have both endorsed B12 oral supplements for all persons over 50...just in case.

It is cheap, and harmless-- and may help many people who are not
absorbing from food properly.

Many doctors know nothing of nutrition. Ask about Vit D next time, and get another blank look!

Wow, shame on them. To tell me "I don't believe in this vitamin stuff, I'm from the old school", is the same as telling me "I still watch Black and White tv and I won't go near a computer (he probably doesn't), He is however an excellent surgeon and doctor. Too bad he is OLD SCHOOL when it comes to supplements.

So I'll take my B-12 methyl, stick my face in the sun for a short time every day, and take care of Alan's foot.

I just wish I could go back in time when I was first diagnosed with diabetes and told "Watch your glucose number, you don't want complications, later on".

Yeah, I should have listened, shouldn't I !!!!!!!

Thanks for all the good info Mrs. D!!!

I just hope the burning quiets down.

Melody

Love that comment! You are soo right. When seeing my newest doc an Endocrinologist, he suggested even MORE calcium, & D. Thanks to you I was able to say "Calc. Citrate rather than Carbonate....and also Magnesium?" Thanks to you, I think I got an actual look of respect from him.

Melody, I meant no disrespect to either you or Dr Fred. You are very lucky to have him. It's just that docs couldn't possibly keep up to date on everything and still practice....it's impossible! It's just that all my docs have some foibles, and one is the vitamin/supplement black hole. Depending on what's vogue in their training they have to miss other aspects or developments since that point in time. An example I've one doc who orders one particular type of blood panels that's no longer used- Soo the labs do another set of tests that have most of the things he's looking for, but not all. In the last two weeks I've had two other docs order the same tests but using the right codes....It's a good thing I've been trying to get all my bloodwork done at one place at one time and not have scars all over my arms where I have to get those IV lines in. This way too, I can be sure that all my docs are getting all my reports. I'd much rather be herding cats?

I'm very relieved that Alan's foot is healing well. A friend of mine spent 3 weeks in the hospital two months ago for infected diabetic foot issues. He was NOT a very happy camper.

So for now, !!! - j

Dahlek:

Not to worry, you didn't dis-respect anybody. The good thing about Dr. Fred is that the special tests he orders are from Athena Labs and not just Quest diagnostics. That, to me, is a sign of a progressive doctor. At least he is not stuck in the old days (LIKE SOME DOCS ARE)!!!

Dr. Fred went to medical school in Italy!!! He speaks fluent italian, english and I thing he is yugoslavian. I'm not sure!!!

He's built like Arnold Swartznegger and he's charming to boot.

And he's a very good doc so we are very lucky. And his staff is knowledgeable (I love the guy Frank there who knows lots of stuff) and when I got there he even asked about Alan.

So let's all of us pray that some day they find a CURE for neuropathy.

And, believe me, when I get my B-12 LEVEL, I will surely post it.

It's supposed to be at least over 400 right???

Melody

Melody,

Sounds like Dr. Fred is a good guy.... and even being out here on the West Coast my doctors use Athena when necessary because its the only place the tests are available in the country because Athena helps develope them and can only be got there.... however, after they become routine, at least out here, Quest is considered quite reliable and insurance will not pay often out of state for a test that can be done locally - or - if you are going to a center for special tests like biopsies for amyloid, sural nerve, etc... they are sent to the centers the docs feel are the best to analyze.... (example - my sural nerve was taken out at local hospital and sent to large medical school for analysis - and amyloid biopsy sent to Boston at my request for second opinion)......

However, also agree with Dahlek that docs cannot possibly know all - and thats why we have our groups and us to help educate them.... as I know you do ---- even my neuros have worked off the LJ spreadsheets to be sure all testing has been done and may have missed - but they are incredibly busy and I can see how they dont have time to know all - most of my docs I have now are heads of their departments at their hopsital - and are called constantly on traumas, etc ... these guys/girls work like crazy and I dont know how they do it... they have told me - if I do have anything relevant for them - give them copies to read and they will.... which is great.....

Anyway, most important thing is we work with them - as members of NT we have lots of resources and thats great!

Good to hear Alan is healing - and sorry your PN is getting worse - gotta be tough - I've heard about 60% of people with diabetes eventually get PN - but at least knowing the underlying cause you are way ahead of the game - and keeping your diet etc under control like you have been you probably have really been helping yourself.... hope you find relief for the buring and take care.....

