I woke up with very tired legs. My legs felt so weak that within 3 days I couldn’t do my exercise running. Walking to our community pool one block away was difficult by the 5th day, and when I told my doctor at an appointment that I felt my legs were going collapse at any time, he referred me to a Neurologist who would be able to see me (in 3 MONTHS!) By the 8th day, I wasn’t able to go out safely and happened to notice blood in my urine. My doctor couldn’t fit me in to do urine test, so I went to the ER with everything.

The ER sent me home awaiting cultures, but called me back in 12 hours to be admitted for severe infection in kidneys and UT. I was there on Day 10 still getting IV treatment when I fell in the bathroom and could no longer stand on my legs. The extreme cold/hot extremities fluctuation was all part of it to. After 10 days in the hospital, they sent me to a rehab home on my 52nd birthday to learn how to get by in a wheelchair and try to get strength in my arms and legs again. I was released to go home after 5 weeks and continued extensive home physical and occupational therapy.

I’m happy to say I did get to see the Neurologists before that 3 month appointment I had! Sadly, even after 2 medical university consultants and a lot of tests, my neuropathy is listed as severe & idiopathic and the leading suspicion is that it’s a post-infection disorder similar to Guillain Barre. But, I can walk/waddle, drive, and do a lot of things! I just can’t run, hop, skip, or climb steps (down is more issue vs going up). Physical therapy has been a godsend. I carry a cane or walker as I know I always encounter curbs and other obstacles, especially when shopping.

But it was the Gabapentin that’s helped me with the severe heat & cold sensations and also reduce the pain where I don’t even think about it anymore (unless I miss a dose, then I usually start realizing it).