. The only thing they have not told me is that I am pregnant. Maybe because I am a man.

And I was told by one of the doc. here that it might be a prostate cancer... and I' a female....

LMAO....not at your expense....ok it was.....but you would think that at least one of the courses in medical school would involve how to distinguish between male and female. Funny stuff!

amazing...
 

but I also have a strange story...

I had a patient not too long ago who was on chronic pain
opiate therapy. He suffered a hyponatremic episode (low blood sodium levels) and was sent to the ER.

They proceeded to put him in stirrups to do a GYN exam!

You can imagine how angry he became! (I heard this story
from his wife, when he was finally sent home).

Mark,

It seems you read the article referenced http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/abst...128801v1?rss=1 (here's the abstract of the study on those with full body SFN not including the hands or feet;sorry for not supplying this in my original post).

I'm with you brother; I've no hesitation in issuing an appropriate beat down when necessary on benighted medical professionals. While I actually look forward to issuing one physically, verbal bruising feels just as good.

I'm familiar with Dr. Latov. Read his book. I was able to eliminate the big causes pretty quickly. So my hope lies in the endless rapacity of big pharma. But as to sheer numbers with respect to our specific SFN, our group isn't massive with respect to their big coin bonanza expectation. I fear we will be waiting...

If I remember right, you had a blood clot? My downfall started with gall bladder surgery. The burning spread from my abdomen, to my arms and legs, my back, and then finally my face joined in within months (all the while I was told it would stop, not spread, etc.). It would be great to talk to everyone who had a trauma as their inciting incident to this hellish situation. Compare notes and the like.

Oh, I think you also mentioned ketamine in a post. Because of a surgical beginning, this lead me to an RSD angle. Like you, I don't have any other signs - disoloration, temperature changes, etc. (very thanfully - I spent the summer reading on the utter awfulness of RSD) But I was agressive in pursuing ketamine as it seemed the closest thing to dealing with the burning problem, a way to 'reboot' the CNS and stop the madness.

Let me know if you go that route. I can fill you in further on what to expect.

-- Dennis

Here is something Doc Oaklender wrote...not exactly uplifting....but at least she is aware of this stuff....

http://sageke.sciencemag.org/cgi/con...act/2006/6/pe7

Yeah blood clot....I do get the occasional freezing limb....but that is part of SFN...cold bothers me....I am not sure ketamine is the answer...but u should speak with Oaklender....another big brain....but I would say to her, is the advice and treatment about the same as, oh say, 1955?

Be well, hang in there,

mark

Ezekiel Fink is the guy who did the skin biopsy on me. Besides having one of the coolest names I've come across (I'm a writer; names are big), he looks exactly like Seth Rogan, which wasn't exactly reassuring when he walked in...

But he's a good guy/doctor.

-- Dennis

[QUOTE=mrsD;438726]The reason I ask about flushing, is that Serotonin excess can cause burning too. Excess serotonin is made by carcinoid tumors in the GI tract (and some others, which may be in the lungs). This symptom is hard to pin down. People with carcinoid also have diarrhea, and wheezing. The wheezing comes latter when the tumor(s) metastasize.

Have you tried blocking the burning with AlkaSeltzer? This trick would reveal if the burning was allergic-histamine driven.
If you can take aspirin with no contraindications try it.
The buffering in the AlkaSeltzer blocks some receptors in the skin. But it is only temporary.

The last time I had the flu...about 3 yrs now, which was quite mild...I had burning all over for a few days. But it stopped as soon as I started getting better.


mrsD

Re: Serotonin. Wow... Is the excess serotonin the stomach variety, and not brain variety, enhanced by SSRI's (which I've taken for years)? Or are they one in the same? In any case, I'll bring it to my doctor. I'll try the AlkaSeltzer too. Thank you.

My first full body burning came about after a ten day flu. I went for a hike, came home and started burning. The drugs do help a little now, but ever since the burning flares much higher after eating and after any physical exertion. Which is a real drag because I used to go the gym every day (really) for decades, and now I've became a flabby guy...

-- Dennis

I messed up my response to your post. Sorry to all for having to read this drivel twice...

mrsD --

Re: Serotonin. Wow... Is the excess serotonin the stomach variety, and not brain variety (I've taken SSRI's for years)? Or are they one in the same? In any case I'll bring it up to my doctor. What is the appropriate test/blood work? I'll try the AlkaSeltzer too. Thank you.

My first full body burning came about after a ten day flu. I went for a hike after getting out of bed, came home and started burning. Ever since the burning flares after eating and any physical exertion. Which is a real drag because I used to go the gym every day (really) for decades. Now I'm just a flabby guy...

-- Dennis

Fear Factor or Mixed Martial Arts...either seems to go well with the disorder....you should ask him about the article when you meet with him. I like to know if I should order my colostomy bag and Depends now....these Docs are great at shooting out problems...not too good with the solutions.

one thing they did say boss, is that exercise is imperative in that article. Burning body and all, you need to move...I am 300 pounds and burn, and I do it.

I looked up Ezekiel. I got suits older than that guy.

Until they figure out a drug cocktail or something that works, I think you want to look at an attitude of submission, resignation if you will. Even with the pain going on, otherwise you get into the fear-adrenaline-fear cycle, and you will be shooting out cortisol, compounding the problem.

A writer huh? I was a lit grad student at the University of Chicago, way back when. Studied with Saul Bellow...another guy whose brain is too big....anyway, I realize my talent was not in that realm....was going to be a prof...ended up in computers...go figure.

Alka Seltzer? That is awesome...I gotta give that a shot....

Be well,

Mark