I am hoping I caught it early enough so I can eventually heal. I have never been a patient person, though , which is why I am asking these questions like "what should I be feeling?" even though I have only been on the Benfotiamine etc. since mid-July. I appreciate your replies more than you know, Icehouse - thanks so much. When I have time, I am going to go back and read this whole thread again. It's inspiring and encouraging!

Hi there,
Through reading a lot of threads/posts I find numbness is often transient. It can come and go and it generally seems to resolve itself. I have been 50% numb at times and sensation always came back. One thing I learned to distinguish was actual numbness from a feeling of numbness. So in essence the numbness was superficial. I still had feeling in my arms/legs but the skin felt numb. This is a very good sign that sensation will come back.
Aussie

Thanks, Aussie - that is encouraging. I felt a little better yesterday and again this morning - but not as good as that one day where I felt like I could almost walk like a normal person. My other concern is the growing numbness/tingling in my fingertips that just started happening about 6 weeks ago. That was AFTER I started taking the Benfotiamine, so it really freaked me out (I was like, Isn't this stuff working at all!?).

The one other symptom I am now having is a bit of stiffness in my joints - fingers and knees. I think that was why I felt "wobbly" in the grocery store the other day. I am sure that could be attributed to my age, too (44). I am not an active person by nature, especially now that I've got this darn neuropathy thing! I am going to try to get more walking in, just to help with general muscle strength. I am always afraid I'm going to trip on something though. Excuses, excuses...

Hello I am new here and am hoping for some feedback on some symptoms I am having. I have been 13 years a heavy drinker and smoker of cigarettes and quit both 25 days ago. I got the proper meds from my doctor for the alcohol withdrawal so no issue there. About 16 days into my detox I was having general tingling in my left foot and hand. That wasn't much of an issue because I read about potential withdrawal symptoms and that was included. Here is where it got weird for me and has continued up to day 25 today. I started getting these rushes of numbness in my left foot, hand and lips all at once that would last for maybe 10 to 15 seconds. When it first happened it scared the you know what out of me because I thought I was having a stroke. So off the the ER I went and they did blood work, chest xray, EKG, CT of head and neck, echocardiogram of my heart and neck and a MRI with contrast of my head and neck. All came back negative and they ruled out stroke or TIA's. Ok great I'm not dying... Well here I am six days later and some days I don't have this rush of numbness at all other days I am having it 1 to 5 times or more. Nothing particular brings it on. I can be walking, stand up to quick, playing with my dog or nothing at all. It's a very odd sensation when it happens and it also brings on a bit of anxiety because well... its just weird! Has anyone on here experienced anything like this? If so please share with me your experience so I don't feel like I am going crazy. (Also, I actually went back to the ER today because it was happening pretty frequently and they checked everything out again and told me they believe I am suffering from Alcoholic Neuropathy. Again any feed back or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. God bless.

Chris

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Did the doctor put you on Antabuse to help you stop drinking?
If so, this drug causes neuropathy, so you are going to have to consider stopping it.

When people stop alcohol after years of heavy use, lots of symptoms show up suddenly. These may have been hidden by the sedative effects of the alcohol, or are an adjustment to having a different method of metabolism in order to digest carbs. Many people giving up alcohol then develop sugar cravings for a while until this adjustment to a different metabolism happens.
Alcohol metabolism is different than food metabolism.

We have a long thread, with several posters here who have neuropathy and have gone sober. On the thread is support, discussion of how alcohol damages nerves, and suggestions for supplements to aid healing.

You are welcome to read and join if you like:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread104096.html

No not antabuse just a benzo to deal with the withdrawal.

697 days! Not even a sip. I was in the same boat as icehouse, .34 BAC when I went to the hospital. Pancreatitis with complications from alcohol withdrawal. 15 days in the hospital and 7 of those in ICU. It's amazing how you can build a tolerance. I have had an EMG and NCV as well. It's not that bad if you haven't had it and need it. I am on 450mg of Lyrica without it I can't walk very far. I also want to comment about "the itch". I have had it and it does feel like it's inside. It was on the bottom of my foot. I was driving and had to pull over. It's happened a few times. I have also started taking fish oil and I am getting ready to order some Benfotiamine. I love to see the posts of how people get better. Hope. It keeps you going!

Okone1, 697 days is awesome!

Well done .

Well, it has been a year since I even had a sip of alcohol. I have been feeling better so decided to "test" the waters with one vodka soda last night. Here I am at 6:30am and my feet and legs are tingling and heavy. I feel lousy. I am constipated, bloated, sick to my stomach, dizzy, and extremely fatigued.

What is the best thing to do now besides not even try to have one drink anymore? I need to function! Dumb, dumb, dumb. Of course I doubled up on my vitamin cocktails this morning, especially the Bs. I will hydrate heavily.

Any other ideas? Will this take another year for me to be back at the same level of healing?

Thank you all

I very much doubt one drink will have any lasting effects. You may well feel bad for a week or so, but I don't see any mechanism whereby a short exposure to alcohol could erase all the progress you made. So, not repeating the experiment would be the best bet, but I think you already know that.

Try not to stress about it too much either, as that would only make things worse (the effect stress has on my PN is staggering). You tried, it didn't work out, dust off and keep going.