You guys are great. It feels good to post something, go to sleep and wake up with a bunch of responses =). Thank you.

Rose, thanks for the advice. I did buy a bunch of vitamins.... Methyl b12, benfotiamine + B complex, ALA, Gonna order some GLA, Ginkgo biloba, Acetyl-l-carnitine. But I was wondering if it's ok too hold off on the B vitamins until I get a blood test for possible deficiencies? Unless my general blood test should have already tested for them. The results were all in Korean so my GP just said your blood is normal. I don't really understand what she meant by that.

Daniella, I have not had a MRI of my spine. Nor have I had an EMG. I do however, suspect that it is small fiber damage if anything. Also, it's been really hard for me to be referred to a neurologist to get to that EMG/MRI phase. In regards to the blood test, do I have to request a specific blood test? I thought maybe the general blood test covered most things.... Am I wrong? And yes, I have lost a lot of weight. I actually lost about 10 pounds in one month, but I think that was due to lack of exercise because of this. I like to lift weights and take my protein shakes, but have stopped doing this since my feet were affected. I actually feared my feet were affected by me doing squats with a bad back, which would again, be a possibility... But anyways, the weight loss was mostly muscle, and I have started to gain it back by eating, eating, eating.

Silverlady, my diet hasn't changed too drastically from America. I do eat the traditional korean diet, which consists of Rice and vegetables, but I used to eat that in the states since my parents are very traditional. I do of course, eat lots of meat and dairy as well. As of now, I'm only taking alpha lipoic acid 600 mg a day, which my GP prescribed. I have bought some B vitamins but I am waiting on them to do a b-vitamin blood test first.. I don't want any false readings...

Melody, thanks for the advice. I actually bought the B12 cause I read about you raving about it on these boards. I will push for the MRI, I am really hoping that the spine is causing it....but that doesn't explain the diarrhea.

NTlegend, that could be a possibility. The only problem is that I don't eat fish. I stay away from all sorts of seafood. Is there another illness that's similar to that but doesn't require the ingestion of bad fish?

Yorkiemom, I have changed my diet since. I'm mostly on a sandwich diet that is high in vegetables. I drink water most of the time and try to stay away from sugary things. I don't know how it has affected me but I think I may have to give it some time. In regards to shoes, I bought another pair and spent a lot of money on them. I don't feel a difference, but again I may need more time.

Brian, my feet are not sensitive to touch nor do they have any numb spots on them. My feet actually feel normal to the touch; it's just when I put shoes on for about 2~3 hours or so. I've been to a dermatologist, she said it was caused by stress and gave me a steroid shot for them, and the hair seems to be growing back slowly. I wish it was that easy to say "hey, I think I have PN, can you send me to a PN expert?". To be honest, I don't even know if a PN expert exists here. The process to get a referral is painful and takes a long time. I also noticed that you pretty much healed yourself of your condition... how long did it take and how did you approach it?

Dakota, yes my problem is symmetrical, but my right foot burns noticeably more than my left foot. There are times where it feels like both my feet are burning, but in actually it's only my right. Don't get me wrong, the left one burns, but it seems like most of my attention is spent on the right foot. The right foot also buzzes at times, where my left foot doesn't.

Again, thanks to everyone for the quick responses. It's good to know that I do have some sort of support.

Hi again, it does biomechanical if that's the right word, seeing you only have problems standing up walking sorta thing, i would push for an MRI of your spine at least, shouldn't be to hard [ i hope] to convince them that PN can come from pressure on the spinal cord.

It does sound pretty tough to get things done over there but anyway I found this Koreon Neurological Association site that MAY be able to put you on to a good neuro at least, if that's possible at all. http://www.neuro.or.kr/eng/contact.html

In answer to my PN, it was caused by prediabetes and low b12, it was caught early by a PN expert, which over 4 years only took a change of diet [no sugary carbs] and exercise and plenty of b12/ multi B & vit C as well.
good luck with it anyway,
Brian

Do wait on the vitamins, but only if you can get proper testing right away!

And I would start a good fish oil.

rose

I had a question. It seems like my symptoms came on a week from each other; does that mean my cause is acute? sub-acute? or chronic? I know it's impossible to know, but what do you guys think? Also, I'm going in for a colonoscopy to get my gut tested in regards to my diarrhea... I had a question for Rose or for anyone. I noticed that in your webpage about B12, it said that parasites or bacteria would cause a malabsorption of b12. Do you think my colonoscopy would be able to catch those things? I think it would be good to know so I can ask my doctor about it. Anyways, if you don't know, it's not a problem; I can ask anyways. Thanks!

I think you are going to have to have an endoscopic procedure. They take biopsies thru a scope down your throat. I've had it done, found an ulcer, etc. Doesn't hurt, they put you to sleep.

Billye

I would avoid all gluten in your food for 4 weeks. See it that changes your
bowel habits. That sandwich diet may be the problem.
Gluten intolerance can give PN symptoms.

If you have frequent diarrhea, you could also have Crohn's disease, and this needs attention. It can follow an intestinal infection from food borne illness. A colonoscopy can show large parasites, like tapeworms.
But a stool sample is needed for smaller parasites like Giardia. Sometimes the first stool sample for Giardia is normal, but since the parasite has a 3 day cycle, a second one usually shows the bug. It comes from unclean water or restaurants or contact with small children. (daycares).

Frequent loose stools leads to electrolyte disturbances, loss of potassium and magnesium. The high intake of vegetables may upset some people, due to gas formation. If they have Beano over there, I suggest you try that.

It is hard to live in a country with different food and habits. You may be intolerant of something else besides the gluten. Say soy, or the MSG that may be in the food. MSG can cause burning. Monosodium Glutamate.

We have a gluten intolerance board here. So check them out too.

The two remedies I find most useful for burning are vitamin B1 in 200mg-300mg doses/day (Thiamine) and Alka-Seltzer with aspirin (if you can take and tolerate aspirin). If you can find an ointment with menthol in it at a chemist's there, it might help to rub it on. Menthol stops burning, but does not cure it. I have no idea what is available in Korea however. If you can use the internet, Biofreeze gel is one of the best. Some countries do not import certain things however.

If you damaged your back somehow, that is always a possibility, but I would think you would have other symptoms with the back as well.

You sort of have to be a detective to ferret out your problem. I hope it resolves for you soon.

Thanks, again. I have a little update. I went to the neuro and decided to pay money out of my pocket. He examined me, and he said lets do a nerve test. He did a NCV, came out normal, and sent me home saying it's all stress related and has nothing to do with my nerves. I tell you, these doctors are NOT being very helpful over here... Next is a MRI for my spine (probably just lumbar since I can't afford the rest) that I have to pay out of my own pocket.. and it doesn't come cheap, but hopefully they find something there.

Also, the problem with avoiding gluten is that foods here have NO nutrition labels! So it's really hard for me to see if it's gluten related... but even so, I've had gluten all my life and it caused me no problems... it's possible that suddenly I'm unable to tolerate them?

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. . . .

NVC is good for the big nerves and not for the small fibers. It is beter to do skin biopsy and QST. To my opinion - save the money for the MRI for a while.

Also it seems like when I sit in different positions, my legs fall asleep when they didn't used to before... does this indicate compression of a nerve? Or does PN tend to do that as well... it seems that I don't really understand the mechanisms of this disease...

Rina.... I don't even know if they carry out those tests here, at least that was my impression when the neuro was so quick to write me off after ONE test.