Can Alan's PN be getting worse?? confused!!!
 

Hi, I don't mean to ask any silly questions because so many of you have problems up the kazoo but I figure, since this is a PN forum, I just have to ask my questions.

As you know, my Alan, who as of late, thinks he's Rocky Balboa, has all kinds of muscles due to his going to the gym three times a week, and feels good most of the time. MOST OF THE TIME!!! So we were satisifed with that!!!
Oh, one more thing. Because of his taking plavix and aspirin, when he comes home from the gym, he has more black and blues on his body than I have ever seen in my whole life.

He has one on his knee that is a deep purple. I know this is bruising and it does eventually go away, right??

But honestly, I'm extremely confused about the neuropathy.

He was initially diagnosed with Idiopathic PN many many years ago and a few years ago when he went to Dr. Theirl, it was determined that the PN was due to his back, bulging discs, etc. etc. and he began the adjustments and the rest is history. Went off the patch, etc.

Now Alan has psoriatic toes (whatever that is, I have no idea and the doctor could explain this to me a million times). He also has foot ulcers that take a long time to heal. But he goes once a week and they do whatever they do to foot ulcers and bandage him up again. (Please note, this does not prevent him from going to the gym, he does everything except the treadmill).

Now here's why I'm confused. Every night before he goes to bed I have to give him a deep massage or use the magnassager because if I don't he'll twitch all night from the neuropathy. I don't know why he doesn't twitch during the day, but once he lies down, forget it. So I would imagine it has something to do with one of the nerves being pinched that is affected by his sleeping position. He asked Dr. Theirl if he could pinpoint the nerve and Dr. Theirl said it would be all but impossible but if he lost weight they might have a shot so Alan, as you all know dropped 73 lbs and looks like Rocky.

So last night as we retired for the night, he starts moaning and groaning, about his feet. I said "is it your neuropathy?" and he goes, "not just that, by I think my Tailor bunion is growing back (He had surgery two years ago).
Now I have no idea if tailor bunions can grow back but I looked at his foot and I saw and felt a big callous over where the tailor bunion used to be. He said "it's killing me". I said "you have a callous, when you go to your podiatrist again (he goes Thursday), he'll shave it off like he always did your othre callouses). So he's moaning and I don't know what to do. So I got a lidoderm patch and wrapped it around that part of the foot.

I also gave him a good deep massage and he managed to fall asleep finally but he was still twiching his legs going "oh, my neuropathy, oh my neuropathy is killing me". Now I should mention that the weather is crazy this time in New York. cold in the a.m. hot in the afternoon, cold in the p.m. So you never know if you need an airconditioner on or a blanket. My sciatica today is absolutely horrible so I believe his neuropathy was being affected by the weather, could I be right?

I also told Alan what I have read on these boards and this is what I said:"they say on the neuropathy boards that when nerves are healing or regenerating, they sometimes have to hurt while they are "coming back" and he goes "really?" and I said "yup, that's what they say".

Now it becomes 4:45 a.m. and he's jumping up and down in the bed going "oh my neuropathy". I said "is it your callous or your neuropathy?" He goes, My neuropathy is killing me" I then sensed it was freezing in the room and I shut off the ceiling fan. I then gave him another massage and he went (in five minutes from being in absolute agony......to getting frisky.....!!

I do apologize for throwing this in but I have absolutely no one to ask and you guys are the experts.

How in the hell can a person go from absolute agony with neuropathy (in the space of 5 minutes) to being frisky??? So (and I'm choosing my words carefully), the frisky part was taken care of and he was able to sleep and got up at 7 a.m.

Now I'm dead from exhaustion, I get up and find him in the kitchen, all dressed and ready to go out for breakfast. I said "are you okay?" and he goes. Oh I feel great, my legs and feet feel great and I put a pad on my callous and it doesn't hurt me at all.

I just stood there going "holy cow, what the heck is this?"

So do you think it was the change in the weather or do you think (because he goes to the gym and does all kinds of back exercises and I do the deep massages every night, that the nerves in his feet are regenerating and this might be a "GOOD SIGN"????

I mean, he was doing so good with the neuropathy thing and all of a sudden he goes "oh my neuropathy, oh my neuropathy" AND HE GETS FRISKY????

I am so sorry if you think this is a joke, but believe me, this is no joke.

I would appreciate if you can explain the neuropathy going from horrible to great in 5 minutes, just because I massaged him and then he gets up the next morning and feels just fine. I am extremely confused.

Any info would help this tired woman, believe me.

Thanks guys!!!
Mel

P.S. Dahlek if you are falling on the floor laughing, I swear I'll punch you in the nosey!!!!

Hi Melody...
 

Sorry I haven't been back sooner... I had a horrible week last week.

Now things are settling down better, and I have more time.

2 things:

1) Alan's eating habits, may might be causing low magnesium. With exercise, and all you need to attend to this. Low magnesium is not good for the heart
either. So take a look at the magnesium thread I am building, and click on that link to Linus Pauling Institute and see if Alan is eating enough magnesium adequate foods that are listed there. Twitching is one of the first signs of
magnesium deficiency.

