Diatomaceous Earth?
 

Hi Guys!

My problem has been resolved but I sure haven't forgotten the people who helped me! My sugar is in the normal range, (not diabetic), but when I was was 48 1/2 this horrible PN happened to me.

Would like to mention Mrs. D. again, of course, who helped me with my Vitamin D Deficiency and allowed me to use my right leg again more than three hours a day.... took away that chronic pain in the calf, the "ball and chain leg pain" as I used to call it - first person to give me my life back. Mrs. D. :You-Rock:

Shout out again to StaceyD :hug: who told me about Benfotiamine (was taking 500mg to 1000 a day, Life Extension brand) who relieved that awful all over pricking and itching I was dealing with and the occasional electronic shock in the left cheek and left foot. Woot Woot to you, second person who gave me my life back here.

Also the hordes of you :grouphug: who told me about Alpha Lipoic Acid 600mg per day. When I added that, even more of the lighter annoying nerve pain went away (I just used Spring Valley from Walmart).

But now I have found something else and it's CHEAP :Dancing-Chilli: so I'm sharing, why the heck not. I started trying it for my knee arthritis which was precluding me from riding my bike... I started just walking but then my heel spurs threatened to return so then I was stuck, weight going up again, etc. A friend of mine from long ago at my first job after college told me about it.

Diatomaceous Earth - Food Grade (fossil flour). It just kind of looks like flour (will provide you with links) and you take a heaping tablespoon per day - or most people do. I paid 10 bucks for a giant 5 lb. bag. Because I have neuropathy, I started with only 1/3 a teaspoon per day.... My knees felt better immediately. I was able to start riding my bike again right off the bat. The fossil flour did seem to kick up the neuropathy a bit more when I started - most things do, but after about four days, the neuropathy symptom increase started backing off.

When I try something new, if it makes my neuropathy symptoms worse and worse as the days go by, then I just figure I can't use it. In this case, the neuropathy symptoms kicked up a bit, but gradually diminished in just a few days.

Now I am up to about a level tablespoon of fossil flour a day, some in the morning, some in the early afternoon. I don't take it past 4PM because it gives me an energy boost and I stop so I can sleep. Here I am about 4 weeks into it and for the fifth day in a row, I woke up with ZERO neuropathy pains - no light pains in the legs, thighs, no zipping pins in the feet (these had become manageable, but never went completely away).

I have not run to take my Benfotiamine (which is kind of pricey to take) and Alpha Lipoic Acid first thing in the morning anymore....I haven't taken either in days and days now - this is unheard of for me. I've completely forgotten to take my morning 10mg of Nortriptylene that my neurologist gave me that is an antidepressant with benefits for neuropathy... Why? Because there is zero nerves going off in my legs, not even little tiny ones. NOTHING. ZILCH. :D

Other benefits: My face looks really beautiful and much younger, family and co workers have noticed. I can ride my bike everyday now. I am literally riding my bike with a smile plastered to my face ear to ear because I cannot believe that I am climbing the trails (mountain bike in woods) that I used to climb at the pace that I cam climbing them with no pain in my knees. I can walk up and down steps with zero knee pain. I can sit and hop up from potty without a zinging pain in my knee caps. I can stand up and bend down and wipe up goop spilled on the floor without zinging pain in my knee caps. I have lost the weight, fast. Family and co workers have immediately noticed that. I no longer crave chocolate and sugar - people who know me know what a life long slave I have been to chocolate. It is so easy to walk past chocolate and other 'like items' in stores now, without picking them up. I am so much less depressed. I get so much more done in a day now. I wake up and get out of bed much more easily, no more dragging myself out of bed.

Here is the best website on it I have found. What it is, why it works, frequently asked questions, testimonials (not many on neuropathy though)
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/human-use.php

Here is one article that I found related to neuropathy. I am no doc. I have no idea if what they say is true. Diatomaceous Earth is one of those things that people try and if it works for them they keep doing it. There is not a lot of info on the web. Diatomaceous Earth is mined from the ground - it can't be patented or prescribed, therefore, not a lot of interest in 'studies' as you can imagine why - financially. But here you go, someone might find this interesting.
http://www.westonaprice.org/environm...ad-as-a-hatter

I feel I have a duty to come here and tell you guys because of how much help I was given here, how I was able to have a life again because of this site. I have no other motivation. I hope it helps just one other person, then that will make me happy, thanks for listening, Karen

Under the title, "Dirt Cheap Solution" in this article, just a clip...

Peripheral Neuropathy improved by purging build up of the metal cadmium in the intestine using Diatomaceous Earth (fossil flour).

All you have to loose is pain. It's helping me. Good luck to all of you :), you'll get help here, if not from me, someone else. To Seek is to Find...

http://www.westonaprice.org/environm...ad-as-a-hatter

Thank you so much for sharing Karen. :)

I will definitely look into this, try it out. After all, what have I got to lose? Only pain!

If only more people like you would post their success stories, this forum would be filled with hope, and a little less despair. I think it's easy to forget to come back here if life returns to normal.

