Hi all, hope all of you are well!!!!

[Melody]

Hi, I'm just testing to see if this posts.

So we shall see!!!!

Hope all are doing okay.

take care,

Melody

[dahlek]

Go for it! - j

[joy]

Hi Melody

Yep it worked for ya. So now I know there are people waiting to hear how you and Allen are doing. So what's the story, lol?? Glad you're here bty.

from joy

[MelodyL]

Right now he is at the gym making more muscles.

He is trying to find a part time job and because he used to be a private investigator when I married him, well, he is having an interview for a position as a store detective. I think that would be perfect for him.

So everybody, keep fingers crossed.

His neuropathy only bothers him at night when he lies down, and then I have to use the magnassager on his whole body (or use my hands to massage his calves). That's the only way he'll drop off to sleep.

When he starts moaning, I go. "oh, we're going out to breakfast tomorrow morning arent' we?" and he goes "you're worth 15 breakfasts"

I love to out for breakfast. We don't have a lot of money but what the ****, a breakfast once in a while isn't going to break anybody.

As far as funny stories, I have one for you.

The other night I went to bed at 11 p.m. I conked out. One thing I do not like is to be woken up for anything!!!

So he slides into bed and goes, "melody, look at my arm, look at my arm" (he was talking about his new muscles, The guy lost 73 lbs and now thinks he's Rocky Balboa).

I murmured, "i'm sleeping". he goes "please, look at my new muscle".

Don't ask what I replied because I can't type it here.

He gets moody and turns over and goes "oh, alright, if you're going to be that way". Since I was now awake I sit up and say "oh, okay, show me your arm". He flexes and I swear to god, this muscle thing pops up and I'm going "holy cow", when did you get that?? I mean the guy is 59 and he's turning into Rocky. I laughed all night.

So what did I do today? I moved my Health Rider and my cross country ski -machine into the living room (it was hidden in a closet)

If this guy thinks he's going to become Rocky Balboa, wait until he sees what I can turn into!!!!

HAH!!!!

be well

Melody

[Brian]

Hi Melody, its great to be able to read your posts again, some of your posts make me really laugh at times. " rocky "', :D :D .:D
Thats great about Alan, but how are you doing with your PN ?
all the best :)
Brian

[MelodyL]

Hi Brian:

Alan is the one with the PN. At least that's how this all started. He got it over 14 years ago and he thought it was athlete's foot!!!!

So we began the journey of neurologists, specialists. ALLTHE TESTS!!! Nothing. He is not diabetic. They had no clue, hence the diagnosis IDIOPATHIC PN.

Well, around 4 years ago he had to go on the Fentanyl pain patch because of the severe pain in his toes. He couldn't stand it. We tried Blue stuff, this stuff, that stuff. I will never forget when I rubbed (and I mean rubbed), zostrix creme into his toes, thinking it would take away the pain). Zostrix is the capsaicin stuff.

Well, it was one a.m. and he jumps off the bed screaming. I didn't know what to do. Seems he had a cut on his foot, never felt it, and when the capsaicin cream went in..........OWWWWWWW!!!!!

The only thing I could think of was to get a smaller fentanyl patch 25 (he was on 75 at the time) and I slapped the patch on him.

You never saw someone go from screaming to just looking at me and going "oh, wow, thanks Melody".

I had to take cold washcloths and wipe all the stuff off of his foot.

One day, on these boards, I read about a special chiropractor called a chiropractor/neurologist. I found one in NYC. Alan's been going ever since and he went off the patch a long long time ago. He had to detox off of it for one week. Hardest thing he ever did, but he did it. They put him in the hospital to detox at first but when they tested him for drugs, he tested negative. It seems there is a special test for fentanyl. But he did spend one night in detox and he said it was the hardest thing he ever did.

So he came home and spent the next 4 days in bed with severe flu like symtoms. Said every bone in his body hurt. But after those 5 days, he no longer needed the patch. Just exercise. And his chiropractic/neurologist. I also bought a maganassager and between that device and me giving him deep tissue massages every night, Alan only has bouts of neuropathy when the weather changes or when he lies down (that's why I have to massage his calves). he also takes one xanax to get him off to sleep.

I, myself am diabetic and a few months ago (because I am in the diabetic protocol at Cornell medical center), they give me all these exams. I took off my shoes and socks and she does the toes examination. I had one toe where I didn't feel anytihng and after a while she tells me "you have the beginning of neuropathy". Since I know all about neuropathy, I said 'and you better believe this is going to be the only toe". She laughed. She said "knowing you, I'm betting on you".

You see, I broke their protocol. I got my sugar down to normal. I reduced my lantus units from 46 to 30 (she thinks I have a good chance of going off Lantus for good eventually). I lost tons of weight.