2) Bruising at the gym-- is he bumping himself? Or do you think these are
spontaneous? Is this a new thing, or has it happened all along since he has
been on the blood thinners? Does he take Vit C?
This should really be taken up with the doctor. He should have some tests
to see how his clotting is doing, and a platelet level.
Zoloft...and other SSRIs increase bleeding tendencies...mixed with the
blood thinners, may be a causative factor for the bruising. I would get to the doctor and evaluate this.
Here is an article to print out and take to the doctor if he/she does not know this---it is a relatively new discovery:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1123113444.htm

Do not use the Magnassager over any bruised or swollen area. That is one of its warnings. While at the doctor's get a magnesium level drawn too, to see how that is doing. Low magnesium levels become more common as we age and exercise also increases the need for magnesium. Check out my magnesium thread on the Vitamin forum here, I am still building that, but it will get you started.

I'm sorry Alan is having problems, and a visit to his doctor is in order I think.

I printed out the article on Anti-depressants.
 

Hi Mrs. D.

Hope you are doing fine.

Alan only has bruising from the gym. They do seem to fade rather quickly. I won't use the maganassager over the bruises. Thanks for reminding me of that. I just asked about his twitching and he said "Melody, my legs don't twitch, my neuropathy drives me crazy sometimes so I shake my legs!!! So there's no twitching. Sorry I guess I thought he was twitching in bed.

Alan takes a multi vitamin and it has 100mg of magnesium. Is that sufficient? The Vitamin C is 60 mgs. I guess he has to up that right?

Here's his diet:

breakfast - veggie omelette with either egg whites or beaters.
multi grain english muffin with low sodium smart balance margarine and a cup of caffeine free tea.

10 a.m. he has a protein whey shake with an added bananna.

Lunch is either a protein shake or a grilled chicken salad with fresh ingredients and low sodium dressing.

3 p.m. another shake and some fruit.

Dinner starts off with a salad, then either chicken, turkey burger (with low sodium tomato sauce with a dash of splenda). Ever since he was put on the fentanyl patch (and even though he's been off of it for over 2 years), he has taste perversion so he puts splenda on everything. If he's not eating chicken or turkey, then he eats fish, with lots of veggies, a baked potato (sometimes sweet potato), sugar free drink (splenda)

After dinner he eats half a cantalope. Then at about 8 or 9 he takes another protein shake. He has stablized at about 187.

His eating habits are good, right???? jeez, he eats more than I do!!!!

His arms are amazing and except for the neuropathy, you wouldn't know he has coronary heart disease.

I will check on the magnesium thing and check his bruising. I will also show the article to his doctor.

Honestly, he's a different guy on zoloft and I'd hate to take that away from him. He almost had a nervous breakdown due to our son's behavior.

Thanks so much.
Melody

I see...
 

good potassium... I don't see a magnesium source other than the dairy, which may not be enough.

The shaking of the legs...can also be interpreted as restless leg syndrome.
And magnesium is used for that. The need or feeling to move when not
necessary. Doctors are being offered DRUGS for this by the drug companies... and one is Requip.
It has alot of side effects.. and so magnesium should be tried first.
We have had posters on both PN and Chronic pain who could not tolerate Requip
or Mirapex or Sinemet... all can be offered by the doctor.

Does Alan take any vitamins? Working out places a need for vit C,
and B6 for the muscles. Not to mention magnesium. Magnesium works with
calcium --they are both needed for proper functions.

3oz of almonds provide a goodly amount of magnesium without taking supplements. (270mg)

LOL oh dear!
 

Sounds like restless legs syndrome to me! Some people think restless legs is a forerunner of neuropathy, but one way or the other, that's what it sounds like. It can be agony, it can be relieved by massage, and when it's gone, well, it's GONE. And if he's being frisky, not just FEELING frisky, why, then the restless legs wouldn't be in a position to be restless at all.

Without being too glib--sounds like you guys have worked it out. You massage his restless legs, and he feels better, and, in addition to better, he feels bonded to you and connected to you, and ready for fun, the ultimate cure!

Enjoy!

LizaJane
www.lizajane.org

PS. I had restless legs when pregnant, and the only thing that helped was my husband rubbing them hard. Don't recall what happened after he did, however....

I was thinking about Restless Legs Syndrome too. Here is a site, if interested.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/r...tless_legs.htm

Kitt

Melody, HONESTLY..
 

Everyone's done a far better job of answering your questions than I ever could.

And, really, I didn't start laughing until I read your PS!!!!!

Have to admit - THAT made my day! - j

Okay, here is what I posted in my reply to Mrs. Doubtfire's response to me:

" I just asked about his twitching and he said "Melody, my legs don't twitch, my neuropathy drives me crazy sometimes so I shake my legs!!! So there's no twitching. Sorry I guess I thought he was twitching in bed."


Now why is this called restless leg syndrome? I thought restless leg was a disorder complete unto itself. Alan only shakes his legs to get rid of his neuropathy. He says it moves the blood down to his feet. Now when he walks anyplace, he is just fine. However, when he lies down and something in his back is obviously pinching something, and he moves is right or left foot back and forth for a while, IS THIS CONSIDERED RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME??

boy, if it is, I most certainly never knew this. I am going to look up restless leg thing.

Oh, I looked up sources for magnesium in foods and it said green leafy vegetables. Well, believe me, we eat this every day. I am going to buy him almonds tomorrow, be assured of that.