I appreciate your time coming here. Hopefully your advice will help some of us. :hug:

Thanks for noticing my post!! Yes, I found some success stories here and I would come in and read them over and over and over and over... even if not everything they said helped me.. even if something they said I tried and made me worse, didn't matter, I just kept reading them ;) :D:D

My neurologist, who helped very little, said to me, how did you find out about this? My supplements and such.. I told him, from other sufferers. He just nodded his head. I went in for a second opinion with another neurologist. By the time my appt rolled around for the second opinion, I just sat in the guys office gushing about my improvement. When I gave that doc my list of what I take/supplements, the last thing he said was, "See... you figured it out yourself!" They know, but they don't tell. My first neurologist was however, the only doc that agreed with the level of Vitamin d that Mrs. D told me to take. The orthopedic guy advised much less. What ortho doc said wasn't working so I went with what Mrs. D said, much improved in five days - tears of joy were welling up in my eyes, on and off, all day, by day five on Mrs. D's level of Vitamin D I had been taking.

... and they say geophagy is an eating disorder...
 

I gotta wonder about the first person who thought of/tried DE as a "food"....

"Hmmm... diggin' this dirt here. It's good as a pesticide, fertilizer, metal polish, and makes a dandy cat litter too. Think I'll scarf some down! Blech! Tastes like chalk, only grittier. Think I'll snack on a tablespoonful of this stuff every day from here on!" :rolleyes:

Doc

I am going to look into this in depth. It can be used internally, but mostly seems to be an insect deterrent.

Breathing the powder however would put silicon in the lungs, and that can be very bad, and lead to scleroderma as one other scenario.

But it looks like it may be absorbing some toxin from your GI tract.
Various clays are also used in treating certain diseases. Bentonite and fuller's earth are examples.

Dysbiosis is a common feature of our lives since antibiotics were invented. It is thought that Candida infects just more than 1/2 of the US population! So it figures that the FDA would take Kaolin (an absorptive clay) off the market! LOL
What happened is that products with Kaolin needed studies to remain OTC in the US = Kaopectate. But Pfizer wouldn't pay for this so sold its NAME to a company who put Bismuth subsalicylate in it...so Kaopectate is now the same as Pepto Bismol!

Anyway, I digress... there may be some reason the absorbent, is working for you, Karen. Either it is absorbing heavy metals from your GI tract or killing off some critter that was dumping byproducts into your system via the GI tract.

Just be careful with that powder and don't inhale it (maybe wear a mask when measuring it out).

As time passes, it would appear to me that you could eventually
not need it.

But you do win the award today for the 1st post:winner_first_h4h: on this topic. And perhaps maybe we will all benefit from it too!

Dear Mrs. D thanks for coming by!

Also Dr. Smith - very funny name. You almost had me fooled. ;) I can understand why you're like.... "Warning Wil Robinson ... Warning!" That's cool. Most would probably agree with you.

I am completely prepared for many to scoff and not believe me. To those I would say, guess your not in enough pain yet. I was worried, not primarily for PN anymore thanks to this site as I have mentioned, but that knee arthritis and heel spurs were going to cripple me soon; that was my desperation for trying it, as I stated.

Here's a sheet of frequently asked questions that explains why someone would take something that also kills bugs, the inhalation concern and why if it's so great you never heard of it before.

http://www.earthworkshealth.com/Diat...-Earth-FAQ.php

Here's one of my favorite quickie, "the gist of Diatomaceous Earth" on youtube; this guy is President of Earthworks, so yes he's selling something. But it's a good "explain it to me like Im a Kindergartner" speech.

Love that gritty, foggy water taste... that's because I know how Im gonna feel the rest of the day. I can't promise you it will help you, but if everything everyone else including doctors has promised you has failed, then it's something else and it's dirt cheap, pardon that pun. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQn6GSHNzBE

Peace people and good luck to all of you... this thread aside, I hope you all find your way like I did!!! :grouphug: Happy St. Patty's day

Karen I am so happy for you that you are doing good!! That is wonderful!! People like you give hope to others. :hug:

Very interesting topic, you never know what odd thing is waiting to be your miracle. Interesting.

Wanted to add, reading your link I read this:

Secondly, an unexpectedly dangerous compound to avoid is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a high-priced product heavily recommended by alternative medical doctors and other health practitioners. NAC is a form of cysteine often recommended as a more powerful form of the much-needed amino acid L-cysteine or in lieu of glutathione, an antioxidant that is rarely effective in supplement form.66 Although dozens of journal articles support its short-term use as immunity booster and detoxifier, evidence is mounting of potential long-term harm. The NAC form of cysteine conceivably can poison vitalethine, a vital component needed to activate humoral immunity.67-69

Interesting, I wondered how safe NAC was long term

Stacy- was it you that told me about the Befiotamine? (spell?) Couldn't remember for sure. That kept me from being bed ridden three or four days a week. that was huge for me.

Most people do fine with NAC. I have not had a problem. Good to build up Glutathione, lung health etc.

Yes, Benfotiamine has been very good for a lot of reasons along with the other supplements. I have used them a long time.

