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Learning Past Cause vs. Quality of Present Life?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Aug 2, 2023 | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
Kathy - I am always learning. I've been dealing with this for 7 years and I was on my own trying to figure things for over 4 years. I was frustrated that my doctors (outside of PT) offered very little in helping to actually LIVE with PN. I couldn't get advice or recommendations on good pain relief measures (outside of Gabapentin), diet, vitamins, lotions, shoes or foot support, safety or support ideas, exercises, etc. I was so alone and knew absolutely nobody like me to talk to. Then I found this group and am overwhelmed by realizing I am far from alone. Diet... I thought I was doing all of the right things. I am not diabetic, in fact I have had some hypoglycemic events 3 years after PN came, so I have justified eating sugar regularly, including in my daytime beverages. I recently cut back. I accidently wasn't able to drink sweet tea for 3 afternoons for lunch and beyond, and then realized I wasn't feeling the slight stomach discomfort that I had grown accustomed to later in the day. I also had a little more energy, and my legs didn't feel as weak. I know now that folks on here meant it when they said cutting back on sugar is a good idea! I know to be cognizant of how I felt several years ago when I had low sugar episodes, but I know I have been overcompensating my intake and it wasn't helping my PN. This group amazes me and has helped in so many ways. I'm glad I've helped you & I know others will too. Please let us know how your appointment turns out! Debbie
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Good morning, Debbie (@dbeshears1)
That was a wonderful post you left in reply to @kath737. It had great meaning for me. I have always been a great defender of my doctors, but in the past year since getting my PN diagnosis, I have grown acutely aware of my doctors' limitations. I'm still appreciative of the excellent work each does for me––each within their specialty––but of how ill-at-ease each doctor becomes if I should pose a question about my PN, a condition each regards as "outside" their specialty (and reasonably so).
This happened to me only this past Wednesday when I had an annual checkup with my eye doctor, a man I respect for the thoroughness and patience he brings to caring for my eyes. As the appointment drew close, I thought, What the heck, Ray, go ahead and ask." So I did: "Dr. A., is it even remotely possible that my PN or the vitamins and supplements I am taking for my PN could have anything to do with the health of my eyes?" (I was thinking of the old song: "The ankle bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to … " 😀 ) From the look on his face, I was asking Dr. A. to step out of his specialty. "Good question, Ray," he said. "I'll ask my colleagues." And he probably will; he'd that kind of guy.
So your post, Debbie, was another reminder of how much we're on our own when dealing with many of our medical professionals––but also, on the flip side, how valuable this forum is in letting folks with PN know they're not alone.
Ray (@ray666)