Sugar and Pain
 

I have heard that getting one's sugar levels under control (for diabetics) can really help with the pain management. So, as I am so stressed about being able to afford medications to keep the pain at bay (any idea how expensive that neurontin is....) that I have decided to try to get my sugar levels under control to help. This is day 3 of no soft drinks, no sweets of any kind, and really monitoring my carbs, etc. Think I may die.....was probably drinking at least a two-litre of sodas or sweetened tea perday (if not more) not to mention candy, cakes, excessive carbs.

Have firmly made up my mind, if this will reduce the pain...I CAN DO IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!

Any success stories out there??

Wow, is that ever impressive!

Kudos to you!

What an interesting idea, though.

Two things come to mind: 1.) a couple years ago the washing machine at my rental died and the tenants were really upset while it took me awhile to get together the money to buy a new one. I forget what they did, something insulting or something, and so one of them brought me a huge bag of really great Danish and turnovers and donuts and things.

I wasn't eating that kind of thing very much at the time.

With all the stress, I ate a lot of the sweets and many of my symptoms got much worse and even weeks later when I was no longer eating that much sugar remained extremely bad. (Without looking at my notes in my Time Line, I can't be sure which symptoms it was that got so much worse. I just know that I got very much worse and that I was so sorry that they'd brought me sweets and I'd eaten them)

2.) I hadn't thought this before I read your post, but I've been nearly pain free for a few weeks now, maybe a couple months. I have a lot of trouble with my memory.

And it was about that long ago, maybe a month longer, that I requested that I not be sent desserts any more with my meals. I have meals delivered to me because of how sick I was and how I still am very restricted.

Up until I read your post I thought the vast reduction in pain was a result of taking serrapeptase during the night, having whey amino acids in my coffee every day, taking a lot more magnesium (and less calcium), LOTS of B12 injections, and getting three minutes a day of exercise ... pretty often.

I think you may well have hit on something.

:)

Ok , here goes.......
 

.......I will be happy to give you a success story but...it's tough to take.I was dx type 2 on Feb 19th of this year. It didn't surprise me as I was pre-diabetic the year before. On March 1st I decided to get serious about my health and started a number of things to get control of high glucose ( 2 subsequent fasts of 232). My weight at that time was 266 , fortunately it was all over and not in my middle ( thank goodness)! First I studied the glycemic index in and out. I made note of high glycemic foods in my diet and resolved to remove them almost entirely such as...white breads, pastries , potatoes, desserts, my only bread intake is whole grain unbleached flour. I stopped ALL intake of sodas, fruit juice drinks and any trans-fat. I consume FRESH veggies
salads and a reasonable portion of beef pork and fish. I exercise about 15 minutes a day on my treadmill and get moving ( yes ,even with pn). I finger stick to see how foods affected my glucose levels every meal for the first month. If you don't have a meter get one and don't go on guesswork. It is not easy, and you have to make a lifelong commitment. Well , it's been 5 1/2 months now, my a1c is 6.2 my fasting glucose is 90 and my weight is 225. I am 6 feet tall by the way. If I can do it, so can you , it just takes a firm commitment and patience! Good luck!

Boy flsun,

It sure was easy for me ... when I saw the huge difference that brown rice made and that I could eat it any time I was stressed, and masses of it, and still lose weight... the main problem was my disbelief.

I can't bear to weight myself because I get obsessed and that's the beginning of a downward spiral.

So I just measure myself and watch how my clothes fit.

I've lost ten inches around my waist, and I don't even have to pretend my waist is right under my breasts any more. :)

I do three minutes of exercise a day, either on my Gazelle, or walking in my garden. But lots of times I'm not well enough to do that.

And, I had to work up from less than a minute.

And, there was a time, maybe it was last year, I forget, when I was losing two to three pounds a week and still eating a dessert every day. (the weight loss came from the three minutes of exercise after not being able to move very much at all because of the tetanus I had)

For me, the main thing is not letting the stress drive me to... desserts.

Well, since I don't get desserts delivered to me any more, I've rather won that battle... but if I could drive I think I'd go out and buy them when the stress is this high.

Time for some coffee with amino acids, lots of creamer, and cinnamon.

That helps.