Also guys, on day three of 1/3 teaspoon per day - I started packing up zip lock bags and sending it out to all friends and family to try.

My little brother had a serious heart attack at 39; he's had high cholesterol, hereditary, since the age of 7. He had to have a stint put in. Now he has two little babies, wife, mortgage, he's early 40's, 42 I think. I was really hopeful he would try it. He agreed to, I was very relieved because one of the main benefits ppl who use it talk about is the lowered cholesterol and cardiac issues.

Also, it helps you hold onto water like you did when you were younger. I do not mean bloating here. My skin looks fab!!! I look younger. I can't stop staring at the backs of my hands cause their not wrinkly anymore - Im 50. Also, I noticed my eyes felt better and better everyday when I woke up. My eyesight improved. I was using a 2.50 reading glasses, now down to a 2.0 ! I can't believe this stuff. See how I dont care what the naysayers say? Would you?

By day four, I was up to 3/4 teaspoon. I was at work and sitting at my desk - and I just said to myself - I feel like a million bucks!!!! And I do. I hope the same for you, whether you use "the mud" (as we affectionately call it even though there's really no dirt in there) or something else... flax seed maybe, Vitamin D, what have you!!!

Love this place.

PS Mrs. D. - you may have forgotten, but I also had Lyme Disease too. Nice to see you Mrs. D. :hug:

Kitty litter is kitty litter.

Sorry, but I have a real problem with information gleaned from sources selling something. Too much puffery, weasel words, pseudo science, BS, etc....

The reason this stuff is used as a pesticide is
The stuff may be harmless to folks with healthy guts (GI tracts) but I have IBS, and know from experience that certain foods & supplements (e.g. psyllium) can be abrasive enough to cause a flare—bleeding—in my intestines.

I can't risk that again.

Doc

I would have to agree Doc Smith - doesn't sound like it's for you. I have a touchy tummy too. Never been diagnosed with IBS. That's why I started so small, 1. to find out effect on neuropathy... 2. to minimize effect on tummy.

I did have some cramping the first night, but I'm prone to it. I took one Walmart generic Immodium ID (spell?). Didn't need one after that. I noticed if my intestine felt a bit crampy, or cramps threatened, the easiest and best thing to do was just drink a good sized glass of water, 6 oz. or so.. and that stopped it right quick. I know people talk about putting it in a glass of orange juice, but I use a good size glass of water with it. The first couple of days, it made me thirsty too, but I've been shriveling up on account of menopause so that didn't surprise me. The stuff is the bomb.

Best - I get to ride my bike everday again! Whoo Hoo!!! :Excited: Doesn't get better than that in my little world!

I'm sure you'll find what works for you. May the force be with you!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist :D

...Beam me up Scotty! ;)

Just got a text from my little sister, she's a Registered Nurse. She's worked in re-hab centers, psyche wards and now she's a school nurse (much easier and more pleasant gig, quite frankly). My sister is 46 and I sent her the mud cause it was supposed to thicken hair, make your skin and nails more beautiful, etc. She has no health problems. She just sent me a text, "Love the mud!" I sent her one back, "The mud has helped me beyond measure. Stay on the mud and you won't get old!"

When I first got this PN thing... three of my toes on my right foot went numb. Went to a neurologist in a panic, thinking MS. He did the 'shock the leg' test and told me I had an abnormality but it wouldn't be a a big deal. When I wound up in pain a few months later and thought my life was over, I was really mad at that doctor. I felt like he lied to me.

I became willing to try anything, I felt like there was a solution. I tried accupunture, which did make my foot that felt giant immediately go back down to normal size... then I started reading here and posting and trying anything people talked about. My boyfriend said I was trying too much. I told him if it was him, he'd want to figure it out before his nerves got damaged too. I felt that I was in a race against time.

The accupuncture lady told me that everyone has their own inner guidance. She said it will be that inner guidance that will help you find what you need. I knew she was right. I got it down to manageable. Again, large part because of this site, actually, more like 99.9% this site, to be exact. But I remember someone making the comment here to me, "but partly it was you because you were willing to try/take supplements."

I know Doctor Spock is trying to rain on my little Diatom Fossil parade here, and I knew someone would, but I have pain on my side. When I went back up just to see the posts, again I was horrified at what this horrible PN thing does to people. They are even painful to read, those posts.

For those ppl who have had enough of empty promises and treatments that stop working, those are the ppl who will begin to try anything. If not what I've mentioned in my post here, maybe something someone else has mentioned.

Thanks again Neuro Talk for all that you have done for me. Not just me, but me and my family cause we all know what it's like to have a family member flattened by PN. Everyone suffers.

KarenEVP, You posted that you had a "shock the leg" test. Do you mean EMG/NCV testing? The doctor found only a little abnormality but it wouldn't be a big deal. Curious as to what was actually found if you don't mind sharing. Thanks.

At one time, I painstakingly posted out my doctors notes that I asked for, mostly for Mrs. D to see. What do you call it - little electric shocks, they dont really hurt but are annoying.. to try to figure out if your nerves are working up to speed or are, I guess too slow? The neurologist did it in his office. I just cant remember and dont feel like grabbing out those papers, off to play with grandaughter today.

