Anyone else with advanced CAN?

Posted by itiswhatitis @itiswhatitis, Oct 2, 2025

I'm looking for anyone else with advanced cardiac autonomic neuropathy and any advice on treatment. Do vagus nerve stimulators work? I have severe blood pressure instability, severe digestive issues...the entire system is failing and I've had 3 feeding tubes and now have removed entirely for quality of life sake. My body cannot self regulate it's temp. I am in a life threatening situation with my blood pressure as it goes from 220/120 to 58/35. I just don't know that anything can be done anymore and have chosen to have a DNR. But then talk of vagus nerve stimulator came up but I would have to come to Mayo or similar place and transportation is extremely difficult. Anyone with advice?

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Hello @itiswhatitis, Hoping you get some answers from members with experience. @slkanowitz, @artemis1886, and others have discussed cardiac autonomic neuropathy in other discussions and may have some thoughts or experience to share. Here is a search link that lists discussions and comments from members on cardiac autonomic neuropathy - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/.

There are also a few comments on vegas nerve stimulators that might be helpful. Here is a link to the comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/.

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Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Hello @itiswhatitis, Hoping you get some answers from members with experience. @slkanowitz, @artemis1886, and others have discussed cardiac autonomic neuropathy in other discussions and may have some thoughts or experience to share. Here is a search link that lists discussions and comments from members on cardiac autonomic neuropathy - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/.

There are also a few comments on vegas nerve stimulators that might be helpful. Here is a link to the comments - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/.

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@johnbishop
Thank you for the links

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I have CAN. I see an electrophysiologist. IVIG Panzyga works. My bradycardia/tachycardia and blood pressure problems along with pericardial effusion has gotten better along with my EKG. I am not having as many arrhythmias. You can’t have an ICD pacemaker/defibrillator because your nerves in your heart do not work right.

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Profile picture for artemis1886 @artemis1886

I have CAN. I see an electrophysiologist. IVIG Panzyga works. My bradycardia/tachycardia and blood pressure problems along with pericardial effusion has gotten better along with my EKG. I am not having as many arrhythmias. You can’t have an ICD pacemaker/defibrillator because your nerves in your heart do not work right.

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@artemis1886 ...thank you so much for responding. I will research what you have said. Good luck with yours...prayers to you

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