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-   -   Possibly alcoholic neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/52712-possibly-alcoholic-neuropathy.html)

Leslie 08-26-2008 11:22 AM

Normal Range for Glucose
 
I had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test recently. I was advised that the results were a 94 and the nurse indicated that I was not diabetic. Can someone advise what is the normal range that the docs are looking for? Would a 94 be considered pre-diabetic? What is the magic number that terms a person a diabetic?

Thanks.


Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian (Post 354584)
I drank beer most of my adult life and my liver is in good shape going by blood tests, which shocked me a bit too, i was also assured that i didn't have diabetes by 1 doctor & one so called neuro, but they didn't send me for a 3 hour glucose tolerance test, my 2nd neuro did and found that i had prediabetes, it was the cause of my nerve damage, that is why i was asking about the Glucose Tolerance test.


Brian 08-26-2008 12:21 PM

Leslie, if i remember right it was,
Measurements taken 2 hours after drinking a 75-gram glucose drink -
Less than 140 mg/dL is considered normal
140 to 200 mg/dL - Impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes)
Over 200 mg/dL - Diabetes.
.................................................. ..............

fasting glucose test - From 70 to 99 mg/dL - Normal
From 100 to 125 mg/dL -Impaired glucose tolerance
above diabetes

Brian :)

Brian 08-26-2008 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallymander (Post 354605)
I drank heavily for years but have had very few drinks in the last 25 years.
Could it be the cause of my idiopathic showing up just a year ago?
An angle I never thought of, guess there's not much I can do about it at this point anyway.

Hi Sally, after 25 years virtually alcohol free, i wouldn't think so.

Brian :)

zorro1 08-27-2008 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sallymander (Post 354605)
I drank heavily for years but have had very few drinks in the last 25 years.
Could it be the cause of my idiopathic showing up just a year ago?
An angle I never thought of, guess there's not much I can do about it at this point anyway.

According to Dr Wise Young who was Christopher Reeves doctor Alcoholic neuropathy is fully reversible within 5 years. Hear is the link and the content. If that's true then your damage shouldn't be from alcohol. Couldnt post the link yet still a newbie


Alcoholic neuropathy is not well understood. For many years, it was attributed to the poor diet that alcoholics have, including the lack of vitamin B, particularly thiamine and folic acid. Some people have attributed it to toxic effects of alcohol. Personally, I am not sure that it is related to alcohol. Several attempts have been made to reproduce alcohol neuropathy by giving alcohol long-term to animals but without success. In my opinion, it is not a toxic effect of alcohol on the nerves but a nutritional deficiency. It is also possible that it is a result of toxins that may be present in certain types of alcohols.

The diagnosis of alcohol neuropathy is demonstration of sensory deficits in the peripheral system (or slowed conduction time in the peripheral nerves) associated with prolonged heavy continuous alcohol consumption. It may manifest in other nerves besides the legs, particularly the vagus nerve which tends to show up as increased heart-rate (since the vagus nerve reduces heart rate) and other autonomic neuropathy. Alcoholic neuropathy occurs more frequently in women and involves multiple nerves, e.g. polyneuropathy.

In general, the symptoms of alcoholic neuropathy include early numbness of the soles, particularly at night in the beginning. "Pins and needles" sensations develop and may progress to severe and lancinating pain. The symptoms start distally and progress proximally. When the symptoms involve areas above the ankle, some numbness of the fingertips may occur, with stocking and glove pattern of sensory involvement. Sensory ataxia may result. Autonomic dysfunction are more rare but may manifest as loss of heart rate reflex changes, abnormaly pupillary function, sexual impotence, and sleep apnea, orthostatic hypotension, hypothermia, and gait problems.

If he does have alcohol neuropathy, the prognosis is good, if he stops drinking and has a normal diet The axons should regenerate. I don't know where the suggestion comes from that this is permanent but it is not true. If it does not reverse, this suggests that there is some other cause other than alcoholic neuropathy.

Wise.

nide44 08-27-2008 08:41 AM

Zorro,
Please give the link to Dr Wise Young on alcoholic neuropathy reversing in 5 years.
This is interesting, since my neuro- Dr Griffin, is the head of the neuro dept at Johns Hopkins, and has published numerous papers on various neuropathies (primarily pre-diabetic) and has conducted studies in The US, China, and other places - has determined my PN is of alcoholic neuropathy.
It is over 10 years since my initial Dx and a good 2-4 years of undiagnosed suffering, prior.
I'd like to run the paper or comment with my neuro, to see what he has to say.
I would think he might be aware of Dr Young, but not specifically this comment.
I am aware of Dr Young and his website for spinal cord injury patients, as I had to us it as a resource 2 yrs ago when one of my sons broke his neck in a swimming accident and is now a quadriplegic. I think the world of Dr Young, but also am adamantly confident in Dr Griffin's Dx and treatment.

zorro1 08-27-2008 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nide44 (Post 355819)
Zorro,
Please give the link to Dr Wise Young on alcoholic neuropathy reversing in 5 years.
This is interesting, since my neuro- Dr Griffin, is the head of the neuro dept at Johns Hopkins, and has published numerous papers on various neuropathies (primarily pre-diabetic) and has conducted studies in The US, China, and other places - has determined my PN is of alcoholic neuropathy.
It is over 10 years since my initial Dx and a good 2-4 years of undiagnosed suffering, prior.
I'd like to run the paper or comment with my neuro, to see what he has to say.
I would think he might be aware of Dr Young, but not specifically this comment.
I am aware of Dr Young and his website for spinal cord injury patients, as I had to us it as a resource 2 yrs ago when one of my sons broke his neck in a swimming accident and is now a quadriplegic. I think the world of Dr Young, but also am adamantly confident in Dr Griffin's Dx and treatment.

