Wow, that is all so good to know. I'll pursue extended glucose testing.

As for other questions...
I've always had the right vaccines before going abroad, which I've done many times, but I didn't go anywhere shortly before my condition developed.

So is an epsom salt bath a good approach? Should I try taking magnesium/calcium supplements?

I don't take acid reducers, and I've never been particularly exposed to anything.

I don't work out anymore, my shoulders are in too much pain and the pain increases far too easily.

Mrsd, I saw the thread you wrote, and it looks fascinating. What things from that thread would you specifically advise I talk to my doctor about/try? Particularly in terms of what drugs/supplements to take? Also, there was another sticky thread about eventual healing that alluded to a program of drugs and/or supplements on page two of the stickies on this forum, and I've spent hours but still can't understand what that means. Could someone link me to that? It's stressful and terrifying to learn all the ins and outs of my condition, but I can tell people here have found important things to do, and I want to learn them.

Thanks again, all.

Hmmmm..... so you have had LOTS of vaccines over the years?

Which ones? Can you list them here?

Vaccines are one trigger for PN, and autoimmune disease.
http://www.whale.to/a/neuropathy.html
Today vaccines contain substances that are called adjuvants, these stimulate the immune system, and in some people this becomes excessive and damaging. Vaccines can also have contaminants in them. One of the most dramatic forms of neuropathy is Guillain–Barré syndrome. But many less acute forms exist as long term issues for people who inherit the over-reactive immune system. Many doctors will not broach vaccine injury as a cause, because they don't want to get involved. Large clinics in general have "beliefs" and the doctors who work there all follow the rules. Example of Mayo and its hesitation to use narcotic pain management.
One vaccine that was hugely damaging was the Lyme vaccine.
When enough people present all at once like for the Lyme vaccine it is more obvious. But the process of this damage remains a potential for anyone receiving vaccines today. I will have a link explaining surface antigens in the recipient of vaccines...soon. This was the problem with Lyme vaccine and Hep B. The Lyme vaccine caused degenerative arthritis in certain people who genetically had certain markers in their blood.

Neuropathy does Improve...sticky thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread43699.html

This is long and you have to watch it all to find what you want/need for complete understanding.

This is our subforum:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum119.html

I am gathering information for a vaccine thread on the subforum in the next few days.
Here are some links that will be on it for you to consider now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--nWrqIspnQ
parts 2, 3, and 4, are on there too. I suggest you watch them all.

One doctor's opinion on why doctors don't understand vaccine injury:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_3_N...eature=related
The doctor on this YouTube is quite emotional about this subject, and ventures a comment on nurses giving invasive vaccines and the doctors not even being present! I'd add now that people today go to
pharmacies for vaccines..a common advertisement of chain drug stores to make more money....and these people NEVER see a doctor or NURSE. They walk out the door, and that's it.

As for the elevated ANA being benign? I don't agree. I think it is the beginning of something long term for you. There are people here who had significant problems with normal ANA and didn't get positive results until later. ANA can test pos/neg and go back and forth. In someone with symptoms, it should be monitored regularly.
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/pat...antibodies-ana

and:
http://labtestsonline.org/understand...s/ana/tab/test

Ok, I'm still a little frustrated. On the "Neuropathy does improve" thread, the first several posts refer to some strategy on "page 3 of the stickies" which I see later on was amended to page 2, and another person says that the key is to feed the mitochondria. I have no idea where page 2 of the stickies is, since there are four stickies with lots of pages, and I don't understand the technical abbreviations for the supplements to take. Could you direct me with a link to the "page 2 of the stickies" or some comparable resource for what kinds of things I can take that might help my body balance out some of the symptoms?

Help would be appreciated. I know I have to figure out why I have the neuropathy, and I have some ideas in that direction, but I'd like to feel like my body can restore some. Thanks.

The Neuropathy does improve thread is a sticky....it has many pages.(it was not always a sticky in the beginning, but became so later)

Post 19 in that thread offers a list from that poster that worked for HER.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post260853-19.html

This post on the Useful Websites sticky is another:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post9580-18.html
and part 2
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post9583-19.html

Each of us has their own list of things that works best for THEM.
Everyone is different because there are different genetic things going on in each person, and their diet is different, and exposure to toxins is different.

At your young age, having a degenerative condition is not common unless genetic (you can have DNA testing to see if you have CMT --Charcot Marie Tooth disease) or you have beginning arthritis or a rheumatological problem.

Seeing a Rheumatologist may be helpful for you. Take all your test results in to him/her for evaluation.

Thank you so much. You're wonderfully helpful.