And Dahlek: I'm glad I gave you a laugh. I'm glad I gave somebody a laugh because believe me at 4:45 in the morning, nobody gave me a laugh.
I DO NOT WANT TO BE AWOKEN AT 4:45 IN THE MORNING, I don't care if it's Paul Newman. Okay, maybe Paul Newman, when he looked like Paul Newman (you know what I mean), then maybe.............

love you all.
mel

Well, okay, at least I have my answer to the Restless Leg thing. I clicked on the restleg leg link and I read all about it. The following paragraph is from that site:

"Chronic diseases such as kidney failure, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral neuropathy are associated with RLS. Treating the underlying condition often provides relief from RLS symptoms"

I then went inside to Alan and said "Alan, do your legs ever feel like you have insects crawling on them, or feelings of discomfort that you feel you have to move or shake them in any way". His response was: "of couse not, it's my toes that kill me, not my legs".

I then made absolutely sure so I read him the thing about restless leg syndrome and he said quite distinctly "Melody, the problem is not in my legs, my legs have never given me a problem, it's in my toes, that's why I'm moving my feet when I lay down".

And because his Chiropractic/neurologist said his PN comes from the pinching of the nerves in his back, well, now I'm totally confused. I'd like to believe that all he has is PN. he really doesn't need to find out something else is wrong with him. I made sure he understood what the restless leg symptoms were and he said to me "never in any part of leg, just my toes". I do see where they can be so similar though.

How on earth can you differentiate between PN and Restless leg when (on the restless leg site), it mentions that you can have the feeling in your feet? And Alan's feet only kill him at night when the barometer changes drastically, (like it did the other night).

So how does one make the definite diagnosis?

I just told Alan tomorrow he's eating almonds and he said "Oh no I'm not, I have diverticulosis and I can't eat almonds". I then said "okay, we'll buy you a magnesium supplement" and he goes "I'm not taking anything unless Dr. Fred says it's okay!!!

So tomorrow I call Dr. Fred...................and believe me, if this guy wakes me up during the night, he's going to be one dead person, that's all I can say, neuropathy or no neuropathy!!!!!

Well,

love ya,
melody


P.S. Oh, guess what I did today for the first time in over 45 years?. I RAN TO CATCH A BUS. I actually ran somwhere. I'm 59 in two months, I have degernative joint disease, two bummed out knees etc. etc, but since I lost all the weight, I can walk much better. So I was at the supermarket and I see the bus two blocks away. I had to walk one big block to make it to the next bus stop. So I decided to run. I figured I might need to get a stress test someday so what better way to stress my heart than to give it a good run.
And boy did I run. I made it to the bus stop. Was I breathing hard? Of course, I'm almost 59 years old. Lasted all of one minute. Sat down on the bus and was just fine. My knees croaked but my heart was just fine.
Then when I got home, I went out for another walk.

So the day they put me on a treadmill for a stress test, I guess I'll pass. I take Doppler tests every year of my carotids and they are alway fine.
My health HMO won't pay for a stress test and I can't afford the $1500 so I guess I'll just keep walking until I drop. Lost another 5 lbs so I'm good to go!!
Not bad for an old hag!!!!!!

Try the almonds anyway...
 

unsalted ones of course... you and Alan may be very surprised!

here is another reference on food sources...

greens is a general term... this breaks it down better.
http://www.hoptechno.com/book29l.htm

It is the rare person getting enough magnesium these days.
about 70% of the US population is low in this mineral.

When we were hunter/gatherers we ate only whole foods. Today,
this has dropped tremendously.
Nuts remain the best source for me. I do almonds every day. If I skip like when traveling I feel it in my legs/feet and even get cramps.

He's agreed to take magnesium supplements!!1
 

He won't go near any almonds but I threatened him with no more deep tissue massages and he said "well, if you put it like that!!!!"

Also, and this is quite a coincidence, every night I speak to a friend in another state. I talked about magnesium.

She says to me "Oh, I couldn't exist without it, I had Restless Leg Syndrome for 8 years, couldn't sleep, it would wake me out of my bed and my legs would be jumping all over the place".

I said "oh my god, I was just speaking to the neuropathy boards about that and they suggested magnesium.

She said "It's the kind of delivery that's important, don't buy anything but Magnesium Citrate. I tried the other kind and it did nothing, but three weeks after I began taking Magnesium Citrate, I can sleep and that's a long time ago, It's also good for the heart!!!

So guess who in this house is going to be taking Magnesium Citrate from today on??????????????????

Maybe I'll give it a whirl too. I mean, if I can run one block, maybe I can run a marathon???? yeah right!!!

love,
Melody

P.S. he came home from the gym. No black and blues and the big purple one on his knees are fading.
Seems he likes to go on this machine where you put your knees in it and bring them together and clang them together.

magnesium citrate is quite laxative...
 

So be careful with it. If Alan tends to constipation, then that is fine.

But there are other magnesium products that will not loosen stools.
SlowMag (the less expensive generics--MagDelay and Mag64) work best
for those with GI reactions.

Do NOT purchase magnesium oxide...this has low bioavailability and is
basically not absorbed at all. One would get about 8mg from a 400mg tablet!

If loose stools occur that is a sign that the magnesium you are using is not being absorbed, or you are taking too much.