:)

Thanks for the input. I am ready for a lifelong commitment. I am ashamed to be in such poor physical health at 43 years old...all really at my own hand. Had I listened and heeded 12 yrs ago when diagnosed with type 2...i would not be in this shape. I know it will not make the PN go away...but if it could reduce it to a bearable level....i would be thrilled. The pain has been pretty much constant since about 9 last night....but bearable pain instead of the excruciating norm!

Just a quick end of workday update. Normally by this time I am hurting so bad I want to scream and snapping everyone's head off. My feet are virtually pain free right now, with very mild pain on the outer edges of my hands. NOTHING SEVERE....life is so good at this very moment!

Boy, what a totally, completely DYNAMITE post!!!!!

I had never even connected the end to my pain with the end to sugar, at all.

I think you can get rid of the PN. Why not?

Hi Belinda, the reason my PN started was being in a prediabetic state, and low B12, in the time i have been here i have lots of posts were sugar even affects non diabetic PNer's so sensible eating is paramount.
People with a prediabetic condition and PN caused by full blown diabetes can be fully reversed, it is completely up to you, your doing well by the sounds of it and i am sure you will feel like a million dollars in time, it takes a while for nerves to heal and if you get some flaring, don't panic it could be the nerves healing, i had heaps of flaring of symptoms during the healing process but over time you will feel lessoning of symptoms, no one can put a time on it, all depends on how much damage there is to heal and how much you try to help yourself.
good luck, your on ya way,
Brian :)

I completely agree with Brian--
 

--not only in that pre-diabetic, or sometimes even diabetic, neuropathy can be reversed with good blood sugar control and a wisely chosen supplement regimen, but that good blood sugar control is vital for any of us who have neuropathic symptoms even if we have excellent glucose profiles and neuropathy from another source.

Just as most of us with neuropathy--for any reason--are more prone to compressive effects on nerves than "normal" people would be (sort of an "additive damage" sometimes referred to in the medical literature as the "double crush phenomenon"), many of us are also more prone to effects from anything that compromises vascular function, such as a high blood sugar level, even if that is transient. (We also tend to feel more symptoms from known nerve "irritants" such as gliadin or alcohol.)

I'm often said that those of us with neuropathy should treat ourselves as if we are high-inflammation diabetics, even if we're not, and eat in such a way as to normalize blood sugar, eliminate trans and saturated fats, not smoke or drink, etc. Our whole bodies would be the healthier for it.

food and pain
 

What I found is that I have to eat proper food - so I changed my diet to all-wheat everything, brown rice, less sugar but if nessesary - brown sugar ect. and it helps... to me at least. also I found that I shouldn't be hungry. and I'm not diabetic or prediabetic. So, it has to do some thing with nutrition, I don't know and not even my neurologist.
Also, open air is good. I noticed that when I'm in the beach - I have at least 2 days of relief and it is good. Also the Dead Sea is good for my pains. (I know that it is my previlage but you can have mud or salt from the Dead Sea. I think the magnezium is the one that works in this case.)

And by the way - thanks to all of you for the support you gave me when I whose "down". You are my new friends. I'm not glad that we met under these circumstances, but at least... I met nice company.

Wow guys...I know this could be a fluke (God likes to toy with me occasionally :) .....but I remain sugar free and PAIN FREE this morning...and all throughout the evening and night!!! It is amazing to have gone from pain that has several times in the last nine months caused me to think I could not continue to even live, to being pain free or virtually pain three for more than 72 hours! I can go without sugar the rest of my life for this kind of relief!

Belinda:

Very interesting information about how sugar affects the body.

Having gotten my sugar controlled, and the taking of the Methyl B-12, well the difference in my pain levels, my weight, my body, my everything, well...I consider myself extremely fortunately.

There hasn't been any sugar in this house for years. But I still ate the wrong stuff and paid the price. I knew I was diabetic type 2, but it didn't "click" in my brain. Once it clicked, I changed my eating habits.

All we are ARE HABITS. We are creature of habits, from the time we get up in the morning, to the time we go to bed, we do certain things in certain order. And as we get older, we get to be MORE creatures of habits.

