And he put me through a round of new tests... Checking me for Celiacs disease and ran another round of tests for diabetes and thyroid... He had me give four "stool samples" for different tests and ran at least six blood tests!

This is a good thing! I've had the Neurologist pretty much throw his hands up and say, You have PN, here is some medicine, now go home and deal with it.

But a few days ago, when I lost control of my bowels (again) and I feel like I can't leave my home without wearing protective pads, I finally made an appt. with an internist. He was very concerned and had me do a whole battery of tests. What a good doc he is! I feel like someone is listening this time!

Then this morning they sent me to a Psychiatrist, they want me to combine stress management with my Neuropathy because the stress of my life is a big big factor in my illness.

Oh, sideline on the boyfriend... HE is still hanging in there, still adorable, and putting up with all my "embarassing moments" while I try to figure out what's going on here! Luckily my most embarassing moment was after he had already gone home that night!

I'll update you when the test results come back.

You now a more than one doc who is seeing things that say "IT's NOT IN YOUR HEAD!" Sort of makes you feel human again, doesn't it?
Time to break out Liza Jane's charts and start 'ticking' off things from her testing lists! You seem to have found a winner in the medical category for sure.

Seeing a psych to help deal with all the stressors of having any form of Neuro condition or conditions AND trying to get on with life is really a good idea. So many of us have had to 'sort it all out' by ourselves in our own ways -tho it can take lots longer.

Check out your current meds and supplements tho-- some meds can create certain problems and say so in that teeny tiny fine print on common and rare side effects; also you mite have too much magnesium in your multi vites and whatever else you're taking as supplements. Mrs D & Rose have written lots all over NT on the issue...maybe they can give you some pointers.

I raise the supplement issue as last summer I took a good hard look at my [then] combo of calcium+D, multi-vite and B-complex...it turned out I was getting 6 times the safe max for B-6! The 6 can help some neuropathies but too much can make it worse - I stopped all and am now on a different set of the what-alls I need.

As for that guy in your life now, sounds as if he may be a 'keeper' too! Having some things in life go RIGHT every once in a while is great, no...IT'S GREAT! isn't it? Crossing my fingers [can't do the toes] that it stays that way for a good while - j

I have had every stomach test in the years as have a horrible stomach some due to a past eating disorder. I have though recovered still major stomach problems. I agree about looking at meds. Also have you had gi tests like colonoscpy,endo,ct scan? It may not be celiec or could be but there are other issues like allergies as you know so even looking at things like that in your diet.I'm glad you found a good doc to help you as aside from nerve issues I know how stomach issues can be. I also know stress and that is very important to control in stomach issues. Of course its easier said then done but learning coping mechanisms to get through it in a calm way. I'm in therapy and was before this and was for 12 years on and off. A lot comes from with in but the guidence and support can help. I encourage journaling too it can help see connections with even stomach issues but also daily stress. Take care

Well, it seems all the news is "good"!
All my blood tests came out better than last year, which means I'm taking much better care of myself than I was. My vitamin levels are much higher than before, my blood sugar, thyroid, ldl and hdl levels are much better!
The "stool" samples came out negative for celiacs and any other food allergies. I am just lactose intolerant and have to be very careful of any cheese or dairy products I eat.

No more pizza for this girl! Too bad, that is one of my favorite dishes!

O.K., now It's back to getting healthy with a good diet and staying away from stress! Anyone know a good cave near a peaceful vegetable garden for rent? (Oh, make sure my children are not allowed, and my granddaughter can only visit 20 minutes a day!)

Do you still have your gallbladder?

Cathie

I have a good fried who lives in a cave in a tiny town,in Ca. She loves
it. Got to mow the top of it some mossy grase but not much Mantiance.
She seems so happy,a little on the small side,but no fighting Ca. traffic
and a store in town sells her art work. And she grows her own veggies.
Doggies and handsome neighbor keeps her company. Sue

I was going to im you privately but decided to do it here.

If you are lactose intolerant, you should try to be more than just careful. Intolerant means--eat none. On another note, many gluten intolerant/celiac people get false negatives. It's more common to get a false negative! A huge percentage of gluten intolerant can not have dairy either. Once the villi are damaged, then they sometimes can't tolerate dairy either. Sometimes, a person will beable to tolerate dairy in the future. Doctors still do not know enough about gluten intolerance--there is not a test out there yet that can find gluten intolerance before the damage is terrible.

Once you have given lactose intolerance a chance, if you still are having some problems, then try gluten free. If it helps, great, if not, having no gluten can not hurt you and you can always go back.

I do still have my Gall Bladder and Yes, I am Lactose Intolerant.
Deb, I do push it sometimes and have some cheese on a sandwich, or a small scoop of ice cream. I guess that is the trigger that sets me off for the next day or two.

I should stay away completely from milk products then.

So, what do you think the Gall Bladder has to do with it? I've seen my Ex-husband have Gall Bladder issues and they were extreme pain and he had his taken out.

Thank you all for your help trying to figure this one out.

Terri

Before I got sick with all the stomach stuff - I did have lactose intolerance -but found myself able to tolerate some products with no problem... milk, cream in any forms like soups, ice cream, cooked into products, etc.. totally out... creamy salad dressings, etc too... but, I could and did eat harder cheeses which have less lactose with no problem... could eat half a pizza with no bad affects at all... (yum).... also, if I really HAD to have ice cream, which was about once a year, I just got the cheap lactose pills at Traders Joes and they really helped... also was able to drink the lactose free milk sold at the grocery store with cereal with no problems either... it was trial and error and worth it!

Gallbladders... Well, how can I put this delicately, since this forum is largely based on prim and proper behavior??? It is like this. Some people, who have their gallbladders removed, cannot tolerate fat in their diet... It causes some of the amazing things you have described in your post above. For example, if you are at the International House of Pancakes, and you slather REAL butter all over every layer of your stack of cakes, you had better be close to: a. their necessary room or b. home... If you are in between, you could find yourself in trouble...

In other words, you don't get a lot of notice...

Cathie

P.S. Was that delicate enough???