Dosing is explained at the Vit Forum here, so be careful and take it sensibly.
Alan should start at 200mg/day.. assuming he is getting some from his dairy
intake. If you use SlowMag or its cousins... one twice a day is the typical dose, for that form.

Thanks Mrs. D!!!
 

Whatever would I do without your advice?

I was just about to go to my local GNC for the magnesium when I read your post. I printed it out and am taking it with me

So do you think Alan has restless leg syndrome (from everything I wrote), or do you think it's just the PN??

thanks for the help,

Melody

P.S. Will the magnesium help with PN if a person doesn't have restless leg???

magnesium
 

will help with his heart and blood pressure!

It is necessary for incorporation of calcium into bone.

It is necessary for proper utilization of fatty acids.

It helps muscle function...
It has many other uses...helps you fall asleep, helps with hearing,
and improves bruxism (tooth grinding at night).

You can buy 60 tablets at WalMart (in the pharmacy behind the counter)
--a month's supply-- for about 6.00 This is MagDelay generic for SlowMag.

Magnesium improves pain tolerance...by blocking the NMDA receptor that causes pain...so yes,
it can help with PN.

You will likely pay more at GNC..

I just came back from GNC.
 

Hi. they do not carry Magnesium Citrate at present.

The only thing they carried is Magnesium (Oxide).

I showed them the printed out post from the boards and they were very impressed.

I went to three other stores. Only magnesium oxide things.

I finally went to another drug store and they had Magnesium Citrate tablets (Solgar Brand). 120 tablets 400mgs and was $14.95.

Said to take two pills a day.

I did not buy it because I didn't have the money me.

I did go on the internet and typed in Magdelay and Slowmag and only information on magdelay came up.

So do you think the Magnesium Citrate is the one I should get?
My friend Laura swears by it. Says she never had another bout of restless leg syndrome after she had been taking this stuff for only 3 weeks.
She wouldn't go a day without it.

I am also going to check places like Puritan Pride, etc.

Thanks Mrs. D

melody

P.S. Mrs. Doubtfire, I just went to Puritan's Pride. They sell Magnesium Citrate 833 mgs. 100 tablets $7.95 buy one get one free. This is the only kind that they sell. Is this a good deal and is this 833 mg tablet good for us? I am completely new to this magnesium thing!! Thanks.

Gina, OH! I mean Melody....
 

How about sneaking some pulverized ground up stuff in his protein shakes? If freshly done & added, well, would he really know the diff? Just watch carefully how/when the almonds were prepared/kept/stored/distributed...I'm betting that in NYC, it's far easier than in the outer urbs of cities w/populations of less than 1mil... You get my drift. Hey, consider yourself lucky.

As to being awakened well before the crack of dawn? I'm sensing it was more of a peculiar surprise than a AAACK what's up. Hey! Don't complain, unless there was a bad undercurrent.

Think on it this way: you got fuzzies you didn't expect, Alan did too, after all, took his mind off the PN! Now if it were lack of sleep for OTHER reasons...well, I always blame my meds combo!

Don't know about anyone else, but the 'Cal-Mag' is an essential in my 'diet'!

Fuzzies and good thoughts - j

Hi Dahlek:
What's your first name by the way, (if you don't mind sharing)???

Oh, I get it, buy some slivered almonds and put them in my food processor and grind them up, and add them to his shake.

yeah, I most certainly can do that. What a cool idea???

And about the waking me up at 4:45 a.m.

He didn't wake me up because he got frisky. I woke up because he was moaning about his neuropathy driving him nuts. I massaged him (and well, what do you want?? I give a good massage). Believe me, when I give somebody a massage starting with their shoulders, and going down their back, they stay massaged. My husband says I'm better than any massage place he goes to.

Now if only I could teach him to give me one.

I can only hope!!!!

by the way, have you stopped laughing yet.
wel, if not, I have a good one for ya!!

My niece has a little boy 2 years old who is in a body cast because he broke his femur. They brought a hospital bed in for him but do you think he stays in it. No he got himself out, crawled into the kitchen with a big smile saying I'm hungry. Now they can't leave him alone for one minute for the next 5 weeks.

OY VEY!!!!!!

Oh, they have this toy that they play with, some kind of chef's oven grill where they make believe they make hamburgers and pancakes.

the other day, my niece was changing his diaper and she notices he's playing with his wee-wee!!!! She says very calmly, "Alex, what are you doing? His reponse: "I'M FLIPPING HAMBURGERS, MOMMY".

Get off the floor yet?

mel

That 800mg size...
 

does not deliver 800mg of magnesium... it is a complex thing to explain now,
but has to do with ELEMENTAL vs total milligrams.

When magnesium is complexed in chelate, the citrate portion is added in
weight to the total milligrams.

For example...magnesium malate... 1000mg is 150mg of elemental magnesium and the rest is malic acid.

If you choose to use Puritan's ...I would get the Malate form.
It is also sold as malic acid. One of those is a known quantity for me,
and the malic acid portion of the chelate is good for muscles.
Often it is in two places on their website... under magnesium and under malic acid. 180 tablets /$18.99...for 2 ... 152mg of magnesium/tablet
http://www.puritan.com/pages/file.as...CPID=1280&np=1

The citrate-- at Puritan's is:

100 tabs /$7.95/2
http://www.puritan.com/pages/file.as...CPID=1157&np=1
100mg of magnesium /tablet.

