Hi Bob:

Don't count your chickens out just yet. I'm on the methyl b-12 and my feet do NOT burn like they did before I started to take it. Some people might take longer but what the hell. If you find something that helps rebuild, re-grow, re-heal....WHATEVER it does to the nerves, well, I just hope you are on the methyl b-12 and whatever else it takes.

The day they vote out the guy in the white house who is opposed to stem cell research (to it's fullest potential), well that will be the day that everybody with Parkinson, PN, MS, damaged nerves, WHATEVER!!! that will be the day, we will all celebrate.

Until then, we pray and hope our bodies heal. That's what I do every day.

I do believe one thing however. That stress plays a big part in when our PN flares up.

For example. I've been on the methyl B-12 for almost 2 weeks now. I take 5000 a day. I have noticed a significant improvement in the burning and the freezing. So that's a good thing. HOWEVER, last night, my son (who has aspergers disorder, phoned me up and went into his spiel about how he hates humanity, and humanity is against him, and he's going to be a millionaire by the time he's 40, and he knows everything, blah blah, blah). Now I've been hearing this BS for almost 6 years now. It doesn't get any easier believe me but I've gone to a place in my head where I have the ability to tune him out and I don't get stressed.

But he pushed my buttons last night. We ended on a good note BUT, when I hung up I said to my husband "I wish Frank would not call me, because it sets me up in my head and puts me in a place where I don't want to be".

And sure enought, a few moments later, my feet started to burn. I had to put the Freeze it on it and I was fine after that and I went to bed.

But Alan and I had a long talk about our son and how his behavior has definitely impacted our health. I wish I could just have him NOT CALL US ANYMORE but he's our son and of course the guilt would eat me up alive. But obviously I am in a better place mentally, and feet wise, when I do not hear from him, when I don't have to hear on the phone that "life sucks, why should I work, why can't I gamble, after all it makes me feel good".

My goodness, I mean, how plain can it be. I was fine before I spoke to him and then BOOM, the burning.

So I truly believe that stress (as far as it applies to me), definitely impacts my PN. All I want to do is heal my nerves. My son never asks about our health, anything to do with US. It's all about him. It's gets repetitive and tiring to hear the same garbage from a 25 year old man who never worked a day in his life. I wish I could say to myself "Oh, he has aspergers, he's ill, he's not responsible". But from speaking to professionals, and other people with aspergers, it's not so clear cut.

Ever see Boston Legal?? They have guy named HANDS and he has Aspergers. He hops up and down and makes noises with his mouth AND HE'S AN ATTORNEY!!!. I've met many people with Aspergers since I've made it my business to get to know this disorder. My son exhibits none of that bizarre behavior. He has OCD and is quirky. But he knows exactly what he is doing and has said so more often than not.

I am heading toward the day when I will probably have to completely distance myself totally from his behavior. I believe that is the only way I will live (to my full potential). To do otherwise will be a death sentence for me emotionally and physically.

It's very hard, believe me.

Sorry to go on and on.

Hope you feel better.

Melody