Here's what I had. Three numb toes, then a foot tingle. That went on for a while. Then after maybe five months - I had a never ending kind of cramp in my calf. The calf got weak if I used it for more than three hours a day. This went away, mostly, when I took the level of Vitamin D Mrs. D told me to take. My vitamin D test was a 15 point something, very low. The neurologist never looked into it. I came here and asked about it.

Then I started getting little pains, light kind of burning pains, enough to annoy you and keep you awake, moving up both legs.. finally into the but. There were times when I didn't know how to sleep cause they were in the front, sides, backs of legs and but, no where to lay on. Very annoying. Then there was the electronic shock that came along to the left cheek every so often and left foot. First time it happened, I just stood there, didnt know what happened or what to do. If I put my left foot back down, it would shock again. I was stuck in place at work. This ****** me off. Then it went away.

Then there was the horrible all over pricking and itching. That was resolved with the benfiotamine that I told you about, thank God. Then on top of that the Benfiotamine started keeping the annoying light pains up my legs and butt from happening when night time close in. When I started taking the Alpha Lipoic Acid, those light pains went away further.

Sometimes if I eat something that sets off my nerves, I still get to enjoy all of these annoying issues. I just have to wait for it to wear off and not eat that stuff again, or take that supplement, or whatever set it off.

Since almost a month on the mud.. when I get up there is no trace of nerve pain. Usually in the morning there is still a little, that sends me for my Benfitiamone, can't remember how to spell it, and the alpha lipoic acid - first thing, also that nortriptyline antideppresant I told you all about in this thread. The first time I spelled these things out for you guys, I looked at the bottles, I am just ready to go do something else right now but want to answer you.

Now in the morning, I have ZERO pains, not even the tinyest slightest trace. I dont have the occassional prick or pain that lets me know that the neuropathy is manageable but certainly not gone. I have been having ZERO, do you guys hear me? ZERO. That is why I have come into post about this. It's got to help someone else it just has to.

Now if I were to go eat the things that irritate my neuropathy, yes, I would get those stupid nueropathy symptoms back.. I tried it just to see, in a little tiny amount. It does not protect against eating what you know will **** off your neuropathy. Also, when I eat something that ****** off my neuropathy, the Benfiatomine, whatever , and the alpha lip. acid dont help either. So no difference there.

I have had days lately where I can say I have completely forgotten I have neuropathy.. if you have manageable neuropathy, then you can imagine what that would be like. Thanks for reading my post and asking a question, makes me feel like I spent my time for something here. But Im sorry, gotta' go and don't want to deal with spelling and typos right now. :D Sincerely, Karen

Not quite (though if you're going to refer to it as mud, ya better expect some slinging), but I'm getting used to being misconstrued. ;)

I do have some reservations, and eagerly await MrsD's looking into it. I would myself, and perhaps will, but I have some other things on my plate at the moment, and family comes first. ;)

But most of my comments have been strictly humor. :D If I can find humor in my own pain (Dr. Smith — Oh, the pain... the pain...) then you can bet I see it in a lot of places.

We've had similar discussions about N-acetyl-cysteine, which some other folks couldn't handle because it's made from human hair and duck feathers.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread193882.html

I've recommended the stuff many times, especially for people who take a lot of Tylenol/acetaminophen, because it protects the liver from damage.

IME, (and I find it funny because I also see it in myself) there's no fanatic like a convert. I can cop to the same sin with adrenal hormones, RLA, and B5, and you're right—they work for me.

I make no apologies for my skepticism—or my sense of humor; I come by both honestly.

Doc

Hey Doc, nice post! :D I make no apologies for using myself as a guinea pig when two docs told me: Half the people with PN are diabetic. For the other half, we don't know what caused it and usually dont find out. No tests were ordered by first neurologist until I went to the second for the second opinion and he ordered some. So, for me, it was Google and Mrs. D. and a couple of others here too. Went well for me too :D

For Kitt again, I think you can search my name and see past threads by me and read all I found and shared here, just a thought. I just wanted to come back and tell of something good I found. Thanks again for asking, Karen

What I found was that half the people with diabetes develop PN. There are many, many other causes for PN including inherited ones. Good site listing it:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...s/con-20019948

There are DNA blood tests that can rule in or out some of these problems. Yes, some people will never know what the cause of their PN is. It can be very complicated as most of us know.

Yes, I know that I could do a search on your name to read about what you have been through.

I wasn't offered any DNA blood test. Maybe my insurance won't cover it and the docs know what.. Anyway, I'm doing well right now but I'll keep it in mind for the future, just in case. :) Thanks, Karen

Dear Karen,

You mention a few times that if you eat the wrong foods that you feel the neuropathy.

I was wondering what those foods were so that I could try avoiding them also.

Could you please spend a moment explaining the types of food that give these reactions?

Debbie

I'll repeat my experiences..... while we wait for Karen's answer.

