Because my husband Alan developed neuropathy (very slowly) about 18 years ago, and when it became worse (though he was still able to drive a car and still go to work every day until he couldn't feel the pedals about 6 years ago, and had to go on Social Security disability), once they ran all the known blood tests, nerve conduction studies, diabetes (ruled out many times), ran this test, ran that test, etc. HOW COME THEY NEVER SUGGESTED A SPINAL TAP (which he had last month and it showed protein (LIGHTBULB MOMENT HERE).

Don't you think all those years ago, when they first said 'You have neuropathy, it's idiopathic, therefore, we don't know why you have it, we ran all the tests, and the last test (which will show auto-immune stuff), (WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE) will be a spinal tap, and and if it shows protein, then this MIGHT lead us in the direction of an auto-immune problem).

How come no one ever said that? I mean, Alan had to wait 18 years to find out he most probably has CIDP.

I do not understand this. We saw every specialist, every internist, he took more blood tests than I can remember. (he did not take the extensive bood tests i.e. titers, ANA, etc. AND WHY DIDN'T THEY TEST HIM FOR THESE THINGS?

Years ago, they gave him a glucose tolerance test, took some x-rays, some nerve conduction studies, proclaimed him IDIOPATHIC, but never ever hinted at auto-immune.

I am just wondering if someone all those years ago had had the intelligence to delve further into why this man was developing neuropathy. I mean, you watch an episode of HOUSE, and they usually do a spinal tap in the first ten minutes. The guy who did Alan's spinal tap said "you have no idea what we can find out about a person from their spinal fluid". We find lots of goodies". That's exactly what he said to me.

Didn't physicians know this 18 years ago?? I am really perplexed here.

Anybody have any answers?? Thanks, Mel

P.S. Alan called me from the hospital last night. I was beside myself until I heard from him. Didn't know what happened to him. Finally he called saying "Just got the phone hooked up, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO HAVE A PHONE FOR 4 DAYS?? I said "no how much". He goes $53.00. I said "for a phone?" and he said "well, actually, it's the hook-up for the phone, the tv and a per day charge." I said 'I don't care, you get to watch American Idol and you get to talk to me". We both laughed.

So I'm off (we are having a blizzard in NYC right now. Imagine me going out, bent over like a pretzel from my arthritis, getting on an access-a-ride bus and going to see him (with my hot freshly baked muffins yet).

This should be an interesting day.

Speak to you guys later.

Melody