I have been plagued with digestive issues for over 20 years as well as the other SFN pain symptoms. It is depressing especially when the medical community offers little help. Diet seems to be a factor in my stomach & gut issues. Dr. Steven Gundry (I'm aware of how controversial he is) has pointed out one thing which is true for me and has helped eliminate gut pain. Apparently, foods that have lectins, especially beans not cooked in a proper manner, really cause me stomach and gut pain. Glutin bothers my joints. As for irregularity, I have not found an answer to this.

I relate to your daily thoughts of suicide. Pain avoidance is a natural tendency. I have had daily thoughts of suicide for long bouts at a time and it correlates with my pain and sleep levels. I do not take anti-depressants nor will I. Doctors and psychiatrists will recommend them but I would encourage you to look for other remedies first. I find that daily exercise like a walk in a beautiful setting, to be restorative and a good anti-depressant. I've always been an outdoors person and being in nature is a good anti-depressant for me. As I related previously on this board, my marriage dissolved because I was no longer a good partner. I was making my wife miserable which in turn, added to my burden. I did not want this to happen but I accept this was in our best interests. However, I have a dog who is loyal and a fountain of unconditional love. On my worst days, when caring for him is a bit of a burden, my love for him is such that I will do whatever it takes to make sure he is well taken care of. Taking the focus off of my difficulties even for a few minutes on my worst days is a good thing.

I hope you are retired or do not have to work for this disorder is detrimental to a good night's sleep. For me, a good nap, sometimes several, is what it takes for me to regain a more positive attitude. I wish I had more for you but I don't. Presently, I'm in one of my more quiescent periods relative to pain. It happens and I don't know why or how to influence it other than what I just related. Hopefully, you will find such a path.

@swartzki, @jager5210, @birdierobin -- I have found my mental state in a not so happy place many times. In some instances it is very difficult to deal with. One of the things that helps me is to try and change what I'm thinking about and turn it into something positive (easier said than done sometimes!). I found a great site by Dr. Amit Sood - The Resilient Option (https://www.resilientoption.com/) that has a lot of different topics, videos and techniques to help you help yourself. I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Sood speak a few years back and he is really good at explaining the way the brain works. Here is one of my favorite short videos:

Love yourself, like your pet does -- https://www.resilientoption.com/blog/194638/love-yourself-like-your-pet-does

More are available on his blog here: https://www.resilientoption.com/blog

Hoping for strengh and peace for all of us...

@swartzki Hi. I am Lori R., and have severe foot neuropathy. I also have stomach problems, and want to share what I do for my stomach that are natural and help bouts of constipation and/or loose stools. First, buy papaya, the natural fruit, and eat a portion daily. This fruit is full of healthy stomach enzymes, and will help to make your stomach normal. Also, buy powdered bone broth, and add about a tablespoon to anything with Vitamin C, like orange juice. Drink it daily. Bone broth also regulates your stomach, and is fabulous for your immunity. Also, take natural probiotics from food, like sauerkraut, kimchee, or kefir. Hopefully, these will normalize your stomach. As far as thoughts of suicide, I have them too. How could we not when we live with pain, all of the time. When I am exceedingly miserable, I go for a walk, go shopping in spite of very bad pain. Just getting fresh air helps. Reading helps me, also. A good novel is like medicine for me, but sometimes the pain is just too severe to concentrate. Of course, there is the therapy route as well. I have not done this yet, but may. You are going through just so much, and I wish you peace and a day that does not hurt. I hope I have helped in some way..... Lori Renee

Hi, @swartzki I've been struggling with depression, anxiety and PTSD since 2002, before neuropathy pain started. In 2005, I started attempting suicide and in December I checked into a treatment center and began the difficult process of recovery. Suicidal ideation continued to be a problem for several years. Eventually I was able to decrease the compulsive thoughts to the place where I could manage them. I still live with thoughts of dying. Usually they're under the surface of my consciousness, but I still wish to end my life often enough that I have to be proactive about sticking to my safety plan. It would be nice if there were a pill that stopped the thoughts. It would be nice if there were pills for lots of things.

I want to write about some other things but I have to stop now for supper. If I don't send what I've written so far, it's likely that I'll lose it. Depression and neuropathy are both painful.

Jim