[concerned lady]

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend some great neurologists and great diabetes experts anywhere in the "front range" areas of Colorado, like in Lakewood, Denver, Boulder, Golden, Arvada, Wheatridge, etc.?

I'd appreciate some personal recommendations (if possible) of any thorough, experienced, knowledgable and nice neurologists (and diabetes experts) in the "front range" area of Colorado.

A few days ago, I was told by a neurologist that I have a peripheral neuropathy, but he said he didn't know the cause(s).

Years ago, I used to have beginning TOS/thoracic outlet syndrome, and I used to post on BT/BrainTalk's forums including PN/peripheral neuropathy, TOS/thoracic outlet syndrome, and I also posted on Cara's Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease forum also at BT.

Here at NT/NeuroTalk, I've posted on Cara's Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease forum.

That neurologist I just saw, said my vibratory sense (tuning fork test), and other foot and leg reflexes, were slightly diminished compared to reflexes in my upper body areas.

I have slight swelling (edema) now, in both ankle areas: Months ago (during the winter), the slight edema swelling was not so slight, and extended upwards from ankles to almost knees, causing a weird feeling of stretching of the skin, from the edema.

The edema was less when I woke up, but not entirely gone. It did get worse, with my legs "dependent" (down, not elevated), like when driving, using my computer, etc.

Now, the lower leg edema is just located at upper feet extending to just above ankles (for about 3 inches), mostly on "insides" of lower legs, and I also have a reddish discoloration above anklet sock line, where the redness looks like a 5 inch band of sunburn, all around both lower legs. (I don't think it's psoriasis, but I do have a mild case of psoriasis controlled well by diet, if I don't cheat)

For the lower leg swelling & red discoloration: First I went to a cardiologist, who ruled out CHF/congestive heart failure since CHF can cause lower leg edema.

Then, I went to a vascular surgeon (Dr. Brantigan, in Denver), who said he thought it was "lymphedema", with unknown cause. Vein problems were ruled out by Dr. B's prescribed tests (negative doppler ultrasound of legs, and negative MRI of both lower legs), and also ruled out, was tumors in female areas, that could have pressed on lymph vessels (negative CT scan of female areas).

Then, about 2-3 weeks ago, I had one episode upon waking up, of a throbbing, burning, left sided (not constant) headache with slight left side of face pins & needles with slight numbness, so I wanted to be sure I didn't have any kind of a stroke.

I've also noticed a "lazy" left eye (will have to see eye doc, to see if connected to any of this).

That one sided headache plus left facial pins & needles/slight numbness, led me to see the neurologist, whose prescribed tests ruled out stroke. The neuro figured I had probably slept wrong (quite possible, since I sometimes take naps in my car, sitting up), causing what he called an "occipital neuralgia" on left side. He reproduced the burning headache, by pressing on an area located low down on my skull, on the left side, just above neck.

My brain CT scan was normal. My brain MRI was normal. :-)

Several blood tests prescribed by that neuro, regarding possible Vitamin B-12 deficiency & possible diabetes, had results (numbers) right on the highest edge of normal limits. (I personally suspect pre-diabetes--since my father's father had type 1 diabetes).

My Vitamin B-12 blood tests results were:

B-12 level in 700's

MMA/methyl malonic acid level, & HCy/homocysteine level, both were at the highest numbers within "normal range" levels, (that is, one number below being "elevated" levels).

But since I had been taking some sublingual (Jarrow brand) methyl cobal amin (Vitamin B-12), for several days up to the day before I had the bloods drawn, I'm thinking my results may have looked better than they would have looked, had I not been taking the B-12 so close to getting blood drawn for the B-12 tests. (Rose, if you're out there, what do you think?) So, I'm taking B-12 sublingually, daily now (1,000 mcg/micrograms), just in case I really was low in B-12.

Another thought the neuro had, was that the DGL/deglycyrrhizinated licorice chewable tablets, that I had been taking for years, may have had some unwanted adverse effects, including possibly on my kidneys (maybe). (My blood pressure goes up, if I eat salt). I was taking DGL to help lessen gastric reflux, in addition to watching what I eat. The DGL supposedly has no or almost no steroidal things left in it, compared to the original licorice root, from which it is made.

However, I wasn't able to pin down the company (Enzymatic Therapy) yet, regarding comparing how many milligrams of residual glycyrrhizins are left in each DGL tablet, compared with how much glycyrrhizins were in the original licorice root. I think the lady said there's about 20 mg. of glycyrrhizins left in each DGL tablet, but she wouldn't or couldn't say how much glycyrrhizins were in the original licorice.

I'm wondering if I may have been taking, without realizing it, the equivalent of steroids & who knows what else, for years (but hopefully in small amounts!), in the DGL tablets. I'm still checking on this.

Any ideas and recommendations for Denver area neuros & diabetes experts?

Thanks!

Carol (concerned lady)
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com