Nightshade veggies--- really cause burning feet for me. Potatoes are the worst, then come concentrated tomato products. All the peppers upset my GI tract...even paprika.

Red wine and white wine, and MSG (monosodium glutamate) also bother me. Chinese restaurant food...ugh! I even get blurred vision from MSG.

MSG is an inorganic form of glutamate which floods the blood quickly when absorbed. (glutamate naturally in foods has to be digested to be absorbed--and this is a slower process). Then this glutamate goes to the NMDA receptors among other things, and may trigger them... NMDA =pain

Sugar and ice cream may increase burning too, by thickening the blood.

Hi Mrs D

Thank you for that info on foods which trigger for you. I have a feeling some of those are problematic for me also. Had Thai food for dinner tonight and it didn't go down so well, at all! I used to eat it regularly, but this was the first time since giving up gluten (gave up Xmas time) that I've had Thai food. I didn't know about MSG. The fellow who owns the restaurant has a motto of No MSG. So, either he lies or something else upset my plumbing tonight.

The nightshade vegies are a surprise to me. Will give them a miss for a month or so to see if it makes a difference.

Thank you. :)

Debbie

In my case, triggers are sugar (test negative for anything close to diabetes), sugar alcohols (in many "sugar-free" foods and others), nightshades, white carbs (bread, pasta/noodles, rice, taters), dairy (except cheese).

Doc

Hi Ms. Aussie Debbie!!!

First of all, hey Mrs. D :hug: and Dr. Spock!! My triggers are any food that increases blood sugar too, Doc Spock, but the Benfotiamine and Alpha Lipoic Acid took care of that... that and a little over the counter Progesterone Cream (Refer to "What you Doctor May Not have told you about Menopause" or "Perimenopause" by Dr. Lee.

You see, menopause is what happened to me. When you hit menopause, your ability to process sugar gets crappier... it's not as good as it used to be before when you were younger. That's how come I came to wind up with a disease that is mostly caused by diabetes when I in fact had sugar levels that were within the normal ranges. This is what I suspected on my own (the menopause theory) and was later confirmed by two doctors in Annapolis. Although a third in the same practice said there is no scientific proof that progesterone (cream or oral gel caps) relieves neuropathy. I thought to myself, well that may very well be but my 'burning legs and but' study gave me all the scientific knowledge I desired thank you very much.

Again, the mud I will point out, in addition to lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure (all purported benefits here) is also supposed to cure most menopausal ills. That's because it helps level out hormonal imbalances, which when added to my regimine, brought down my neuropathy symptoms from manageable to ZILCHO.

I used to take coconut oil for my arthritis and heel spurs, it used to help tremendously, enter, neuropathy - BUZZER SOUNDS!!!! Burning pain and tingling of all sorts, feet, legs but.... even up into the arms and the neck.... plus it's sneaky. It doesn't start right away. I take it, think I am getting away with it, then it hits me like a ton of bricks at night.

Next, fish oil. Used to take it all the time, gobs of it, made my mood lift. Enter nueropathy, buzzer sounds again!!! Now immediately and severe nerve pain in Left foot - the GOOD FOOT, mind you... one doc theorized it might be the mercury. Mercury is one of the items removed, porportedly, by the mud.

Then there was the wonderful promising tumeric root for arthritis!! You simply eat about a third of a raw tumeric root, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, and wella - arthritis gone!!! And boy did it work! I was in complete amazement. But it didn't last because surprise surprise, like most things that dont react well with my neuropathy, the tumeric root is a powerful phytoestrogen, sending hormones additionally out of whack. The arthritis relief was quickly overshadowed by some of the most powerful nerve burning in legs I've experienced to date. I was heartsick. Next came the mud!!!

So, pretty much my theory on neuropathy is this.... it's due to hormones draining out of your body (menopause and for both men and women, aging) or imbalances some people are unlucky enough to have at a young age... Sugar is just not processed as well as it was when you were younger and had more youthful hormone levels. That's my theory. Diabetes you say? Ok, what age did that happen? I know some children have it but I mean the run of the mill type 2....

I even saw noted on menopause symptoms lists "tingling of the hands or feet." Gee, what does that sound like?

So therefore, coconut oil and fish oil I can't take, no miraculous tumeric root either (tastes like crap, turns your teeth orange, but your arthritis will improve in a few hours if you can tolerate it).... Then I think I had an itch prick attack over vitamin E pill once, Canola oil makes for burning nerves whereas Olive Oil is ok.

I did bring my tolerance up to eat once piece of salmon per night, I put up with the somewhat slight burning, it eased over time and now completely gone with the wondrous mud.... and I am able to take Flaxseed Oil too, but I have to use a bit more progesterone cream because of that as it is also a very powerful phytoestrogen. Flaxseed oil does a LOT for arthritis too, like the coconut oil used to, but even the mighty Flaxseed oil has been trumped by the Diatom Fossil Flour Mud! I still take my share of flaxseed and flaxseed oil for arthritis help and the cardio benefits.

For me, I have to carefully check each oil. Supplements too, Acacia powder, dirt cheap and great to help with weight loss, used to be able to use that, now, just brings on those burning nerves particularly in the calf that Mrs. D. helped me get rid of with getting the Vitamin D level worked out.