Ever see those elderly people on the porch (after the age of 70 or so). This doesnt apply to every elderly person on the planet, because I have an 88 year old friend around the corner from me and she wears a defribulator and she also wears mini skirts and runs out of her house.......but when you see an elderly person on that porch, knitting, and just sitting there night after night, you can bet that you will never be able to get that person off that porch and have her go for a walk or do anything out of her comfort zone. They have their minds stuck in a place and it's not going to get UNSTUCK any time soon.

I had to "get out of my comfort zone", a long time ago. I had to really take a long look at what diabetes did to my body. Sure, it was easier to just sit down, get a bag of chips, a glass of diet coke, and just pig out in front of the tv at night. Didn't hurt anyone else, JUST MYSELF.

I used to eat these lox bagel and cream cheese sandwiches (two at a time). Never really thought what I was doing to my body because I felt fine.
When you feel fine, even though you do a finger stick and it reads 250, well YOU FEEL FINE!! And the food makes you feel good, SO WHY NOT?? right??

Well, the answer to why not, is what happens 5 or 10 years down the road. Diabetes is a no-brainer. We have to control our sugar. If we are type one, and not obese, it's a whole different ball game. But we need to eat healthy no matter if we are type 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. You know what I mean!!!!

Over eating is such an addiction, it should be labeled a crime. I watched the Discovery Health Channel last night. They did a whole show on Brookhaven (a facility for the morbidly obese). These people way 750 to 1000 lbs. They have to be lifted by crane. The look of mortification on those people, well, thank god, I had my light bulb moment years ago. I would have ended up like the guy in the crane. Many of my friends are morbidly obese. They think I am out of my mind because I don't eat what they do. They actually laugh at me and sometimes they say "it takes too much energy, it's too hard, I don't want to give up my candy, cake whatever".

So what happens? Well, last night my friend called and now she has liver damage. She already had neuropathy in her stomach (but in her words 'so what if the doctor said I have a diabetic stomach, what the hell does he know!!!"). I say nothing because my lifestyle speaks for itself.

People either get afraid (I got very afraid), and they will either do something about it, or they won't do anything about it.

Last night, the 500 woman on the show had two sons. One weighed 325 and the other weighed 390. One had chest pains and went to a doctor. He sat the boy down and answered a question that has been in my mind for a long time. He told the young man "listen to me, you can have two people sit down at a big meal. Eat the exact same food. One will stay exactly as he is, eating meal after meal, and the other guy will gain all the weight". "It's not fair but sometimes, it's your genetic makeup". It is what it is". So he instructed the guy to change his eating habits. Not an easy thing, I know.

But to see these 750 lb people who haven't gotten out of bed in 9 years, well, to see them up and walking, well, it certainly inspires me to do even better. I tried to get my friend to watch. Her comment "I don't want to see other fat people". I also watch The Biggest Loser. This show has inspired me like you have no idea. Makes me want to get up and move along with them.

So all we can do is watch our sugar readings, make better food choices, take our Methyl B-12, and strive to be as healthy as we can be.

With techology today, we don't have to lose the limbs we would have lost years and years ago.

Exercise helps a lot with the PN pain for many people. Made a huge difference in my husband's life and I'm even doing more walking than I did before. I notice that when I move around, I am not sitting down watching tv and just vegetating. For some of us with PN, this is not a possiblity because they have other issues going on.

But we have to do the best we can do to deal with the hand we have been dealt. We all know stress is a big factor. I've learned to "let go and let god".

Works for me!!!

You take care,
Melody

Ditto...
 

..well said Melody

Boy, this is really interesting. I've not read this type of material before. I don't have diabetes and as far as I know I'm not going to get it.

When I had money and used to go to the doctor it always sounded as if diabetes were one of the main things they thought about, and if I didn't have it then they figured I was totally well. They paid negligible attention to B12.

I paid no attention to the desserts I was having, except to major enjoy them because they were soooo excellent. (as long as I exercised three minutes a day, I was still losing weight) And then I started freezing them (without them I lost three pounds a week instead of two), only when my electric was shut off I had to throw everything in my freezer out. So I guess it was in April that I stopped having desserts.

And now, August, I don't have pain anymore... but there are a lot of supplements I take... the B12 I'd been having for years. So if I've been having vitamins for a long time, and I still had pain... then the pain stopped after I stopped having a dessert a day... well, I'm willing to believe that stopping sugar intake is a factor.

