SFN vs Autonomic Neuropathy
 

I was diagnosed with SFN several years ago. At the same time I started having several terrible digestive problems. None of the doctors I have seen have ever linked the 2.
After reading about autonomic neuropathy, it sounds like that is exactly what my digestive problems seem to be.

Do SFN and autonomic neuropathy normally go hand-in-hand, or are they 2 completely different, unrelated problems?
Would I be out of line to suggest this is my problem, before starting a whole series of tests to try to find out why I am having digestive problems, which is what my doctor wants to do.

Antibiotics seems to be the common treatment for this. Shouldn't that be my first step considering that I already know I have SFN, before starting intestinal biopsy, etc. etc.? I had a recent colonoscopy and am clear of polyps. Help.

Thanks

You would not be out of line. I have pulled some info from this website for you:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3086960/
"Small nerve fiber neuropathies also may result in autonomic and enteric dysfunction. Patients often do not identify the relationship of these symptoms to their sensory complaints; however, when asked, they may report dry eyes, dry mouth, postural lightheadedness, presyncope, syncope, abnormal sweating, erectile dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, early satiety, difficulty with urinary frequency, nocturia, and/or voiding"

If it were me, with all the findings about certain antibiotics causing neuropathy that would not be my first step. There are numerous posts on this subject. There are tests and treatment for autonomic involvement but someone who is more familiar with that subject will have to help you out. Good luck!

Hi LMPinkereton

Just to add to pinknose's info here's another link to a fact sheet about the different types of neuropathy.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/p...neuropathy.htm

In regard to your digestive issues have you ruled out Candidiasis? - antiobiotics would likely make any Candida issues worse. You could try starting with adding a good multi probiotic to your diet and see if that helps. If no improvement then autonomic nerve involvement could be possible.

All the best for finding answers.

Thanks for the information.
I have tried probiotics twice in the last few months. Both times I had to stop after a week or 2, because the probiotics made thing much, much worse. Why would that be?

It could be due to something called Candida "die-off" - if you have Candida that is. Here's a link which explains it better than I can.

http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-die-off.html

I use the probiotics in supplement form occasionally when I feel there may be a problem (eg diarrhoea) or if I think I might not have got enough in my diet with yogurt etc. Maybe taking a high dose probiotic could cause the die-off reaction - try starting with maybe one capsule every few days for a couple of weeks and build up slowly. Also watch refined sugar intake - this is food for candida.

I don't know about SFN and Autonomic NEUROPATHY (emphasis on neuropathy) but I have been diagnosed with autonomic DYSFUNCTION and am awaiting a biopsy for SFN in early December. Im not entirely clear myself what the difference is - except that neuropathy may be a more severe case of the dysfunction I am experiencing. I posted a few posts before you did. I don't have digestive issues.

Autonomic Neuropathy is a disease. Autonomic Dysfunction is a symptom, (which may or may not be caused by Autonomic Neuropathy.)

Like me, you are at the first step of the process as far as the doctors go. First you have to identify the symptom (Autonomic Dysfunction), then you have to identify the disease process causing the symptom (possible Autonomic Neuropathy), then you have to identify what's causing the disease (autoimmune process? vitimin deficiency? heavy metal poisoning? drug toxicity? genetic issue?, etc, etc), then you have to find an effective way to treat that underlying root cause.

Unfortunately, it seems like only a very small percentage get all the way to a truly effective treatment. many doctors don't have the time, or are unwilling to spend the time to truly track it all the way down. It's much easier to say "here's a prescription for something that might help - come back in 6 months for a follow up appointment".

"here's a prescription for something that might help - come back in 6 months for a follow up appointment".

That's all I have been getting for 17 years. Keep getting worse, never better. Have just about given up.

Even if they find the underlying cause in most cases it does not matter much because the damage to the nerves unless caught very early on is already done, Yes? The only few reversals I have read about so far are the lucky few that were caused by B12 and were treated in a timely manner or perhaps they were on statin's and got off the drug before too much damage was done. That said, there maybe other reversals I'm not aware of but the point is too much time is most often lost before the cause is discovered.

Cliffman :)

I have a major clue- a raised IgM level and low serum complements c3 and c4 and anticardiolipin antibodies - and as of late antithyroid antibodies - and not ONE dr - even at the best teaching hospitals locally in Philly - are able to identify whats wrong or see it to a conclusion. They only do their limited speciality shrug their heads and move along. The rheumatologist apparently does not like to call seronegative Lupus. All this while I feel like Im deteriorating neurologically. Im also having major anxiety issues from this - mental and physical - like my panic - and I don't know if its a) from the underlying disease process b) the actual autonomic dysfunction (they said it was of the adrenergic type) or c) some immune mediated neuropsychiatric thing.

I did go to an immunologist this week. He was nice and ran a few tests. I am PRAYING SOMETHING comes back.

Im not one to live with the idiopathic nature of this thing and unfortunately the quest to find it is proving fruitless and jeopardizing my family b/c of my single purpose.

SOrry, I think I just hyjacked the thread!

It seems that full reversals of long standing neuropathy are very rare. But partial reversal - or even just stopping or slowing the progress is still much better than letting it continue to progress. I think that's why so many here continue to look for the cause.