Wow, mrsD, you're good!

I took mefloquine prior to joining the Peace Corps. They make you take it unless you can medically prove that you shouldn't. I know that I am very sensitive to any drug, so I asked my doctor to prescribe it for my short trip to Honduras, so I could see how my body would react while I still had access to US healthcare. My skin all over my body was on fire for two weeks, and I had two different rashes that were weeping. I couldn't even wrap myself in a sheet. There were psychological symptoms as well, that came later (thankfully not concurrently...)

Because of this reaction, I was excused from taking mefloquine when I joined the Peace Corps 4 months later. I served in Tanzania, and the episodes of nerve pain were more frequent back in 2010 when this all started. Unfortunately, the US govt still gives this drug to Peace Corps volunteers and I'm told some army folks... I have lots of friends with depression/ horrible nightmares, etc which is the more "normal" bad reaction to mefloquine. Anyway...

That's really interesting that you bring up paresthesias, though, I hadn't come across that. It sounds exactly right...

My fingernails turn purple a lot, but I don't think that's what you mean. My hands will turn reddish, and get swollen when I'm having a PN episode (my fingers double in size sometimes - though not as often in the past two years) My fingertips do seem to hurt equally, although my thumbs don't hurt as much as my fingers do.

I wonder if there's anything to be done about brain damage? That would explain why there isn't always a rash, though.. In the past, I have gone in to the doctor in a lot of pain and they just think I'm nuts, or tell me to come back when they can see something. Recently, I got a NP to take me seriously and she gave me Gabapentin which actually worked for me! (unlike any type of painkiller all the way up to oxycodone.)

Well, I think I have my answer. I'll stop acupuncture, and do some research on paresthesias. Thank you!

Also, @Balanchine: A squid fight! Thanks for making me laugh! =) Sorry acupuncture didn't work for you either... I guess that makes two of us.