[barbie86]

Hello. Has anyone autonomic neuropathy? When did it started after first symptoms started?

[icelander]

Originally Posted by barbie86

Hello. Has anyone autonomic neuropathy? When did it started after first symptoms started?

I have that, the first symptoms started about a year and a half after I first noticed a numb spot on my right foot. My bladder barely works now and I have constipation even though I gorge on fiber and liquids.

[en bloc]

Originally Posted by icelander

I have that, the first symptoms started about a year and a half after I first noticed a numb spot on my right foot. My bladder barely works now and I have constipation even though I gorge on fiber and liquids.

If your constipation is from autonomic dysfunction, than you should focus on motility, not just fiber and water. Domperidone can help and they now find that Mestinon (for myasthenia gravis) can be helpful for GI autonomic problems.

Urinary symptoms are a bit harder to treat...have you seen a specialist in neurogenic bladder for help with this?

[icelander]

Originally Posted by en bloc

If your constipation is from autonomic dysfunction, than you should focus on motility, not just fiber and water. Domperidone can help and they now find that Mestinon (for myasthenia gravis) can be helpful for GI autonomic problems.

Urinary symptoms are a bit harder to treat...have you seen a specialist in neurogenic bladder for help with this?

I avoid specialists as a general rule and I'm better off for it IMO. My GP has been better than all of them put together. So no, I've seen a urologist to consider options and that's all. That's all I'll likely do as the urologist was a rare exception and was open and honest IMO. He basically said if it's a neurogenic bladder then there isn't much to be done other than self catheter. He told me he'd advise strongly against the permanent ones.

I seem to be still hanging in with the digestive issues by eating a basically raw food diet with lots of OG sprout salads. Constipation is still intermittent but thank you for the suggestions. I'll check them out and present them to my GP for consideration.

[en bloc]

Originally Posted by icelander

I avoid specialists as a general rule and I'm better off for it IMO. My GP has been better than all of them put together. So no, I've seen a urologist to consider options and that's all. That's all I'll likely do as the urologist was a rare exception and was open and honest IMO. He basically said if it's a neurogenic bladder then there isn't much to be done other than self catheter. He told me he'd advise strongly against the permanent ones.

I seem to be still hanging in with the digestive issues by eating a basically raw food diet with lots of OG sprout salads. Constipation is still intermittent but thank you for the suggestions. I'll check them out and present them to my GP for consideration.

You may consider reading up on diets specifically for gastroparesis (delayed emptying), which is the GI dysfunction most common to occur with autonomic neuropathy. As they urge patients to avoid raw veggies, fruit, salads, etc because they are extremely hard to digest in the raw state...same with other raw foods in some cases. Also with gastroparesis, fiber doesn't usually get absorbed properly (as other nutrients too), so maybe that's why you don't see any benefit of it, and still have the constipation. Just a thought or two, to help you get on track to feeling better. Lots of good info out there for life-style and especially diet modifications to help in this area of GI autonomic problems...without having to see a specialist.

You are correct that neruogenic bladder is difficult to treat, but other autonomic conditions (affecting BP, heart rate, GI) have many treatment options.

[icelander]

Originally Posted by en bloc

You may consider reading up on diets specifically for gastroparesis (delayed emptying), which is the GI dysfunction most common to occur with autonomic neuropathy. As they urge patients to avoid raw veggies, fruit, salads, etc because they are extremely hard to digest in the raw state...same with other raw foods in some cases. Also with gastroparesis, fiber doesn't usually get absorbed properly (as other nutrients too), so maybe that's why you don't see any benefit of it, and still have the constipation. Just a thought or two, to help you get on track to feeling better. Lots of good info out there for life-style and especially diet modifications to help in this area of GI autonomic problems...without having to see a specialist.

You are correct that neruogenic bladder is difficult to treat, but other autonomic conditions (affecting BP, heart rate, GI) have many treatment options.

Thanks for all that, one reason I do the sprout salads is that they are much easier to digest then the mature plant.

[bluesfan]

Originally Posted by icelander

I avoid specialists as a general rule and I'm better off for it IMO. My GP has been better than all of them put together. So no, I've seen a urologist to consider options and that's all. That's all I'll likely do as the urologist was a rare exception and was open and honest IMO. He basically said if it's a neurogenic bladder then there isn't much to be done other than self catheter. He told me he'd advise strongly against the permanent ones.

I seem to be still hanging in with the digestive issues by eating a basically raw food diet with lots of OG sprout salads. Constipation is still intermittent but thank you for the suggestions. I'll check them out and present them to my GP for consideration.

Hi icelander

Do you have access to kiwifruit to include in your diet? - over here (NZ) it's a well known natural laxative and is often recommended by doctors for seniors with constipation issues.

[icelander]

Originally Posted by bluesfan

Hi icelander

Do you have access to kiwifruit to include in your diet? - over here (NZ) it's a well known natural laxative and is often recommended by doctors for seniors with constipation issues.

Only in season here and I limit fruit (I love prunes and figs) for blood sugar reasons.

It's not always a problem and when it is pretty bad I fix it with an enema.

I have found over and over again with many issues that the docs want to medicate, that I can find a fix of sorts using natural methods.

[stillHoping]

Originally Posted by barbie86

Hello. Has anyone autonomic neuropathy? When did it started after first symptoms started?

Yes, my autunomic problems started many years before the sensory symptoms.

[barbie86]

Thanks. And what tests are there for autonomic? Can you die from autonomic?