But without this thread, I wouldn't have even noticed the possible correlation.

The blood information is very interesting and helps me understand how it works. The compression thing is totally new information for me. Thank you VERY much.

:)

Hi rina,

You remind me that when I had all the swelling and was falling so much from the hydrogen sulfide, I read a lot about ions... because apparently negative ions are good... and it said that sea air contained a lot of them, and so too pine forest air. And Epsom salts, which is magnesium. You mention magnesium.

I've been trying to remember to soak my feet in Epsom salts every day. I have to do it while the sun is out because I heat my water with solar. :) and when there's a lot of stress I forget.

But I remembered yesterday and I had a lot less of the buzzing feeling last night. I would like the toes on my left foot to not feel stiff anymore. I'm hopeful. :)

(((((((((belinda))))))))))

I am sooo grateful to you for this thread!

In 1996 and 1997 the pain was so bad so much of the time, and the stress was so extreme that I used to think I could immolate myself at an IRS office (they were abusing me at the time) and the pain wouldn't be much different.

I remember telling the U.S. News & World Report editor who called me that it made me laugh when I worried about how I'd get the gasoline there with me because of how noticable the red approved containers are. It just cracked me up that even in planning immolation I wanted to follow the rules.

He laughed, too. Don Boroughs, or a spelling somewhat similar. He didn't put that into the piece he wrote that was published back in 1996.

But one thing I learned then, was that after he listened to me and didn't blame me, and he seemed to understand, a lot of my inability to sleep went away, and when I was sleeping better I had less pain. At that time I wasn't eating sugar, because the only thing I could afford was dried pinto beans, which I cooked with herbs from my garden. (I really think it is that I ate things like that so much because of poverty that I don't have diabetes.)

:)

Well, I've digressed.

But I really want you to know how appreciative I am to you for this thread!

(((((((((((belinda))))))))))))

IF it's white.....
 

.....it ain't right!!! Thats what I tell my wife periodically at mealtime ( it drives her nuts). But anyhow I am glad you're getting some pain relief.

This thread and the other one about non diabetes is very interesting to me. I have always thought I had diabetes issues because of the amount of fluid I drink,the sugar cravings and amount I eat,and how I feel out of it sometimes and lack of energy,with stomach issues. All my results show normal though. I will say in my recovery the major focus was weight gain regardless of quality of food. So even now I see a nutritionist and am going to see a new one out here from my old clinic my choices of food equal junk. I really need to focus on quality. No sugar though oh my. I can't even make it to noon without candy. I will try though and hopefully the new nutritionist now since healhy weight can help me with this. I have been trying to get my healthy omega's because I wonder for me like I said if long term fat restriction could of had an impact like people with the b12.
Melody you make so much sense. I know different but similar when I saw what my anorexia was doing to my life and what it had left me with which was nothing it made me change cause I felt I had nothing to loose and the only way for a chance at a better life. I do have friends though taht have lost everything and it makes them sit in there misery. I think you are so right about facing the fears and pushing out of your comfort zone. Many comfort zones we have can be self destructive. It may be hard in the short run but in the long run will make life better.

Daniella:

Want to hear something interesting?? I have a friend with MS. She's 59 years old, 5 feet 5 and weighs 120 soaking wet. She can eat anybody under the table and she often does. She is always eating. ALWAYS. What does she eat all day long??? Chocolate, candy bars, snickers, ice cream sandwiches. Loaves of bread. We have mutual friends who are afraid to go out with her to dinner because she will grab the food off of their plates when they stop eating.

The other night she went out to dinner with some friends. She kept saying "oh, I'm not that hungry". She wound up finishing everybody's plate.

Now how on earth can someone with MS, let alone weigh 120 lbs, eat candy bars all day long, drink Malted Milk Shakes, etc. etc. Yeah, she eats food like everybody else, but the desserts. WOW, I have never met a person who lives on chocolate, desserts, and candy.

She must have the metabolism of a (well, I really don't know), what exactly kind of metabolism does such a person have.

My godson's wife weighs 90 lbs soaking wet. He weighs 350. When they go to McDonalds and get the Happy Meals, etc. etc. She can also eat HIM under the table. Still 90 lbs.

