I likely have peripheral neuropathy...

Couldn't sleep after learning I likely have PN so I know just where to go to let it out.

I noticed that something I've experienced in the past, before RNY, started to happen much more. It is those pins and needles feelings. I'm now getting them in about ten places on my body (both sides). I thought it was odd so I researched it on the internet and quickly discovered that I have several of the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

When searching the internet, this website came up with several prior posts from people I recognize as experienced posters. Talk about helpful! Now I know that my B levels have likely dropped so I'll be calling the doctor ASAP. It is scary to learn that without prompt treatment, the nerve pain can be permanent and that some have to take powerful pain meds. I even scared myself more learning on the internet that it can become a totally disabling disorder with even paralysis in some cases. I sunk deeper into sad thoughts THEN I remembered you are my buddies so I'm getting on here and posting my "issue" to get it out in the air. Maybe I can get some sleep then.

I was able to get a good picture of what is likely going on with my symptoms and how they got overlooked...

1. I likely had this in the past but it was masked by several other neuropathies of the foot which is one of the reasons I had my surgery. Sharp, painful nerve pains in my toes at night only if I wiggled them (this symptom disappeared after my weight loss so I didn't worry about it).

2. My feeling off balanced at times was thought to be related to a weaker left leg from nerve damage (trauma) and having broken that same leg in 2005. After RNY, I thought it was from losing so much weight quickly.

3. My skin pain on my upper arm was thought to be a small skin tag that was dry catching fabric but is now all over the body.

4. The warm skin sensations that lasted about 3 seconds in the lower leg I just blew off as being related to the old fracture.

5. Recent memory issues I blew off as stress and getting older even though it did seem rather sudden.

6. Urine leaking, OK, I'm an older female so I blew that off and practiced those exercises to help correct it but don't think it is helping.

I never drank alcohol, no drugs, no smoking, no toxins that I know of, and don't have diabetes. I take only 1/2 of a pain pill to subdue chronic back pain (compression fracture w/arthritis).

Oh, darn. Here I thought constipation was my only difficulty from RNY. 

 

 

 

 

What is your vitamin regimen?  Are you taking your vites every day?  I'm so sorry you're going through this. : (

--gina

 

I take Bariatric Advantage because it was the only samples I tolerated (very sensitive to sorbitol):

• 2 - Chewable Multi Formula vitamins taken at different times of the day  (1,000 IU D3 each)
• 3 - Chewable Calcium Citrate (500mg calcium, 300 IU D3, 20mg Vit K in each) taken spaced out equally during day
• 1 - B12 sublingual (1mg B12, 200mcg folic acid in each) taken usually in first part of day

I never, ever take my calcium near the time of my coffee. I make sure I have at least one hour before or afterwards when I do take it. The others are taken alone and usually not at meal times. 

Note: When I first received my Bariatric supply, I opened all of them and threw away the little package inside for controlling moisture. By the last month (November and beginning of December), my B12 pills absorbed moisture and turned reddish and damp on the outside (90 pills in a bottle). They had been a light pink color. Now that I've started my new bottles, I'm leaving these packages inside to control moisture over the long haul. 

A far a compliance goes, I was near perfect with only missing the B12 maybe once a month. Maybe missed a calcium once a month (usually the last dose for the day). BUT the holidays came and unexpected activities happened that were distracting so I missed B12 probably once per week over the last 4 to 5 weeks.

My fluids have moved from Crystal Light dependence to water flavored with slices of lemon and/or orange with a little herbal tea added. 

If they have you taking a B-complex and you're taking B12, I'm stumped. I hope they get you sorted out out pronto. Please keep us posted.

--gina

I have no idea if this will help but thought I would share!  I have neuropathy in my feet and hands from diabetes.  After surgery I thought it went away but about a month later it was creeping back up on me.  It wasn't as bad as before but did cause some discomfort in my feet especially when laying down in bed.  My hands only had occasional pain after surgery.  When I went to my endocronologist he gave me a drug called Metanix which is mostly a vitamin, B's and folic acid I think.  He said it had been proven to regrow nerve endings in research animals so I decided to try it.  It has really worked for me!  Although I still have some numbness and tingling it's not nearly as bad as it was.  I don't know if this drug can help you but thought I would mention it, I think it's fairly new and when I first got it about 3 months ago I couldn't find much about it on the web.  Here is the website if you want to check it out!  Also have you considered shingles?  Some of your symptoms seem similar to shingles.  I had them a few years ago and although I had only one spot of the actual "shingle" it caused pain in my whole body.  I hope you figure it out and it's nothing serious or something managable!

http://www.metanx.com/

 

Thank you so much. I will keep this information while I go on this road. I have had shingles before when I was about 25 and never will forget it. It is not the same sensation, at least not yet! Right now it feels like a pin is stuck somewhere on my clothing and nicks me periodically when the clothing brushes across it. Usually something has touched the area at the time of the pin feeling. They were much "softer" in sensation over the last week but now have become like a sting that subsides within a few seconds. That's what got my attention to check into it. Thanks for caring.

I've had diabetes related PN since 1998, but looking back on my symptoms, I figure I've had it since 1984 at least.

1) The is a variety of PN called idiopathic, (no known cause) but too little B12 or too much B6 can cause it too. There are any number of reasons for PN but the top three are diabetes, alcohol, and idiopathic.

2) Find a neurologist familiar with PN, not all of them are...many specialize in migraines only.

3) Good website for info: Peripheral Neuropathy They also have a facebook page.

4) I was on neurontin...worst med I ever took in my life, cause a 60lb weight gain in a year until I was WEANED off it and put on topamax which is using it as an off label med. Lyrica supposedly has good results but it was too new and I was stable when it came on the market so we didn't change anything. Plus the topamax helped me take the 60 lbs off.

5) Since surgery and getting the excess weight off, I've been able to get rid of the meds for the PN. But I still will feel it sometimes. I hate socks, esp at night so my feet stay cold at night. One trick I did learn long ago was to wear socks, hose, etc inside out so the seam is not right on the skin.

Anything I can help with, let me know.

Liz

Hi - Your postings were some of the ones I found when researching with Google. Thank you for the warning about neurontin. I will save your information and prepare to get a neurologist who specializes with PN. It is helpful and comforting to know I have a support group here who know about these things and yet have had WLS. That is where other support groups might be lacking so it is good to have it covered. Thanks again!

Syringa, sorry to hear about your problems. I wish you all the best for a speedy resolution of this. Please keep us posted (hugs)

Thank you for caring. I'll update as soon as I learn more. It might be a week before I know anything. I have to make the appt and probably get some labs done and get referred to a neurologist.