Hi all,

I just wanted to reach out to ask a few questions for some veteran advice. If you have followed my posts at all, you know I am a newbie to the neuro symptoms. I am nine weeks into my first real "flare".

1. Do you all notice wax and waning of symptoms (burning feet and hands, especially)? I am taking Lyrica, and have played with the dosage. I am unsure if the coming and going is to due the "illness" or the medication. I will burn for three nights in a row, sometimes into the day, then it cuts off like a light switch. Thoughts?

2. How many of you have problems with swelling and red hands? I notice when a) I either use my hands a lot doing chores or b) I am on my feet a lot during the day that I swell. My hands will also turn really red and even burn slightly. Odd pressure sensation? I sometimes describe it as the feeling of extremely dry skin.

3. Do you all experience extreme fatigue? I will literally sleep 13 hours and wake up just as drained as when I laid down. I will take medication, have a small glass of coffee, and walk some of the stiffness out and start to gain some energy. Household chores have become very difficult, as I become short of breath often. Climbing up the stairs of our basement...phew!! Is this a typical symptom of neuropathy? This makes it seem like more of a metabolic/cellular level issue. Some have led me to think B12 deficiency, but my primary doctor says no way. Some have made me believe it's fibromyalgia. I am so confused and not sure what to think. MY neuro appointment couldn't come any sooner. Praying for a call this week.

4. How many of you experience muscle weakness? This is one symptom that varies in intensity from day to day, but has consistently been lingering the entire 9 weeks. My arms are the worse and will even burn in pain once used "too much". But my legs give out pretty quickly too, and I have noticed my walk is odd. My knees buckle quite often and once I reach my max, I start tripping more easily and dropping things. I also find it hard to hold up my head a lot. I lay down throughout the day to alleviate this. I have noticed legs cramping at night, if I do use them a lot in the day. Also, lots of muscle twitching in the calves, arms, sides, shoulders, back!!

5. Since I am a little over two months in, can all the scary things be ruled out? What are the odds I could have MG, CIDP, Gullian-Barre?

6. Of course I have back and neck pain about three-four days per week. A lot of this depends on how much I physically exert myself of course.

I am having a bit of social anxiety about going out, even to the store because if no one understands what I am going through by looking at me on the outside. By the time I get to the register, I am breathing heavily and struggling to put my groceries on the check out belt. And lord knows I can't push the buggy out! I am now having my mom help me weekly to get the groceries. I am a 26 year old physically fit female, never smoked, never drink except occasionally socially. I now know that disease/chronic illness does not discriminate!

I appreciate each of you being here for me to voice my thoughts and concerns to. Other than my close friends and family, this is the one place I can go and know that others truly "get it"!!