Hey guys... I'm aching in my back, up my legs, my feet are burning bad. I'm really really tired and I'm exhausted. I have been sneezing all day, but it's an "allergy" sneeze. And for those of you who don't have allergies, the difference is, when you sneeze an allergy sneeze vs. a cold sneeze is, allergy sneezes are "clear" and cold sneezes are more opaque. (sorry for the graphic there)...

Anyway, not sure if it's "stress" related symptoms... my van broke down permanently and I have to buy a car somehow! Or flu related symptoms.... with a bit of allergy sneezing on the side. How do you NOT stress when your only vehicle breaks down and your mechanic tells you that it will cost more to fix it than it will to replace it.

MAJOR stressor for me. I have no savings, no backup plan, and no parents to help me out. I'm pretty screwed as far as transportation goes! For now, I'm riding the bus, but this walking 1/2 mile to the bus stop, changing two buses, then riding the train to work, then walking 1/4 mile across our campus at work is hard on my feet! I just hope I can keep up the pace. It takes me about an hour to get to work, and an hour to get home. Not bad. But the pain is getting pretty bad. I can't afford to go on disability. I am carrying insurance on four of us, our rent is $2,000.00 a month (welcome to Silicon Valley!) and utilities are about $400.00 for Gas and Electric and $300.00 for the cable and water and garbage... I KNOW disability won't cover that. Then there are groceries, tuition for the girls, books, bus passes for them, and day care for the granddaughter, which is currently only $12.00 a week because my daughter is on a state funded program for her day care. Basically, my entire income is spent on living expenses! We need everything I make just to survive month to month. No money leftover to make car payments or to save. Oh, I make $60,000.00 a year!
Yes, they have a dad, no, he doesn't help with college, he is re-married and has a 4 and 7 year old! Yes, the girls work, and they help with the rent and groceries, but their money barely makes a dent. What they give me pays for auto insurance, groceries, and miscellaneous stuff. (Taxes, cleaning products, auto repairs, all those things that you don't count on a monthly basis but eat away at your budget! clothes, gas in the car... )

So, I guess this posting falls into the "VENTING" category... but I'm pretty sure these are PN symptoms... I feel like **** and I just want to go home and cry today!

I'm sorry that all this is hitting you at once. That sucks! I have been raising my daughter for 3 yrs without dad, but I can't imagine raising two kids alone ALL the way. I'm remarried and that's been a big relief. I don't have enough stamina to go it alone, I admire you!
I had a big flare up in my PN about a month ago - thought I was dying and went to the ER. Only "abnormal" was my temp slightly elevated. Turned out that I ended up with fullblown flu the next day. Spent the next 2 days with a high temp and so weak I could barely move. Things are just NOW stabilizing with my PN - (I finally figured out to start back on my vitamins) - so I think flu or cold can make symptoms much worse and probably deplete nutrients.
I don't know how you cope with the stress! There is this cool guided imagery CD I listen to called "A trip to the beach" that helps me forget about all my nursing school stress and lets me sleep.
So, most of this info was pretty random.......but I DO hope you feel better.
Liz

Hi,
I don't see it as venting!!But i'm sure you Pn is flaring up..
I heard it was expensive there but holly cow. Stress and all that
walking ,buses,a train and then the walk to work and back again.

Looking over your payments i just see anything you could drop,everbody
seems to be pitching in..Do you have a walker,or wheelchair for tem. use
until you can think of something else,I know you can get on a bus in a
wheelchair where i live but never had to use a train..How about carpooling

I'm sorry i can't help and no disability will come near to what you can make.
know there are places who lend out wheelchairs but not cars.I know you
don'like asking,i hate it. But why not post at work,you just might find a
carpool AWWW just wanted to let you know your being thought about..
Your in my heart wish it could be a car.. Sue

--as can getting any sort of pathogen illness, particularly for those of us with autoimmune components to our neuropathies. An already ramped-up/oversensitive immune system gets an extra incentive to be so when it has to respond to an invading pathogen.

Don't worry about the venting--we've all been there at one time or another (some of us MANY times).

Your "life situation" is certainly not the best, but I think it's good that you came here to vent; it's certainly a more healthy and adaptable response than a lot of others I can think of, and that bodes well for you eventually.

Nursegirl i love a trip to the beach..It puts me right where i want to
i can relax and it does make you feel so good!!! Sue

I wish i had this place Neurotalk,to vent many years ago,but glad i'm here
now.

I posted a list books for you on burning hands, hope you got them,easy
reads with your since you have those busy days.

Once again S i wish you bnches of luck. Sue

I guess it's just bad PN... maybe a little allergies thrown in for good measure, but really just some bad pn that's kicking my butt! I'm sure it's the stress.

I'm at work today because my boss is leaving for Asia for a week and I really have to be here to be sure all his ducks are in a row before he leaves. (that's the live of an Exec. Admin).

New symptom today though, sweating. I'm not much of a sweater, never have been.... actually never even wore anti-perspirant all my life. (really!) Now, I've been sweating under my right arm! Yep, just one arm. Been sweating all morning, just under that one arm. Huh, go figure!

I do, however sweat when I work out, and that is a good thing... and I sometimes wake up at night soaked in sweat, but I just attribute that to the hormonal being 47 and change in life thing. (Not sure if I'm going through menopause or not, had a partial hysterectomy at the age of 26... so haven't had periods since then, but still have my ovaries!)

Anyway, this sweating under one arm is quite an interesting new twist. Aaahhh the fun and exciting life of PN. Always a conversation starter! Good thing I'm an outgoing person who doesn't mind talking to co-workers. However, today I feel like crap and just want to get my job done and go home to my new 800 thread count sheets and my three movies I just rented and spend the day in my room listening to my canary compete with the T.V.

I did stay home yesterday and really can't afford another sick day for about a month or so.

I hope everyone has a good day and enjoys their weekend. I will be spending it in bed trying to heal before Monday comes so I can get back to work!

Terri

do a number on the PN! Sounds like your job stress, and probably allergies are 'helping'? Allergies, at least you can do something about. This time of year, IF I skip my anti-histamine and nasal spray, I wake up in the AM with the equivalent of one heck of a hangover! Not to mention the hours it takes for all those clogged sinus cavities to drain and get back to normal...the sound effects are unpleasant to say the least.

As for the sweating, that's an new one....only on one side? I don't know about your docs, but, my GP has call-in hours at a certain time...so you can call and ask...Should I worry? or not? Usually the 'files' not in hand, but they do call you back...mostly with a 'come-in' but you get 'worked-in' for a short visit so's All can decide what to do...if anything. Try to call, is my gut feeling...I hope this works for you. You don't need more worry rite now, for sure! - j