For some reason the malate only shows up under malic acid now.

We use Puritan's alot here. I buy my basic stuff there. Often they have a sale-- buy one get TWO free. That is about twice a year.

Today it is buy one get one free.

If Alan does not have loose bowel problems, and tends to constipation,
then the citrate is fine...you should probably use two per day.
If you choose the malic acid form...one a day is enough for most people.

Hi Mel
 

I am not an expert on PN, but I know about frisky things in general, :D I also beleive pleasurable diversion can conquer & can take over painful sensations very easily. So in answer to your question, Alan's PN may was probably hurting like heck until you triggered the pleasure centers of his brain. Behold the friskyness.;)

And Behold It I Did!!!!!!
 

You guys are so cool!!!!

And Mrs. Doubtfire, I doubt any of us could exist without you!!!

You are my hero of the day!!!

Thank you so much.

Oh, I just came from around the corner and there's this young girl who just found out 5 months ago she's diabetic, type one. At 25 years old.

Her sugar goes down to 42 and they put her in the hospital all the time. She's on injections, etc.

Now she just found out he's diabetic and the other day she woke up with such pain in her fingers, they had to take her to the hospital again.

All they did was to give her percocet. She said she took 10 and it did nothing.
I was sitting on the porch and she was telling me about the pins and needles in her hands and I of course said "sounds like Neuropathy" and she said "yeah, that's what they think but they want me to go for some test. I explained all about the nerve conduction and emg and said "these tests will tell you if you have nerve damage". She then said to me "but I'm so young, I just got diagnosed I can't have neuropathy and one of the doctors said I'm too young to have neuropathy".

I said "get yourself a good endocrinologist and he'll order the tests for you. You need to be in the care of a good diabetic professional. She just looked at me and said "oh my god, will I lose my fingers". I said "oh my dear, of course not, just get tested and you can get treatment, they have all kinds of stuff now for neuropathy (if indeed this is what you have)."

She is scared to death. When she said the doctor told her she is too young to have neuropathy, is this possible? I mean, her symptoms are dead on. She was shaking her fingers, because the pins and needles are driving her crazy and she said that in the middle of the night, the stabbing pain in one of her fingers woke her up.

I know she'll start asking me stuff tomorrow night when I go sit outside again. I think I told her the right thing. It's up to her now.

thanks again,
Melody

diabetes can come with thyroid issues...
 

both are autoimmune. When this happens, it could be an expression
of Gluten intolerance.(autoimmune reactions to the peptides in wheat, barley, and rye)...so check our Gluten forum here too.

Hypothyroidism causes the hands to get this way (carpal tunnel). I had that
severely with my pregnancy.

If she tests positive for carpal tunnel there are injections often given for
that. And during the night using the typical carpal tunnel braces (sold in drug stores) will help prevent the discomfort. I found that just using the night
braces, helped my hands all day (I didn't need them then).

Sometimes low blood sugar causes hand tingling. But so does Raynaud's, and other autoimmune disease like Scleroderma. Diabetics can get pretty hypoglycemic during the night. There are snack bars called Glucerna made especially for this, to keep blood sugar more stable during the night.
She should test immediately upon awakening with her glucometer, to see
if she is low in the morning..before any food is eaten or insulin injected.

A simple thing right now that can do no harm is to get the Carpal Tunnel wrist splints and wear them to bed.

Mrs. D:

I never knew there could be other things that might cause hand discomfort.
As soon as I run into her again, I'll let her know.

thanks again for your kindness.

But in her case, (she chain smokes like a chimney, and will hear nothing about that), and she thew a chair at the first endocrinologist she visited, well I think there's much more going on here besides diabetes.

She lost a fiancee at the age of 19 due to Cancer.
She really has a lot on her plate and she acts like a wind up toy. I think she's on something. but she's only 25 and when you are 25, there is alway hope, that's what I say.

I mean, if I can change my eating habits, lose tons of weight at the age of 59, and Alan can turn into Rocky Balboa, there there is HOPE FOR ANYBODY!!!!

Oh, and would you believe that people actually walk up to us and say "stop losing weight you are getting haggard!!!!. Of course these people weigh over 300 lbs. I just smile and mentally punch them in the nose.!!!!

mel

About those 'Other People'..
 

think ON IT! They are JEALOUS! - Just say 'thank you' and ignore the rest. Not worth any frazzle... but, if it were your DOC saying that...different issue.

- j

I think I may be ready to know what I weigh. When I go to Cornell Medical Center in NYC every two months, they weigh me backwards because they know I don't want to know. Want to know why? THIS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH!!

A few years ago, I decided to go and exercise. I went to Bally's and did the cardio (as best I could) but I also did the weights rotation. From weight machine to different weight machine. I never weighed myself there.

When I had my previous appointment at my doctor, (he was always concerned about my diabetes and my weight), I weighed in at 206. I'm five feet seven so I never looked like I weighed more than 150.

So here I was going evey day to the gym. I was about 52 then. I literally re-shaped my body. It was time for my monthly checkup at my doctor (this was way before I went to Cornell.)

