[Jazzteacher]

I am 54 and was diagnosed as hypothyroid and on 100 mc levo thyroxine.
My mother has had peripheral neuropathy for over 20 years. I always thought it was her lifestyle but now that I have symptoms I am not so sure. I am physically fit and teach aerobics. My left foot toes and pad of my foot feels asleep. My right foot not quite as bad. No pain, just numb feeling. Also on the balls of my feet. Doc confirmed with office visit that it is most likely pn. I want to find out if exercising makes it worse or better. Any ideas? Also is it worth having testing done when symptoms first start? From taking my mother to a dozen docs with only medication for relief it does not seem like there is much to do until it gets worse? How long can that be? Years? Months? Thanks.

[Darlene]

Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. There are great and caring friends here to assist you. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways. Seems you have been through some ruff times. Please keep us up to date.

Check into the following forum for some assistance:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

[mrsD]

I had severe numbness in my feet and hands when I was hypothyroid. It took about a year to resolve once I was on the levothyroxine.

You might want to get your B12 tested as well as Vit D.
If you are below 400 in B12 level, fixing that with methylcobalamin (active form) will help your peripheral nerves further. Vit D also is being found to be low in most Americans. So get that test, and your goal should be 50-70 US range.
Doctors will test you, but tend to misreport the results and to treat poorly. I have collected the newer medical data for you to read and follow. Both supplements are over the counter so you can do them yourself, after you get your testing results.

My Vit B12 thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Vit D:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

Guidelines in US for patients 50 and over is to take a quality B12 supplement daily. The low Vit D is being found in about 70% of Americans who do not live in the southern latitudes.

[Jazzteacher]

My vitamin B12 is 769
folic acid is 17.4
B1 is 102
A1C is 5.8
Vitamin D is low 33.5 and I'm taking 2000 mg of over the counter vitamin and get a lot of sunshine.

Had shingles 2 years ago this summer.
Had one mole removed that tested positive for neurofibramatoma - no other incidents of moles or growths.

Biggest question is when do I do more expensive electro testing and if there isn't anything else I can do, why bother doing more testing?

[mrsD]

Neurofibrosis? I'd get an evaluation for that. There could be
neuromas on your nerves?

The vitamin levels don't look too bad. Even the D is much better than most of the people who post here on the various boards.

If you have had shingles in the past, I'd consider l-lysine daily to try and keep them quiet. Start at 1 gram a day and up to 3 if needed. Herpes Zoster lives in the dorsal root ganglia and that is where some sensory PNs occur.

It took almost a year for my PN from my hypothyroid issues to resolve. So if you are still new on the l-thyroxine...give it more time. One needs adequate selenium and zinc to convert T4 (l-thyroxine) to active T3. So taking a good multi like Centrum is a good idea. Make sure you have those 2 bases covered.

[Abbie]

Hello JazzTeacher
and
WELCOME to Neurotalk!

So nice of you to join us!
Please feel free to roam around all of the forums!
Please feel freel to join in anywhere....help others where you can and ask questions when you need help.

When you tire of roaming... feel free to pull up a chair, kick off your shoes, and stay a while.
You will find that Neurotalk is filled with WONDERFUL people!! Very kind, caring, understanding people who so graciously share a wealth of knowledge and understanding... and a shoulder to lean on if you need one.

If you have any questions or need any assistance in finding your way around please don't hesitate to ask... someone will always be around shortly to help in any way that we can.

I look forward to seeing you around the board.

Abbie