[Megan]

A few days ago I thought of a question that I wanted to ask here and when I came to write it a few hours ago I couldn't remember what it was!!! Duh!

OK. Hope this isn't too muddled! If someone has only some 'autonomic' type symptoms such as GI symptoms like extreme gut pain but no diarrhoea or poor stomach emptying with resultant fullness will autonomic tests which test for cardiac function and sweat tests show it up. So in other words are the autonomic tests all inclusive of all the autonomic systems or only specific to the system (organ) they are testing? Is one indicative of the other? Eg sweat test for hyperhidrosis etc.

So when I complained of swallowing problems and GI fullness and extreme gut pain they tested for the cardiac electrical response (I think it was) which was ok. Also they did the sweat test on the base of my thumb which was also ok!

In my muddled way I am asking does that now exclude autonomic involvement? I'm too tired to research this myself.....sorry!

[Megan]

I am trying to clarify my question from a couple of weeks ago, as I can't quite believe that none of you knowledgeable people had no ideas at all!! I know my question was a bit confusing (and it is complex in the absence of having a readout of one of the tests), but it was all my tired brain could muster at the time.

The gist is: Although I told the neurologist that I seemed to have a feeling of fullness after eating even hours later (possible ? delayed emptying) he sent me off for autonomic tests of cardiac and sweat testing (I don't know the correct names of these two tests - one involved SSR 2 Channel???). Or was it because I complained of some difficulty swallowing therefore he was checking the Vagus nerve function?

So is there a correlation between specific organ autonomic dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction generally in terms of what shows up on tests? I suspect not, as why have the tilt table and other varied autonomic tests? Was he just trying to eliminate the most life threatening autonomic problem (ie. cardiac) without addressing my actual complaint of stomach fullness and therefore avoided looking further into that problem?

...... it certainly felt like a case of the story where a man loses a coin one night and he starts searching for it under the street lamp. Someone comes along and starts to help him and after awhile says "is this where you lost the coin?" "Oh no", says the man "I lost it over there". "Well" says the other person, "why are you looking for it here"? "It's because it's under the light here and I can see!"

[dahlek]

I know I had lots of cardiac testing done about 3-4 years ago, but it was such a whirlwind, I don't remember all of it? I do know that I did not have any of the sweat testing done. No clue as to why not.

As for the sweating or not issues? For my first two years of PN-ness I really didn't sweat much at all. About 2-3 'spots' on my body would sweat some...but that was it. I must be improving somewhat as I am now starting to sweat in various places.

Here is a website about dermatology that explains about diabetic neuropathies and other issues and your SKIN. Read the intro and then go into the other categories... I think it really explains [tho a bit technically] how your skins' functions [sweat and oil productions] as well as what goes on to the nerves w/neuropathies well. It is a worthwhile read.
http://telemedicine.org/stamford.htm

As for tests being always a CLEAR indication of functions/dysfunctions? Well, if we were all 'textbook' cases, I don't think we'd be here? We are each such different people, and our circumstances vary so widely that nothing can be simply, clearly pigeonholed. Wish it were different tho. We'd get along farther and faster if it were. 's - j