So I walk into the doctor's office and he goes "whoa, look at you, you've been very good haven't you?". I was wearing a black tank top and a black spandex shorts. I LOOKED JUST FINE. So here I was already to hop on his brand new digital scale thinking it's going to say 160 or something like that.

It said 223. I blinked, the doctor blinked, the nurse blinked, everybody blinked. I said "this scale is broken, no way did I go from 206 to 223. The doctor starts saying "melody, this is a brand new scale, the scale doesn't lie, what are you eating???" I go, EATING, WHO'S EATING, I'M STARVING AND EXERCISING EVERY DAY, ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

Then I grabbed the doctor and said "Victor, what do you weigh?" He goes 195,I made him go on the scale and it says 195. I weighed the nurse, the people in the waiting room, etc. The weight was what they thought it should be. I wound up looking like a complete idiot. Don't ask how I carried on. I was so upset. He just shook his head. He didn't believe me.

The very next day I took myself to Bally's and walked over to the biggest, baddest, strongest weightlifter there, batted my baby browns at him and said "can you please help me?' he goes "sure honey, what's up" and I go "WHY DO I WEIGH 223 LBS???"

He says 'WHAAAAT DO YOU WEIGH??? NO WAY!!." Then he weighs me, 223. He gathers all his weightlifting buddies and they walk around me in a circle looking me up and down shaking and nodding, asking me my daily routine. When I got to the part that I had been weightlifting for the past month, they all burst out laughing and said "you replaced fat with muscle and one pound of muscle weighs 6 times more than one pound of fat".

I told them "i don't care what muscle weighs, how do I get these pounds off. they explained how to lift smaller amounts of weight and do more reps.

I wouldn't go near any weights after that. I just got depressed.

So when I went to Cornell, I would not let them tell me how much I weighed and for the past 18 months, I have not known what I weigh. When they weigh me, they get all excited and say "oh you lost 5 lbs,, or oh you lost 3 lbs". And I go, what the hell is 5 lbs.???Sure, I look completely different but I am petrified to get on a scale and look.

I think I shall tell them on tuesday. "I don't want to know what I weigh but but please let me know if I broke 200." They'll probably laugh their heads off. I have dropped almost 27 lbs in one year. But I don't know what I weigh.

jeeeeezzz

melody

Between MY scale and the docs' scales....
 

well, my scale says I weigh 10 -25 lbs less than their scales! AND I only vary by 2-1/2 lbs over/ under what I consider my norm is. I call it DOC games...I truly believe it's a 'fixed game' to get you and me to keep the weight down.

When asked my 'weight' I always start out w/the difference caveat...Nurses are sensible-going well, if there's no glaring variations, don't worry...after which the doc comes in with the 'Tsk, Tsk!!'.

I can only very quietly, and in a VERY serious manner say: I should be gaining 20 pounds on these all meds and I am STEADY! Besides, your scales LIE! Rarely hear another word of complaint, Just wish I could exercise like I want to without spraining/straining or trying to break something! As cats say: Life is hard, then you Nap! There are times that serious napping and not worrying are most beneficial.

In the meantime....I have found that trying to get back in shape after not exercising, well your muscle DOES really bulk up, with no loss in weight, ...if you keep at it tho, the fat that goes into the muscle, then gets worked out and you get...shall we say: 'Lean Meat'? This may sound totally tasteless, but, look at Kobe Beef? Where they massage fat into the right places and tone into the other rite places.... It's a redistribution! As long as it's in the rite places...well, thank your stars! - j

Dahlek:

I'm almost 59 years old and I'm now married to Rocky Balboa.

If you think this guy is going to be skinnier than me, forget it.

We were laying down taking a short nap today when he puts his arm in my face and says "feel these muscles". I responded by picking up my leg and saying, "look at this leg". Can you bend your leg straight up like this" (he can't). he retorts, "oh yeah, well look at this thigh muscle".

I couldn't go there because my thighs don't look like his thighs. so I go "oh yeah, well I'm thinner than you" he goes, "oh yeah, well, you can't lift 175 lbs!!" I reply "Oh yeah, well before you lost your weight I used to lift you at 275".

He shut up!!!!

We never laughed so hard.

We have a contest going on here. He thinks I'll never get down to 150.

He doesn't know me...............................

we'll see, we'll see...........................

Melody

Melody, I happened upon your post while searching the Internet. I'm not a doctor, but it's plain to see that your husband Alan has multiple symptoms of the chronic disorders sometimes called the "diseases of civilization":

-idiopathic peripheral neuropathy
-easy bruising: "more black and blues on his body than I have ever seen in my whole life"
-foot ulcers that take a long time to heal
-psoriatic arthritis in the toes
-Taylor's bunions
-coronary heart disease

Your own diabetic neuropathy is also a disease of civilization.

They can--some experts say that a bunion can only come back if the surgery was done improperly or footwear is worn that is too tight or causes overpronation; others say there is no guarantee that bunions won't come back some years later even if the surgery is performed correctly and the person wears appropriate footwear.

