. Thank you.