1. < Neuropathy

Loss of awareness of where your body is in space

Posted by lweave2 @lweave2, Oct 26, 2020

Has anybody with PN felt like while walking down the street, you have lost your awareness of where your body is in space? 😒

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Catcando | @catharbert | Nov 9, 2020
In reply to @helennicola "Hi Hank, I totally agree, we do have to make our own decisions regarding what we..." + (show)
@helennicola

Hi Hank, I totally agree, we do have to make our own decisions regarding what we can and will tolerate; I too developed vertigo and dizziness. The vertigo lasted on and off for about 1 year at which time I was seeing a P/T specialist, the dizziness still comes and goes but is transient and usually brought on by overuse of NSAID’s. Non-THC CBD and xanax. The vertigo has not returned and at the time I did not attribute it to gabapentin but I do think it was the cause. The only reason I take gabapentin is because it helps my pain and allows me to sleep at night, if I could find an alternative I would stop it immediately. Helen

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Helen, I am taking 600 mg gabapentin 3 times a day. for "idiopathic peripheral neuropathy" Tried taking only 300 at mid day but pain increased so I had to increase the amount back to what the doctor prescribed. That being said my pain specialist (who is in same practice as my neurologist) prescribes tramadol for what I call "breakthrough pain." That's 50 mg but I only take 1/2 tablet 1 to 2 times a day as needed and sometimes not any. I try to soldier through without taking the tramadol but the pain doctor says they would rather I did not do that. I asked the neurologist what I could take to get off tramadol and that's when he prescribed the gabapentin. I had more side effects from the gaba the first week or so (dizziness, fatigue) than I am having now. If I get enough sleep I am better. I frequently go back to bed after my morning dose and I sleep for an hour or so but this is probably because I am not sleeping enough at night. I tend to read in bed and often read too long. Sometimes I nap in the afternoon for an hour or so. You may not have the luxury of such laziness but for me it is part of the price I pay to control my pain. Also, I have been used to drinking as little water as possible because of an overactive bladder. The result of that is that several times I had symptoms that sent me to the ER only to find out I was dehydrated. Now I try harder to drink small amounts more frequently during the day to prevent that. I also recognize the symptoms of dehydration (extreme dizziness, weakness, goofiness) and when I suspect that I am alerted to the fact that I am not drinking enough. Bottom line: get plenty of sleep and drink small amounts frequently to get maybe 6-8 glasses of fluids a day (no caffeine). If you can exercise. Hang in there.

REPLY
sunnyflower | @sunnyflower | Nov 9, 2020
In reply to @jesfactsmon "@helennicola Hi Helen, Linda took gabapentin for about 6-8 weeks before her symptoms became so bad..." + (show)
@jesfactsmon

@helennicola
Hi Helen, Linda took gabapentin for about 6-8 weeks before her symptoms became so bad she could no longer tolerate them and she had to be gradually weaned off of it.. Her doctor never mentioned that the symptoms might subside at some point if she didn't stop and perhaps if she had kept on with it they would have gotten better but she just could not stand the status quo any longer,. She had a number of symptoms, but the dizziness was the worst. When you are experiencing something that is intolerable beyond question, it's hard to keep it up, regardless of whether they tell you the side effects might get better after a time. Best, Hank

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Hi Hank and @helennicola, hope things are going as well as possible for you Helen and Hank, and Linda.

I have found over the years and also from attending a pharmacy continuing education, that when it comes to meds, pharmacists are the most knowledgeable. I sometimes joke that they could be doctors! My experience has been they are very happy to help.

Take care, warmest wishes and prayers, Sunnyflower

REPLY
sunnyflower | @sunnyflower | Nov 9, 2020
In reply to @helennicola "Hi Hank, I totally agree, we do have to make our own decisions regarding what we..." + (show)
@helennicola

Hi Hank, I totally agree, we do have to make our own decisions regarding what we can and will tolerate; I too developed vertigo and dizziness. The vertigo lasted on and off for about 1 year at which time I was seeing a P/T specialist, the dizziness still comes and goes but is transient and usually brought on by overuse of NSAID’s. Non-THC CBD and xanax. The vertigo has not returned and at the time I did not attribute it to gabapentin but I do think it was the cause. The only reason I take gabapentin is because it helps my pain and allows me to sleep at night, if I could find an alternative I would stop it immediately. Helen

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Amen!

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