The following of your husband's symptoms are associated with diabetes and pre-diabetes, so your husband should have his blood sugar checked if he hasn't already:
-idiopathic peripheral neuropathy
-easy bruising
-foot ulcers that take a long time to heal

The diseases of civilization are theoretically believed to always include the following features:

-chronic inflammation
-immune system malfunction (autoimmune disorders), though it often is not recognized as such

...and tend to include some of the following features:

-chronic pain, tingling and/or numbness
-nutritional deficiencies
-one or more of allergies, asthma, or sinus problems
-insulin resistance or dependence
-the diseases of Syndrome X (which have hyperinsulinemia at their root): hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, obesity, abnormal glucose tolerance, acne, early menarche, certain epithelial cell carcinomas, increased stature (above average height), myopia, cutaneous papillomas (skin tags), acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and male vertex balding

S. Boyd Eaton, M.D., Loren Cordain, Ph.D., Staffan Lindeberg, Ph.D. and others have proposed that these diseases of civilization are caused in large part by a diet of "modern" (agrarian and processed) foods that is out of step with the types of food that human beings are designed to eat because they ate them for the first 2.5 - 3 million years of their existence. The main foods that humans ate over this time were wild meats, fruits and vegetables. Grains, dairy foods and legumes were not staple foods in the human diet before the advent of agriculture around 10,000 years ago. We have not had time to adapt to the new agrarian and processed foods. Some people have genes that are less adapted to these new foods than others. It has been hypothesized that people from Northwestern Europe (the British Isles and Scandinavia in particular) tend to be less well adapted than people from the Middle East and Mediterranean, because agriculture started much earlier in the Middle East and radiated out to Europe from there, not reaching the fringes of Europe until thousands of years later.

Wrong. The following foods in his diet are all modern foods or include modern food ingredients:

multi grain English muffin
low sodium smart balance margarine
a cup of caffeine free tea
protein whey shakes
low sodium dressing
burger bun
low sodium tomato sauce
Splenda
baked potato
Splenda-sweetened drink

Better choices would probably be something like the following (depending on any food sensitivities he may have):

more cantaloupe and other fruit
green or herbal tea
a smoothie of strawberries, banana and apple juice or homemade almond milk
a turkey burger or grass-fed beef burger without the bun (he can wrap it in lettuce leaves if he wants, but it's easier to just eat it with a fork)
all-natural tomato sauce
honey instead of Splenda (or no added sweetener if blood sugar is high)
some more nonstarchy veggies like leafy greens

The biggest problem with his diet is likely all those whey shakes. Unfortunately, he drinks those because he wants to be muscular, so he may resist eliminating them. Whey contains betacellulin and insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which promote cell growth and division, thus theoretically causing muscle growth. However, bovine betacellulin and IGF-1 have also been linked to various types of cancer. Because they strongly stimulate cell growth and division it is believed there is a risk they can stimulate too much of it, leading to a cascade effect of excessive, unregulated cell growth and division (cancer). The other stuff in the whey shakes is probably not good either.

It is also important to eliminate grains--especially gluten grains (wheat, rye and barley). Here is some information on a connection between peripheral neuropathy and gluten grain consumption:

Psychological and Neurological Illnesses Associated with Cereal Grain Consumption
From "Cereal Grains: Humanity's Double-Edged Sword"
By Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

"Neurological complications have long been recognized in celiac patients and can include epilepsy, cerebellar ataxias, dementia, degenerative central nervous system disease, peripheral neuropathies (of axonal or demyelinating type), and myopathies [318]. A recent study showed that 57% of patients with neuropathies of unknown cause (25 ataxia, 20 peripheral neuropathy, 5 mononeuritis multiplex, 4 myopathy, 3 motor myopathy, 2 myelopathy) demonstrated positive titres for antigliadin antibodies, and 16% (40 times higher than the general population) of this group also had celiac disease [315]. The cause of neurological dysfunction associated with celiac disease and antigliadin antibodies is unknown; however it has been suspected that an immunological mechanism may be involved [315, 318]. Although no clinical trials have yet been conducted of strict adherence to a gluten-free diet, it has been suggested that such a diet may result in stabilization or even improvement of neurological dysfunction [315]."

315 Hadjivassiliou M, Gibson A, Davies-Jones GAB, Lobo AJ, Stephenson TJ, Milford-Ward A: Does cryptic gluten sensitivity play a part in neurological illness? Lancet 1996;347:369.371.

318 Auricchio S: Gluten sensitivity and neurological illness. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1997;25:S7.S8.

The complete report can be found at http://www.thepaleodiet.com/articles...%20article.pdf.

Good luck!

Wow, you are thorough aren't you????

Well, I bought honey yesterday, so I'm starting off on a good thing, there anyway!!!

Alan has just had a battery of tests. All negative. No gluten thing, no auto-immune thing. His neuropathy is not from diabetes. All this is absolutely certain right now. They know he has severe spinal stenosis and they are tending to believe that the PN comes from that. And because he is so much better after going to Dr. Theirl, his chiropractic/neurologist, well, many docs now feel that his PN is due to his lower back stenosis thing going on.

Also, you mention that he eats multi-grain and splenda and whey shakes. Believe me, he got MUCH BETTER after he changed his diet to eat this way.
18 years go when he started to get the PN, he was eating red meat, no veggies, white break, macaroni, sweets. starches, etc. etc.

We went to a nutritionist about two years ago who put him on the plan he's on now. The black and blues after the exercising were from the plavix. He no longer gets them often. Maybe once in a while. He is very careful not to bump himself.

