Hi mlorena! The symptoms you mention here sound like what I have read happens when SFN effects the autonomic nerves as well as the sensory nerves in the skin. This can cause the Heart symptoms you are having, and the bladder and gastric problems too. I am so sorry you are going through this. It sounds like this has come on rather suddenly since you mentioned pursuing medical answers for 16 months now. How is your blood pressure? Do you ever feel faint when you stand up? POTS can be caused by SFN effecting the autonomic nerves. I think the symptoms you are having would make you feel tired! Has your neurologist run blood work that looks for inherited causes of neuropathy, and also for autoantibodies? It would probably be helpful to get that checked. I was having difficulty thinking clearly, and also struggled to remember names of items, it drove me crazy. Interestingly, I stopped eating wheat (again), and found that my energy improved, as did my foggy brain. I was surprised, but also happy to find a solution, at least for now...I do not have Celiac's as I had blood work done to see if I have the genetics for celiac's, and I do not, even though my daughter does. Celiac's can cause SFN too. It can all get so confusing as things seem to overlap, and it is so challenging to find a doctor who will work with you rather than not really connect, and leave you hanging. Oh, how is your thyroid? Have you had it checked? It can cause many of these symptoms, and sfn has been linked to thyroid disease too. I try not to worry about what is happening for me, I keep very physically active, and my symptoms have progressed, with new ones popping in. I have begun sweating on my torso, and arms recently when I get warm (Summertime), this has never happened to me like this before, and my skin on my torso is having nerve prickles, and itching, while my hands, feet, legs, arms have more and more nerve stuff going on. But the stiffness in my hands, feet, legs is worse and worse. I am negative for all rheumatology blood work. My PA (at the neurologist) told me that there is so much they do not understand or know re SFN! That it could possibly be causing my stiffness, in the meantime I tenaciously continue looking for answers...As we all are.
Hi eve38, I have read up on the autonomic nervous system. I woke up two days after retirement and had full onset of pin pricks all over including my eyes. Freaky!!! I was told it is rare. I had a genetic test and tons of blood work and all negative. I had the urinary issue, the gastro issue, the palpitations and whatever else before the SNF. Of course the tachycardia is new. But I am wondering if those things could be a precursor to it. I know I don't have POTS. My BP is good for one thing. So far knock wood I have not had any of those kinds of symptoms. My thyroid has always been good. I have had itching in different places that comes and goes. I told my dr. about it way before the SNF occurred but nothing came of it. I myself have been looking for answers also. I appreciate all the information from everyone. Networking is good. The thing about food and such is something else. My daughter has never had allergies or anything like that but has found that things like caffeine and fake sugar can cause her problems. It is amazing what things like that could cause.