This is all from my experience only - I've only tested all on myself, so far I haven't died, who knows, I could, so take all I've said with a grain of salt please. I found out Google helped me more than my nuerologist because Google is what brought me here. Google is what helped me figure out the sugar/menopause connection and Google is what helped me figure out that coconut oil was causing me problems even though it didn't used to. I believe in Google.

Karen that is pretty interesting.

I am approaching that age. I need to have my hormones checked. Did you have yours checked and they said you needed progesterone?? How did you decide which direction to go with that? Very interesting.

I take tumeric, but it has helped my burning, the amount in my zyflamend. Then I just added curcumin pills also, I don't think it is making it worse but I dont see it helping either.

Again, so glad you are doing so good!! I wish I were too!! I started iodine protocol today hoping that helps.

GEt the book, "What you Doctor May Not have Told you about Menopause." What happened was, I suspected menopause because was given neuropathy and athritis diagnosed same summer, age 48 and a half. I suspected menopause. I was also hardly having any monthly you know what's... gave me a clue :D!!

About this neuropathy, with my useless doctor... a little bird kept telling me to call an doctor I knew personally from years ago, used to be a friend of mine. I wondered if he would remember me. He was a urinary surgeon, dealing with cancer mostly. The little bird kept saying, "He's going to know what's wrong with you..." He's one of those doctors that knows a lot about everything, not just his specialty. He's developed and patented surgical devises having to do with urniary surgery, he's written a couple of books, etc etc etc.. He is also hilarious if you know him in person. So I wrote him a letter, sent it to his house cause I never really had his phone number.

He wrote me back and told me right away, to get the book I told you to get, read it and go get some over the counter progesterone cream. Here's the website related to the book, by the way... http://www.johnleemd.com/

I got the cream. I thought, yea, sure... what's a little over the counter cream going to do for me? Put it on, went out to ride my bike. Low and behold - I had 1/3 more power than I used to instantly! I was stunned. In fact, I was stunned and overjoyed for three weeks cause light neuropathy pain that had been sneaking into my back which was not covered by the other stuff I told you I got here, Gone in three days!!! It was like the fountain of youth.

I will remain on that cream for the rest of my life. Never to go off of it, I am so much stronger.

In your case, you may not be completely out of progesterone yet whereas I believe I was. Can't explain all of that and estrogen dominance here in one little thread, you're gonna at least have to go to read the website or book.

If you still have 'some' progesterone left, then it's probably enough to balance out the extra jolt of phytoestrogen you'll get from the tumeric.

Dont' know anything about iodine but Im recommending

1. Vitamin D level checked and straightened out (Vitamin D is very close to a hormone)
2. Diatom Fossil Flour (the mud)
3. Benfiotamine
4. Alpha Lipoic Acid
5. Progesterone Cream

If you don't want to do the mud, you should still see if the other 4 help you. They have hormone balancing for men now too. Thanks for listening! :hug:

PS, that doc I told you about last thread, he still is a unrinary surgeon but now also specializes in hormone replacement therapy for men and women. He is writing a book about same. He wanted me to do the artwork for his book. I actually only do wildlife though. .

That doc, he charges 300 bucks per appt., doesn't take insurance, doesn't need to bother with it and has hordes of ppl pouring into him for help. In fact, one of my previous (female) gynos is his patient. He says ppl don't think doctors have problems, but they do.

Not every gyno will help you with hormone replacement therapy. A lot of them don't even understand it. Best bet is to go to a compounding pharmacy, get names of docs from them who order prescriptions through there, then call those docs and find out if they take your insurance. If they do, then that's where you should go.

The first gyno I went to see said no way was my pn related to menopause because otherwise she would see it all the time, and furthermore, she told me I should find out what caused it. (Neuros already told me in my case, not diabetes, they never find out.. it's cause that don't know anything about hormones, really). Then later, one specialist and gyno at another practise said it certainly is related to hormonal changes!

Not all doctors know but it's ok 'cause there's always google. Seek and ye shall find....

Just skimmed it, but this looks like another web page that is talking about what I have been trying to explain,

It’s probably hard to imagine, but Diabetes, Menopause and Obesity are all related. In fact, they might be the same thing, caused by the same root issue, just expressed differently by the body.


Similar topic anyhow.... menopause, sugar and diabetes...; another sugar disease besides PN that sometimes goes along with it...

http://www.askdrgarland.com/?p=7770

Yes, it is important to me to have my hormones balanced with bio identical hormone creams. I found that out years ago.

Right on. I found out one year ago, age 49. I wish I had found out at 43. I wish I had been on progesterone since 43. I wish I had known that my Vitamin D level was ridiculously low at 43 and what level of supplement I would need to take, found that out from here cause what Ortho doc said wasn't nearly enough. Even now I still only have a Vitamin D number of 49 taking 2500iu- 4000iu daily. I wish I had known of the other stuff Im hawking right when my three toes went numb. Would have saved me a lot of pain, grief worrying that my life was over, etc....

