It took me a few years and way too many doctors till I found a neuro who took me seriously, diagnosed the SFN and suggested IVIG. He said this is the recommended treatment for SFN that is caused by autoimmune disorder. So I think you’d better search for a better neuro…

IVIG is very expensive, so maybe some of the doctors prefer not to spend the time and efforts on the struggle for IVIG with HMO. My doctors wrote me many letters, searched papers to justify the request, had to talk with the appealing committee..

After a long and frustrating struggle I got rituximab instead of IVIG. My situation is complicated, I don’t know if this is suitable for any autoimmune SFN.
I don’t know the costs of these treatments in US, here the cost of a single IVIG and rituximab infusion is roughly the same, but it takes only 2 rituximab infusion instead of 10 IVIG infusions during the first 6 months. So maybe there is a better chance to get an approval for rituximab then IVIG, or to fund it by yourself. If it helps it might be easier to get an approval later from HMO.

Like yours, mine appears to originate from drugs: 10 years of an increasingly potent antidepressant cocktail, and then abrupt withdrawal because of a hypertensive/serotonin syndrome crisis this past April.

For what it's worth, my dysautonomia specialist told me that neuropathies caused by toxicity are more likely to heal.

I am quite disabled now, for I have both sensory and autonomic neuropathies....but some of my symptoms (digestive and dry eye) are already much improved. Pain is still worsening though.

You seem very upset to me. I find psychological therapy essential. I also am doing light yoga and body work: I feel almost normal after a good session--gives me hope!. I am taking a baby dose of an old-school antidepressant --nortriptyline, which helps with anxiety, depression, and nerve pain.

Freaking out, which I do regularly --more in the sense of sadness and grief -- makes all my symptoms worse. Why I think a counselor schooled in chronic illness (and in your case, substance issues) may be a great first priority for you now...

....

I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed in myself. Just trying to figure this all out.

I feel for you, but at the same time everybody has their own issues. ** I hope you get well though.