Thanks for the link to the lizajane spreadsheets! They certainly will make it easier to track my testing instead of digging through a stack of papers.

I have been using the Quest Diagnostic guide with my primary neurologist to systematically eliminate causes. I have had every test on the guide except the Parvo and Anti-Sulfatide. I was suppose to have the anti-sufatide, but the Quest Lab didn't run the test along with the other antibody tests. I've also had a Spinal Fluid analysis. All tests are normal or negative.

TommyE

Well, based on your history posted here I see 3 culprits for PN.

1) diabetes

2) toxin exposures (solvents and other strong chemicals)

3) Previous Zocor use.

That is not looking too idiopathic to me!

You may recover some damage, because of the Zocor over time. But that depends on how much damage you have etc which is difficult to prove.

2) The toxins may or may not improve with time.

3) controlling blood sugars may help with diabetes.
Supplements showing promise for diabetes, are lipoic acid--I'd use the best one as we've posted before, benfotiamine, and
acetyl carnitine. All have papers on PubMed for diabetic neuropathy.

Mrs D

I had a follow up with my Endo last week and my blood sugars are still spiking in the pre-diabetic range 2 hour post prandial after a relatively low carb meal. i'm scared to think what they would be if I ate like I used to, chocalate, ice cream, potatoes, rice, second helpings on everything.

I'm off the Actos and on Metformin now. I read the Metformin will help with my cholestrol, have you heard that? Still off the Zocor.

So far the Metanx has not helped, but it's only been 3 weeks. My Endo wants me on it for at least 2 months as a trial.

Yes, the metformin helps with cholesterol. I've used it twice...
but both times after a few months, my GI tract goes haywire and I can't live like that anymore. Usually the lowering of the cholesterol takes a few months, it is not rapid in onset.

Not everyone responds to metformin this way, however. So maybe you will be lucky. I've found information that metformin increases serotonin in the GI tract which results in more motility.
Metformin is tried in people with gastroparesis for this reason.

You should really try the R-lipoic stabilized....it can lower blood sugars. Be sure to test frequently to see how it reacts in you while you are on the metformin.

There are other nutrients found to help diabetics. There are papers on these too.

1) magnesium --- this is lost in the urine of diabetics, but the cause is still not figured out. So eating foods high in magnesium and/or taking a good supplement (not OXIDE form) may help.
my magnesium thread with information:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
start at 1/2 the RDA or 200mg elemental.

2) Taurine has be found to be of benefit for diabetics. At least 1000mg a day.

3) Inositol is also lost in the urine of diabetics-- at least 1 gram a day.
This comes as a powder that is inexpensive and mixes into liquids. Has a mild sweet taste.