I would be afraid to just try progesterone without blood tests. You never checked yours??

I will definately look into it, it has been on my list to check things out as I know that time is coming, I am still very regular but I am 47. I keep putting it on the back burner trying to deal with my PN. Maybe I need to move it up to the front burner.

Thanks for all the info I will go check it all out.

Oh, and yes, you and I emailed privately about the benfotiamine quite awhile ago. It use to really help me but not so much anymore, but I still take it.

thanks!

Which progesterone cream do you use?

First of all, it's nearly impossible to OD on progesterone, particularly over the counter... because of how much your body can hold during a pregnancy, I read that, not my medical advice, none of this is, not vouching for any of it - my disclaimer.

I use Young Again, it's cheap - it works
http://www.youngagain.com/magento/cr...myprogest.html

1/4 tsp. morning night, that's how I started, now Im on the kind from the compounding pharmacy by prescription, bioidentical.

That doc who helped me out told me he thinks this kind is the highest quality over the counter. My cousin tried my brand, said her hotflashes didn't stop, tried this brand and they did....
http://www.amazon.com/Heartland-Prod.../dp/B006ERKV5C
My cousin makes no claims here either and is also not a doc and does not have PN - another disclaimer while I'm at it. ;)

Dr. Smit of Annapolis Gynocology gave me the prescription kind (oral progesterone 100mg) and said, "This will help your neuropathy." Smit is also a herbologist; is part of a conventional gyno team. Smit needn't have told me that 'cause I already knew from when I tried the over the counter kind because my friend from twenty years ago, another Doctor in Annapolis, already clued me in.
So there are two doctors. Then there are the two dumb doctors, both female gynos, who didn't know.

Bet you one thing, either one of those two ding dong dumb lady docs wind up with miserable neuropathy... they're going to wind up going to my friend the doc who'll charge them 300 bucks an hour- cause they can afford it, then they are going to find out that they didn't know everything, now did they? Not hardly! They are also going to wind up on biodentical hormones, right quick!

Progesterone is a precurser (spell?) of other hormones. Men can take hormones too and probably have luck with their neuropathy? Why? Because hormones buy you time back. Think of it as if how your sugar was processed by your body before the time you came down with PM, when you were younger. This is what hormone replacement therapy does, it turns back the clock on how you process sugar, therefore, bye bye neuropathy angst. At least a good deal of it. That is a very simplistic view. But when I started thinking of the menopause connection, the first thing I thought of was how to buy time back for myself. Then I started thinking about gynocologists and hormones and such. It is known that women on hormone replacement therapy look younger... they look younger because it is like they are a little younger; they trick thier body into thinking it and behaving more like it used to... like it used to before PN!!!! Including on how their bodies processed sugar.. younger, it was processed better, like everything is processed better when you are younger.

The doc wanted me to do a pic for his book of a woman pointing the way for a man to walk down the path. Thats because he wants to show that hormone replacement therapy is for men too and women have already been the ginnuea pigs and had the mistakes made on them, now they are pointing the way for men; less the mistakes and complications.

Also to answer - when I went to the bioidentical doctors that took my insurance, I asked for the oral progesterone in that it is better than the over the counter cream for dealing with the horrific menopausal insomnia should you be unlucky enough to come down with that one.

"I didn't sleep for two years!" Oprah Winfrey on menopause, the show with Suzanne Somers.

If it weren't for that, I would have been alright with just the over the counter cream. Then when I went in for that prescription, she said they don't do saliva tests cause they change all the time - not every doctor abides by the need for saliva tests for hormone levels. She did do a blood test that told me my estrogen was now at 'menopausal' level. No whoop de doo suprise there.:rolleyes:

Here's my buddy the doctor; I just googled his name plus 'video' and this came up, just watching it now. This is a lot lighter than the last video he sent me that dealt with how sugar causes cancer, it was really depressing. I watched it to be nice but it was just plain sad. I'm just looking at this one now for fun. Another disclaimer, I don't know if my doc friend is right either, lots of docs wouldn't agree with him - But - he does follow the principles of Dr. Lee's groundbreaking work. Doctor Lee from Harvard who wrote, "What you doctor may not have told you about menopause."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ZE5epM7EI

Ok, here's that depressing cancer video he sent me, don't watch if you don't want to be really scared of chocolate. In fact, I need to tell him about the mud and how I have been able to not each chocolate for 9 days now. That is unheard of to everyone who knows me, it's a really big deal. Sugar, chocolate cravings, cake candies cookies GONE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om2Uj07ypec
Wonder what he'll have to say about that mud. Actually, I want to go by there and talk to him so he can see how much better my face looks, he knew me in my late twenties. If I look younger like I think I do, he will see it, or not.

Holy cow! You have no idea how much you may have just changed my life.

I am peri-menopausal, and questioned the pain in my feet when it started, but was told by my GP that menopause doesn't cause neuropathy. So I let that idea go.

My mother has bothered me for ages to go on HRT but I've rejected the idea, rather not risking blood clots, etc. However, if my problems are a direct result of hormones, then I'd rather take the risk and balance my body. Hopefully the neuropathy can be eased.

