[Bluestocking]

Hello. my first visit and certainly not my last. I have an early diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, the main reason I first went to my GP was a wooden feeling in my midriff with a feeling of pressure in my throat with occasional abdominal pains and aches.
I mentioned 'numb toes' at the time but as he could feel a pulse in my feet he thought nothing of it. On my second visit a month later I insisted on a neurological referral, when PN was diagnosed
My question is, is there a connection between PN and abdominal symtoms?
I'm waiting for a glucose tolerance test, ultrasound and EMG next month, all other bloods were normal apart from a random blood sugar of 9. Barium swallow showed a gastric reflux and hiatus hernia - I have no symptoms of this.
All these tests and consultant appointments take months
I don't want to go on too long but I am so fed up
Thank you

[dahlek]

I'd call his emergency line and arrange to be met by this doc at his hospital?
ASAP!
There may be a connection? or NOT.
Difficulty swallowing and gastro issues are often, but not always things that must be checked out ASAP! Swallowing especially! You'd get the ride to the ER and all the 'works' don't let that keep you back.
Please don't delay? It could be nothing or something serious... best to avoid the worst by being seen NOW!
Goodness blessings and luck to you? Let us know what happens! Please!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - j

[mrsD]

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

When a person has a hiatal hernia...the stomach can move up into the chest and squeeze things. This feels awful generally and is alarming. It often moves back at some point. The pressure can push any food in the stomach into the esophagus as well, so swallowing something will meet with resistance.

Do you take drugs for GERD or reflux? If so for how long?

If you do and have done so for a while, I'd suggest B12 tests to see if you are low. Those drugs block absorption of B12 and when that gets low, you get PN symptoms.

A full GI work up may be needed... including a scope of the stomach.

One thing that may help you is a gas medication to help you move air along properly. Gas-X is the most common brand, but anything with simethicone in it may help. Some find Gaviscon even better, as it coats the esophagus lining.
Avoid gassy foods, like cabbage, some fruits, and carbonated drinks.

I have a severe hiatal hernia found about 20 yrs ago. I manage it without medication now, with diet control, and conservative eating. One thing NOT to do is bend over alot after a meal. (no gardening for me at those times!). That will put pressure on everything in the stomach.

[Bluestocking]

Hello. Thank you for the replies but I think the point is being missed. I have no hiatus hernia symptoms, my GP put me on Omeprazole anyway, my B12 is normal. I have seen an ENT consultant, nothing found, barium swallow - oesophagus OK, I don't have difficulty swallowing. After all this I was referred to a neurologist who diagnosed peripheral neuropathy

My main symptom that started all this last November was a tight rigid feeling in my midriff / diaphragm and pressure in my throat, that has mostly disappeared, now the main problems are my feet and odd abdominal pains and aches
I have read somewhere that gastric / abdominal symptoms can be related to PN
Can you help with this query?
Thank you

[mrsD]

Nerves are everywhere in the body. They run your organ systems, constrict or dilate blood vessels, run your heart, in addition to feeling outside pain.

If damage occurs to the nerves in the system that runs your organs this is called dysautonomia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysautonomia

This can come from infections, toxins, diabetes (most commonly),
low B12 status, many things like that.
When the stomach is involved, it is called gastroparesis.
Diabetics with severe neuropathies often get this eventually if they do not keep tight control of their sugar levels. Gastroparesis is a later development of neuropathies in general, not an early sign.

Some dysautonomias may be due to mitochondrial failure from drug toxicities (statins do this) or genetic errors of metabolism in the nerves. Some present with blood pressure swings, fainting, etc.

You can get pressure in your midriff area from gas building up in your stomach and intestines. It is a simple cause, and may be due to dietary intolerances to gluten, or fructose. Some people with Candida infections have this symptom. (following use of antibiotics). Gall bladder problems also generate gas in the GI tract commonly.

There are over 100 causes of various peripheral neuropathies. You'll have to come to our PN forum and read the subforum.
I personally believe that infection, and prescription drug use are major causes. Followed by toxins and vaccines. It seems that over the past 10+ yrs I have been on PN boards, that the patients show up now younger and younger. It used to be an older senior citizen type problem, and now generalized to all age groups! This implies to me something in the environment, doing it.

You will have to become a detective to find your answers. And keep in mind that some impaired glucose tolerance does not show much in the way of high sugars in the beginning. But the process can be working on your nerves at that stage. I'd request a fasting INSULIN level, to show if you are becoming insulin resistant and hence on the way to diabetes in the future.

[Bluestocking]

Thank you for your answer. It's hard to be my own detective with the NHS brick wall of appointments and investigations taking months to happen eg my 2nd neurological appt is in August though my feet seem worse daily with lumps and dismfort, and an ultrasound requested in February still hasn't happened
I find this forum scary but thank you for your time

[mrsD]

Well, it can be scary to learn about the things that can go wrong in your body. Many medical students react this way, and sometimes imagine they have some of the aliments they learn about (when in fact they don't).

But many have found answers here on their own, which helped them in the long run. Doctors don't know everything, and often cannot put together clues and lifestyle contributions to ailments. And some doctors turn a blind eye to their own use of some drugs that in fact lead their patients to a neuropathic life!

Having a neuropathy really nevers goes away, but it can be managed, and sometimes you have to do most of that yourself.

Many of us here have done that, and learned alot in the process.

Good luck!

[schrabob]

My idiopathic SFN came on with similar symptoms to what you are experiencing. Last May, after 2 month of unexplained tongue/lip pain, I started having pain & numbness sensations throughout my body. Included with this was a hoarseness and "lump in throat" feeling. I also had pain in the tissue of my upper abdomen. Pressure on my belly would be very uncomfortable. Painful feet was another complaint. I could not wait to get my shoes off at night! After numerous tests (MRI, EMG, lumbar puncture, blood test galore) I was diagnosed with mild SFN following a skin biopsy at Cleveland Clinic. For the most part my neuropathy is under control with Neurontin (1200mg/day) but many of my original symptoms seems to reappear from time to time to a lesser extent. Hope this helps...