Reading your post, the first thing I did think of was nutritional deficiency, possibly secondary to your alcohol consumption--though people do vary widely in the degree to which that would result in nutrient malabsorption. B12 deficiency, in particular, can result in very weird parasthetic nervous symptoms, both peripherally and through degeneration of the spinal cord. I'm glad you've been supplementing, but it might take a long time to repair damage (to the extent it can be repaired). You can also experience weird symptoms as nerves repair--and these are not usually distinguishable from those of worsening neuropathy except in long-term retrospect (many of us keep symptom diaries for comparison over months/years).

It's very possible the Prilosec contributed to this--we need stomach acid to break nutrients out of food, and you wouldn't be the first to have acid blockers result in malabsorption. We do produce less acid as we age, and this compounds the possibility.

But, then again, there may be other issues. And it does not sound as if you've had a really comprehensive work-up. Part of the problem is that symptoms of problems with the brain and spinal cord can be exactly mimicked by those of the peripheral nervous system, so investigations can be costly and time consuming.

Many of us use the Liza Jane spreadsheets (www.lizajane.org) to track our test results and to suggest more comprehesive testing to doctors--the spreadsheets were designed to include all tests for possible nerve-affecting conditions that a large number of us could think of--worth taking a look at, to compare with what you've had done.

Glenntaj,
Thank you for your reply. I have down loaded the Liza spread sheets and I'm filling them out. I agree that more tests should be performed. I hope to find a new Neurologist that is more proactive regarding my circumstances.

I have an appointment with my primary care physician next week. I will ask his opinion on this saying that I'm looking for a second opinion. Omaha has some very reputable medical facilities present and I'm hoping that there are doctor(s) available locally who specialize in PN.

As a side note, I plan on having a sleep study done. I suspect I have sleep apnea due to heavy snoring and waking up tired even after a getting more than 8 hours of sleep. My sister was recently tested and had a severe case. Suposedly one of the worst they had seen. I don't think this is my root cause, but every little bit helps in terms of finding a primary or secondary cause of this condition.

I'm still very interested in knowing how other people did after stopping alcohol consumption. In my earlier stages of awareness about a year ago or so I stopped drinking for a couple weeks and then started again. I didn't notice much of a difference when doing this. On some of the posts I have read about others who had worsening symptoms right after drinking only a single beer or glass of wine. This doesn't happen to me. I almost wish it did. I would then be sure what my primary cause of PN is.

After being hospitalized for pancreatitis, I stopped drinking for 5 years.
It was during this hospital stay that I was Dx'd with PN for the first time.
I had been self medicating with alcohol and had overdone it.
I'd had the same sx for years, but my PCP in the HMO was a real incompetent dud saying it was in my head cause he hadn't a clue. I fired him and changed insurance. Now I'm on Medicare with supplemental, and choose whichever doctor I wish.
When I drink now, sometimes I can feel it in my feet after one drink- but other times not.
I now limit my consumption more reasonably.

Being sober you will feel more of what is going on in your body. My husband has been sober for several years and the PN is now showing its ugly side and seems to be progressing. Nervers take along time to regenerate, some may never regenerate. Why it is happening to him now? ....well it probably was there all along, but the damage just continued on as the rate of repair cannot kep mup with the damage that was done or ongoing. I hate to think how much worse the PN would be if he was actively drinking! My husband had reached the point where he was about to go on the transplant list, but his liver regained function. We were very lucky.

Thanks to all for the input. It is much appreciated. My symptoms seem so weird. A few days ago my my face and tops of my hands suddenly felt hot/sunburned and then it went away 30 seconds later. I'm experiencing hypersensitivity on my head. When I sweat, the drops tickle my face like a feather. The symtoms ebb and flow. It's different for everyone. Time will tell if I'm healing or not.