I keep seeing this similar thread running through various postings and wondered how many of you who are experiencing these "attacks" have seen a Rheumatologist? Is anyone monitoring you for the possibility you could be developing one of the autoimmune disorders?

Cathie

I'm going to get all checked out at The Cleveland Clinic in July. So if there's anything autoimmune happening I hope they'll find it. I don't normally ache - only when I had the flu.
But, other than the flu, I never get fevers. The one I had last month was probably the first in a year or so. Its funny - I have only had a few fevers in my life. Yes I'm a freak of nature.......

Liz

BTW. My PN symptoms have all but disappeared since I started taking my vitamins again this week (other than my numb big toe - it stays that way). I was in such bad shape last week. It must be something with my vitamins and my gastric bypass. But the doctors can't find an deficiency in my bloodwork. Don't get it.....

Liz, my philosophy is if it works keep going with it. I meant to tell you the other day that that is how my PN began, in 2001 a partially numb big toe, thought it was maybe toenail digging in . It wasnt until 2003, after it had spread to both feet from toes to balls of feet that I found out what pn was. Previous from that i thought i might be from my back, had mri etc. I had a very physical job and shrugged off a lot of ache and pain and injuries and kept working. If i would have stayed home for every ache and pain i would never have gone to work. You are much smarter than me to be doing something about it this early. Hopefully like Brian you caught it early and something can be done about it before it progresses...keep taking that B12 is i guess what im trying to say, dont concern yourself with what you blood level numbers are.

Take the B12, other wise WHAT was that again ignore WHAT sorry joe
don't agree!!! But that's just me Sue

Hope you continue to improve. I haven't read too much on gastric bypasses. If you have a bypass done, can it affect your B12 absorption?

Cathie

Well, if it's working......and it isn't a dangerous substance...I think I'm going to stick with it. Cuz the doctors can't figure anything out at this point. My neuro says he thinks my PN has something to do with a nutritional deficiency, but can't pinpoint it (or doesn't want to go for $$ testing!). When I told him taking the vitamins helped immensely, he said "it's probably some trace nutrient you're missing". So, it seems nobody knows anything - but if it works, I'm going for it!
Liz

P.S. B12 deficiency is extremely common after gastric bypass yorkiemom.

Went back reread, sorry Joe and yes nursegirl stay on the b12.Thats
a beautifull picture of you?? Can't wait to hear everything they have
to say at C.C.So keep us up,on everything and you raising a daughter as
well?? Old lady nurse Sue

Cathie,

Absolutely. The stomach (gastric) acid and intrinsic factor are necessary for normal B12 absorption. Without enough acid (and certainly if there is no stomach involved, there is no acid) it is impossible to absorb from unfortified food. And without intrinsic factor (also coming from the normal stomach lining), severe malabsorption of B12 exists, meaning that a very large dose of B12 (at least 1000 mcg to be safe) must be taken for a small amount to be absorbed by default.

For a medical person not to know this and tell the patient, that medical person would be super ignorant, even beyond the usual.

rose