Karen, what you say makes so much sense to me. My blood tests showed I wasn't diabetic either. I was in the normal range, but the higher end of normal. As a result I've started to use Agava instead of sugar, in an effort to avoid sugar spikes.

Do you guys think the hormone cream is enough, or should I speak with my Doctor about getting on HRT proper?

I know it's a risk, but if it gets rid of this horrible painful condition, then I'm willing to take the risk. Heck, I don't want to live this way anyway!

My neuropathy symptoms started six months after menopause. I kept telling my family doctor and my neurologist that my symptoms may be related to menopause but they kept dismissing this idea. I have asked my family doctor for a blood test of my hormones but he doesn't think it's needed.

If you're still cycling, then you could just use the over the counter and read Dr. Lee's book; you can get a copy for a penny from amazon, used
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause (TM): The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance (Mass Market Paperback)
OR
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Peri-Menopause (TM): The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance (Mass Market Paperback)
There is a chapter in there that explains how to use the cream. Plus, if you order the cream online, there are directions with it too.

You can talk to your doctor but remember, two docs told me that PN is not caused, no proof, by hormonal changes. Two did and one is a specialist that charges 300 dollars an hour and doesn't even have to bother with insurance, who has doctors as clients. Gynocologists, even.

Some docs believe bioidentical is safer, some don't. The doc that wrote me out my last bioidentical hormone replacement prescription did so but also told me her personal belief was that it wasn't any safer. BUT BUT BUT - Very Big But.... I was thinking my life was over, I was picturing myself walking around Walmart with one foot in a slipper cause I couldn't bear to get it in a shoe... I was thinking Walmart was awfully big and hard to walk around in, only weeks before cycling each day that there was not a monsoon or the weather dropped below 20 degrees, other than that I biked in ski gear if I had too. I was wondering how long it was going to be before I wimped out and started conteplating suicide (due to chronic pain). When you add all of THAT crapola in... then all of a sudden risk of this and risk of that don't look so bad.

Plus the idea is that you use the very least you can get by with and ease symptoms. In addition to this, I told you about the Diatomaceous Earth which I have noticed in addition to all of the wonders I have told you about, has allowed me to cut back on my levels of hormone replacement therapy bioidentical creams yet still have full relief of symptoms.

And yes, I'm here to give you life changing news cause I owe it to you because this place gave me my life back and gave me a manageable situation whereas no DOCTOR did; the neurologists I saw. From here I sought out more and I'm doing my duty to come back here and help you all. I'm telling you there is hope. Even if not what I say, someone else has found something. This is espeically true if all that you have is not working or you are just getting worse and worse.

Thanks for listening, you'll get better, thanks for your reply, Karen

What can I tell you, those doctors are wrong and they are not experts in menopause or hormones... reguardless of their titles, they are not 'in the know.' I can only tell you I did not listen to two neurologists and two female gyno's who told me the same as you were told... I was so relieved when two others did, one in gynocology and one a urinary surgeon now specializing in bioidentical hormones. I say, 'consider the source."

Oh yea, I forget when I first complained about hot flashes to my male general practiitioner, he said, "Nothing I know of can be done with that." So that makes THREE doctors who had no clue. What a load of crapola because on the shelves of a health food store in my town sat a little jar of cream that stopped my hot flashes the first day I applied it. Who knew? Clearly not my G.P. right? Three days later, even more neuropathy pain was gone. STunner. I had reversed time. I was riding my bike, gardening, etc. Then the arthritis came over me and I was looking for something else and found the mud. Didn't realize I was going to find my 30 year old face in the bargain but it came along with it. Who knew? All I can do is tell you; the rest is up to you. I know you'll feel better soon.

Progesterone cream is cheaper when you order it online.

In appreciation of Doctor George helping me like he did, telling me about the book and so forth, I gave him one of my paintings as a gift http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show....php?t=1326977

MetroMum,

Isn't it amazing how us women know our bodies, yet Doctors still think they know better. Usually, if my instinct tells me something, it's right! Same as you, within the first year of menopause I felt the hot feet and wondered if it was related. Used to even joke with my hubby that I haven't experienced hot flashes yet, but my feet have! lol

Karen,

I can't thank you enough. Without your post I never would have considered HRT. Honestly, I was at that place of suicide, just couldn't bare the pain and thinking to live this way! The Neurologist has told me she has checked everything and cannot help me. My GP thinks it's Plantar Fasciitis, and so I wear arch supporting shoes, strap my feet in front of tv, etc.

I won't be telling my GP that I want HRT to see if it helps my neuropathy. I'll be telling him I want it to balance my body out. He will give it to me, he always wanted to. I fought him to not be on HRT. :)

If it helps, great! If not, your words about hormones and balance have convinced me anyways. I want my body to think it's younger. :)

Thanks again! You are precious.

Ohhhh and I will look into that book. Sounds like a very educational read, and I love learning, especially about health.

Edit: Have downloaded a copy to Ipad, Amazon has Kindle versions.