God, I wish they could bottle these people's metabolisms.

Mel

Minor Setback/Disappointment for Me
 

You guys, I cut out all sugars at the beginning of this week and severely reduced my neurontin (out of financial necessity :) from more than 2000 mg per day to 600 morning, 600 night...nothing in between.
Was so amazed at the perfect lack of pain all week.
Then yesterday...was feeling so great forgot my morning dose and left it at home. OMG did I deal with some pain in the evening. Became extremely depressed thinking it is not the sugar at all...I will never get any relief, etc. HOWEVER, in the light of day I realize that nothing occurs overnight, my pain is still MUCH LESS than it has been in months and I will not stop eliminating the sugar no matter what. I have needed to get my sugars under control for a LONG time before I have a stroke or something, I feel better mentally and physically than I have in a long time when I eliminate the sugar, and it WILL have a long term effect on my pain. This morning I am again pain free and was throughout the night!

((((((((Belinda)))))))))

Boy do I ever identify with you... thinking that the thing you were so excited about couldn't be it after all.

I do that soooo much. Despite how much B12 has helped me, I'm always thinking it couldn't really have done this or that...

At least once a week I think of how I'm like the Jews wandering in the desert for 40 years... only I lose faith in as many hours.

I'm glad you are sticking with it...

Me too!

We should put the sugar industry out of business.

We'd be a lot healthier!!!

mel

well..it is good as an exfoliator. as a face scrub..it's gentle and rinses off very well. :D

other than that...just not good for you.

Well, as an example of my disability and lack of working memory...

I read your post and thought, wow, I could use an exfoliator... I wonder what she's talking about...

I thought maybe you ground up peach pits or something.

I was sure there must be another mention of it in this thread, whatever it is, and so I went to work looking for it.

But I couldn't find anyone else mentioning the exfoliator.

:(

So I read just the post on top of yours, again...

and...

I bet you mean sugar!

And I bet mostly everyone got that.

I just do not put things together well anymore. Darn it!

(and, I don't have any sugar and I need an exfoliator)

:)

Use Oatmeal.
 

Make a paste, and gently wash your face. All dead skin comes off and your skin is nice and pink.

I use the Susan Lucci gadget with the crystals. The face gets nice and creamy after that thing.

And look at her. She's 60. Jeez, she doesn't look it!!!

Mel

Yes, she's totally amazing.

I think they don't give her awards out of jealousy.

;)

This is good news....
 

...for you. It's great that you are having less pain. When I forget to take my Lyrica I consider it a small sign that things are improving. After all , usually the pain is reminder enough!

Belinda - You have the right attitude to succeed in the long run, what i have read so far, you are still doing very well, not taking your morning dose of Neurotin , of course is going to expose your pain again plus getting emotional upset aggravates the heck out of PN, the two combined is an awfull combo for PN, like pouring petrol on a fire.
Please remember that you may have bumpy road whilst healing as it is a slow process, but its all very worth it in the long run, believe me. :)
good luck i know you can do it.
Brian :)

Just an update:
 

Hey guys---Will, I'm into my 9th NO SUGAR day and here is how it is going.
I have had ZERO pain (unbelievable) minus the one episode where I forgot my morning dose of neurontin.
However, last night I had some mild/tolerable foot pain before bedtime...and again this morning. As you can imagine, I am somewhat terrified about this...that it will return with full severity, full time...however, I am just going to keep on keeping on and see what happens.

Interesting note......my sister, whose diabetic PN is equal to, if not worse than mine...had been in excruciating, bedridden pain for two weeks. She refused to even try what I was doing, saying it wouldnt work, she couldnt give up sugar, etc. After a week of my being pain free, she began taking her insulin again, got her sugar levels WAY down, and has been pain free now for 2 and a half days!! SHE ACTUALLY WALKED HALFWAY TO HER SON'S HOUSE (about 3 blks for her)....and no one could believe it!

Wow!!!!!!

I love your posts! They give me soooo much hope, not just re pain, but all sorts of things...

I love that trying it may have totally dynamite results!!!!!

Thank you soooo much!

:)

I just came to get this link for someone.

Thank you a lot for starting this thread, it's sure a useful one for me. :)
.