This is extremely frustrating as I need to have 10 posts before I'm allowed to post a link due to forum rules here. Can you Pm me so I can provide the link for you? If not I'm only a few posts away so stay tuned

mrsD 08-27-2008 11:20 AM

I am still on vacation...
 
so I only read the first part of this thread.

I have two comments now...

1) Allopurinol is one of the drugs that can cause PN. This is not common but it does happen and is documented on MedLine.

2) If you switch to benfotiamine--which is a more potent type of thiamine you may see an improvement. This has become more affordable recently and if you get it at iherb.com it is not as expensive as it was (but it is more than plain thiamine).

300mg a day to start is best. I use Doctor's Best brand.

It is possible that your issues are from something else.
Other drugs cause PN --some quickly.
Cipro/Levaquin
Metronidazole
statins for cholesterol

And these may be the cause or additive.

I'll be back in a week and can devote more time and thought then. See ya.

zorro1 08-27-2008 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsd (Post 355929)
so I only read the first part of this thread.

I have two comments now...

1) Allopurinol is one of the drugs that can cause PN. This is not common but it does happen and is documented on MedLine.

2) If you switch to benfotiamine--which is a more potent type of thiamine you may see an improvement. This has become more affordable recently and if you get it at iherb.com it is not as expensive as it was (but it is more than plain thiamine).

300mg a day to start is best. I use Doctor's Best brand.

It is possible that your issues are from something else.
Other drugs cause PN --some quickly.
Cipro/Levaquin
Metronidazole
statins for cholesterol

And these may be the cause or additive.

I'll be back in a week and can devote more time and thought then. See ya.

Hi thanks but not sure if your response was for me. Allopurinol I thought was for gout.

zorro1 08-27-2008 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsd (Post 355929)
so I only read the first part of this thread.

I have two comments now...

1) Allopurinol is one of the drugs that can cause PN. This is not common but it does happen and is documented on MedLine.

2) If you switch to benfotiamine--which is a more potent type of thiamine you may see an improvement. This has become more affordable recently and if you get it at iherb.com it is not as expensive as it was (but it is more than plain thiamine).

300mg a day to start is best. I use Doctor's Best brand.

It is possible that your issues are from something else.
Other drugs cause PN --some quickly.
Cipro/Levaquin
Metronidazole
statins for cholesterol

And these may be the cause or additive.

I'll be back in a week and can devote more time and thought then. See ya.

My mistake didn't read it in point form. I have only been on Allopurinol for a few weeks. Thanks for the Thiamine advice will swap over

Rosy 08-30-2008 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zorrro13 (Post 352709)
Hi everyone Im new here and looking for advice. Around 2 month ago the soles of my feet went numb followed by pins n needles and now they both burn. The tingling has also spread to my hands. I did an Electrical test (not sure of name) on my feet at a hospital in Bkk where the neuro didn't tell me much except "not as bad as he thought" and gave me 300gm of lyrica and 25 g of Nortipolyn to take every day.I All of my blood work came back as normal and my liver is in perfect condition even though I have been drinking for 30 years non stop including binging most weekends. I have also had several alcohol withdrawal seizures over that time.I handle my my booze very well and most cant tell when Im drunk. Im 46y male. Am going to see a neuro in Australia next month and will take a copy of my reports. In the meantime Im taking the following supplements and would like to know if I should be taking anything else

Vitamin b group inc thiamine

Neuromet is Mecobalamin, each 1 ml ampoule contain 500mcg mecobalamin and each tablet contains 500 mcg mecobalamin. Neuromet is indicated in peripheral neuropathies, megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiciences

magnesium,Calcium, vitamin D,fish oil, folic acid

I have scaled back the pain killers to just 75mg of Lyrica/day

I also had chronic gout in both legs whilst in hospital and am taking 300mg puride per day. They also gave me oral steroids to take for a week to stop the swelling

The most annoying problem is the constant minor swelling of my right foot giving me permanent stabbing pain when walking and dont think its gout but neuro related. The steroids help but don't think I should be taking them to often right? The burning is annoying and the lyrica helps but don't like the spaced out feeling

Anything else I should be doing for this? many thanks for any responses

**********************************
Hi zorro13. My PN started the same as yours, soles of feet tingling. It felt like I was standing in a tub of hot water which was gradually filling up and covering my feet and then going up my legs. I thought it was caused by smoking, so I quit (5 years and holding!), but it didn't improve. I had blood tests, MRI, etc., no explanation. Then along came Google and I found all my symptoms by typing "fried nerve endings", what a relief, at least I knew what I had now. By then my two smallest fingers on each hand, and down arm, had the "numb tinglies" too, and the legs were numb up to the knees. Walking was very difficult, flat shoes that enclosed whole foot were a necessity. No more 3" highheel sandels.

Since then I FINALLY gave up my beloved wine because I managed to stop for 3 months and the improvement was impossible to ignore. Just to test it, I drank about 3 glasses on the anniversary of the 3rd month. Oh boy. Right back to Square One the next day, along with tingly cheek and a twitch under my left eye. Then last Sun. I woke up with double vision. That was pretty scary and went on for 4 days. I had a CT Scan yesterday bc the doctor thinks it was a stroke, but I think it's the PN somehow. We'll find out. I also noticed that stress makes it worse even if I'm sober as a judge, so looks like I'll need to find another job too.

I hope you have good luck on your PN road, it seems the symptoms are pretty varied as to pain. I don't have pain at all; well, now and then a sharp pain like a pin stabbing somewhere, but really nothing to complain about. If it never got worse than this, I could live the rest of my life very happily (exscept for the lack of wine). STOP DRINKING! It WILL help. And any stress in your life, get rid of it. Good luck ~
Rosy


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