And the not healing ulcers on his foot are NOT CAUSED BY ANYTHING TO DO WITH DIABETES OR A PRE-DIABETIC CONDITION. He has had all the tests.
The podiatrist took x-rays and found there is a bone near the ulcer that is inpinging on the ulcer so he might have to have that shaved down but as of yesterday the podiatrist looked at the ulcer and said "look at that beautiful foot, it's all healed"

So we are waiting to see how his next podiatrist visit goes. IF the ulcer comes back, the doctor will then determine if he indeed will shave down the bone that's doing the problem. Also, the tailor bunion on the other foot never grew back BUT Alan has a tailor bunion on the foot that has the ulcer and the doctor said he can take care of this at the same time.

So I do thank you for all your concerns and good infomation. Hope I got to clear up some things for you.

My husband is a new man thanks to these whey drinks. He drinks only one a day now. He eats like a horse and he looks great. He also execises like a banshee and wouldn't have it any other way.

You do what works for ya!!!!! This works for him.

Sincerely, Melody

Mel...
 

You will probably think this is dumb, but I haven't had much time for movies lately... Exactly who is Rocky Balboa?

Cathie

[multi grain English muffin
low sodium smart balance margarine
a cup of caffeine free tea
protein whey shakes
low sodium dressing
burger bun
low sodium tomato sauce
Splenda
baked potato
Splenda-sweetened drink]

That isn't a full list is it??

But where is the veggies & fruits?

Have you done a search on splenda and fake sugars?
not from the manufacturers site - on some health sites?
googled a list for you-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

I do think the store bought /prepared foods are a nutritional negative. Most of them are loaded with additives and preservatives.

I just posted some meal planning and related info on the Weight loss forum here.
and we have some great links for healthy loss and diet.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42

just somethings to check into for the best health you can have for the long term.

just wanted to add some healthy weight loss links-
http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/setgoals.htm
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/Weig...Loss&WT.srch=1
http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_weight_loss.htm
http://www.dadamo.com/
http://health.discovery.com/BodyChal...ealthy%20diets

info on starvation diets-
http://weight-loss.featherish.com/starvation-diet.html
body building and diet-
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbin...ge=HealthDiets

i'm not mel but...

sylvester stallone...in the "rocky" movies from the 70's i think it was. the boxing movies. he has another one coming out.

Jo this is what Alan eats during the day.

Breakfast. A cup of fiber one cereal with skim milk, glass of OJ,
He puts splenda on the cereal (he used to put pancake syrup so be happy he just puts splenda). His doctor said of all the stuff, at least splenda is better than nutrasweet. I'd use Stevia but who could afford this??
And a cup of decaf herbal tea.

Then he has a banana for a snack.

Then for lunch he has grilled chicken on a bed of lettuce tomatoes, chopped zucchinis, radishes, with a splash of extra virgin olive oil and some balsamic vinegar.

Then he has a bowl of fruit (fresh) no syrup.


Supper is a turkey burger (no bun)or some dreamfield's pasta with fresh tomatoes (no salt) and if he does have the pasta he doesn't get a potato. a baked potato) or my famous patatas which is a diced potato just put in the pan and it gets browned (like hash browns), with a little extra virgin olive oil.. He also has a side of either broccoli, zucchini, and of course (and this is every night), he has a bowl of steamed fresh carrots )thankfully no more pancake syrup on that. His main entrees for dinner are either turkey burgers, a bowl of dreamfield's pasta, a piece of steamed salt free chicken, and maybe once in a while some turbot fillet. He hates fish by the way. I adore it.

He doesn't eat any bread, rice, rolls, nothing with gluten but as I said he tested for that and it was all negative.

After dinner, he eats another bowl of either shredded wheat (yuck) with skim milk), some fat free yoghurt, another banana and maybe he'll have a whey shake.

and oh yes, he does have one of my nice blueberry muffins that I make with fresh blueberries (good antioxidents.)

So there you go.

He lost tons of weight, had built up muscles and we are presently in the process of still determining why he has the PN. Thankfully it has not progressed and he can manage without pain meds. That, in itself is a good thing. His doctor is extremely proud of him. He works out at the same gym as Alan does.

Here's a link to Rocky.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075148/


It put Sylveser Stallone on the map.


Mel

hi melody,

does alan like the maple flavor or is it the sweetness?

adding an extract of maple can give him the flavor. no sugar...and NO SALT.

Oh - good that list sounds much better- the other one had me worried.

"Massage and frisky therapy" (MFT) may be an underated treatment for PN pain.

Carlie

Curious:

What do you mean MAPLE FLAVOR???

There's a thing I can buy that tastes like maple, and has no sugar or salt???


Where, where where?????
Melody

yep...maple extracts...like vanilla extract. i use extracts all the time.

if you want to order online..you can look up maple extracts, maple flavorings. or just your regular grocery store.

this wouldn't be something he can pur on foods..but you can cook or bake with it, adding the maple flavor.

here is a link...it gives a recipe...but the nutrition facts are for the maple flavoring

http://www.barryfarm.com/nutri_info/...pleflavor.html

Much appreciated!!!!!
 

Thank you so much.
Melody

So much for my knowledge about movies... :)
 

Like I said, it was probably a dumb question... :) :) :)

Cathie