Hi Kmeb: How are you doing???

Oh, I'll live. I have to. Don't know what else to do. I take my b-12 methyl and say to myself. "It's going to your nerves and it's repairing them". I say this to myself right before I go to sleep. I do this every night. I think it's called Imaging!!!! If I believe it's going to happen, PERHAPS??????

Want to know what I think is happening with these doctors?? There are two many of US and too few of them. And with the paperwork, the insurance claims, etc. etc. sometimes it can get to be an assembly line. As we age, we get more STUFF, and if we are diabetic, and we don't do what we are supposed to do, well....eventually we get neuropathy. It's just in the cards for most of us. I was stupid. I didn't follow doctor's orders all those years ago. I ate dumb stuff, didn't exercise, and was in complete denial. I really thought I was immortal. How dumb is that? So now, I just pray and watch every single thing that goes into my mouth. Too bad I had to be 59 to do this. Oh well.

Anyway, I do hope you are feeling up to snuff, as we say!!!

All the best. Melody

P.S. Anybody here watch American Idol and Dancing with the Stars???
It sure takes my mind off of neuropathy!!!

Melody since you have been taking b12 the blood test is going to show a high level in your blood, maybe even 1200. You wont be able to tell what it was before you started taking b12. If its still low even after taking it for a while it shows that you had a serious absorption problem.

Joe, I've only been on this for 1 week. If my b-12 level could change in a week and get up to 1200, well, THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!!!

This morning, I got up at 7:45 a.m., took a walk to Dunkin Donuts and had breakfast, then I went to the drugstore to buy Alan's Betadyne, gauze bandages, etc, then I went shopping, then I came home, got into the bathtub with a Brillo Pad and cleaned the whole tub. Then I washed the whole bathroom. Then I got out my mop and cleaned the whole house. Then I cleaned my bedroom.

Then I took a power walk (with my ipod).and walked to the place where they add minutes to my cell phone (prepaid), then I went to the supermarket and bought some stuff to cook for dinner. As I'm walking up and down the aisles, I'm listening to the Rolling Stones singing Gimme Shelter and I'm practically dancing down the aisle (in my earlier days, I was a dancer, disco etc. etc. ). Even with arthritis (but before I developed neuropathy, if I went to a wedding, I could keep up with the 20 year olds on the dance floor).

I just came home. I'm not even breathing hard. When I finish typing this, I'll go into the kitchen and start cooking my chickens.

I have NEVER IN ALL MY LIFE HAD SUCH ENERGY. Now if this is what happens when you take B-12 methyl (about 4000) a day, well then BRING IT ON!!!!

I told my girlfriend who is 55 years old (I told her this when I first got the stuff) and she's been on it for 4 days now. She calls me up last night and said "Melody, I don't know what's in this B-12 stuff but I shopped all day and I'm not even tired" And she works 2 jobs.

So when they say that B-12 gives you energy, they are not just whistling dixie, are they?

And I won't go off this stuff just to see what my b-12 level is on a future blood test.

Tomorrow I go to Cornell Medical Center for my diabetes protocol check-up.
I'll probably dance into the examination room. LOL.

you see, I already broke their protocol by lowering my AIC level, losing all the weight I lost and lowering my blood pressure. They said not too many people achieved the results I achieved. It's no miracle, believe me, And this was WAY BEFORE I started Methyl B-12. This was almost 2 years ago when I first went there and my sugar was 400. I was morbidly obese and something clicked. I went to a nutritionist and the rest is history. I had a food addiction all my life. But something clicked in my brain.

But now that my neuropathy had erupted in full bloom (for about a month now),well, honestly, I didn't expect this to happen but happen it did. So now I am extremely determined to give it my best shot and at least reduce my symptoms.

I hope that my power walking, my eating right, and my taking my methyl b-12 supplements, well, I at least hope that I benefit my body IN SOME WAY.

I'm thinking positive here. No other way to go.

I should get my b-12 level on Monday. Will update.

Melody

So you used to twirl around at 2001 Odyssey haha......for those non new yorkers here that is the disco where Saturday NIght Fever was filmed......the building was demolished in 2005....anyway since you caught your PN very early like Brian did maybe you will have the same result he has. Good luck , I hope you are one of the success stories here.

Please just tell me you guys still dont have your disco "outfits" ok?