I am absolutely determined to get my health in check. At least I have to try. I know diabetic neuropathy can't be reversed but hopefully I can slow down the progress in my feet for a while. My eyes have no signs of diabetes so that's good. And my gums too.

So all in all, I learned much about neuropathy from these boards and from you guys. Couldn't have done it without you!!!

Don't worry, I've got a bunch of funny stories.

love, Melody

[Brian]

Melody, If it was only the start of Diabetic Nueropathy and by doing all the right things straight away, [ which is not easy, well done ] then i wouldn't dismiss the idea that your nerves could heal in time.
Mine was caused by prediabetes and low B12, and my feet and up to my knees
were on fire for months, until i got my sugar levels down lost a lot of weight and had taken lots of b12, it has reversed the damage over a couple of years, so i reckon if you can get onto the cause early, then nerves can heal in time after the affender/s have been taken away.
I hope he gets that job, and keep those funny stories comming :)

take care
Brian

[MelodyL]

Thank you Brian:

I never knew I even had neuropathy in that toe. Never knew it. Never had (or have) any pain!!
The tip is numb.

I am determined, I can tell you that.

Imagine, being 59 years old, once weighing close to 300 lbs and my sugar was once 400 (I shoveled snow), don't ask!!! they could explain it to me ten times, I never understand it. I used to take 8 pills a day.

Best thing I ever did was go to Cornell Medical Center in NYC for their ACCORD program. Get all my diabetes and high blood pressure meds for free. All testing strips for free.

You can't beat that!!!!

So I guess I have another 30 lbs or so to lose. I don't look like I need to lose any more but it's there and I'll do it.

I don't eat any red meat. (haven't for a long long time). I don't eat after 7 pm..

Oh, and this is interesting. The dietitian there told me to change what I eat once in while and change how I exercise so it revs up my metabolism. I didn't even know I still had a metabolism at my age but what the heck.

Every single morning I ate a veggie omelette made from either egg whites, egg beaters or once in a while, one egg and two whites.

I put in some minced onion, some zuccchini and a slice of smart balance cheese. I have done this every morning for years.

Guess what I had (for the first time) for breakfast this morning.

A BOWL OF CHEERIOS with half a banana. And a nice cup of coffee.

It was delicious and even less calories than my veggie omelette.

I also jump on my Health Rider or Cross country ski machine every morning. This exercise thing (while not new to me), at my age, I seem to be starting over. I used to go to Jack LaLanne's 30 years ago but I developed Osteoarthritis at 40 years old. That's when I got diabetes. I weighed close to 300 lbs. Did a lightbulb go off in my head??? God Forbid!!!

But the lightbulb went off eventually, so now its protein and produce. No red meat. Fish, chicken and veggies.

And no soda (not even diet because of the carbonation). I only drink stuff with splenda and no carbonation. 4C came out with a diet drink (kind of like crystal light) and it has splenda. Mixes with water.

So that's what I drink. It has anti-oxidants so that's a good thing.

My husband's chiropractic/neurologist told him "Alan, I don't want you to have sweet n low or anything with nutrasweet. It does something to the nerves in your body".

That's all I had to hear. Dumped all my sweet n low and all my Equal.

So that's how we eat. Alan never looked better in his life, and I'm determined to give him a run for his money.

Oh, got a funny one to tell you. Yesterday, Alan comes in the door all fresh from his gym workout. He tells me "man I need Tiger Woods!!!

Now you have to understand something about my Alan.. he says things but he means something else. For example, we went to see the film Godzilla, and he went around telling people, we saw GONZALEZ!!! Get what I mean???

So he is saying "man, I need Tiger Woods". First I said "why on earth do you need Tiger Woods??" He goes. Cmon, you know it's the best thing for me!!!!". And I go to myself "uh oh, he means something else".

So I go, "Alan, Tiger Woods plays golf, why do you need Tiger Woods?" He looks at me as if I lost my mind and says "melody, you know what I mean, you use this on me every night". I said to him "I use Tiger Woods on you every night"????

He then goes "Yeah, when my back is out". I said "The magnassager??? " He goes "No, that Tiger Woods thing you put on my back".

I look at him like he lost his marbles THEN THE LIGHTBULB GOES OFF!!!!!

TIGER BALM!!!!!!! T H A N K Y O U!!!!!

I put a little on his back and it does the trick.

So from now on when he walks in the door and goes TIGER WOODS, TIGER WOODS, I know I won't be reaching for any golf bag!!!!

be well

Melody
.

Melody

[Brian]

:D :D He certainly wouldn't want Tiger Woods rubbing his back, thats for sure, i know someone who does that very same thing that Alan does, and when i eventually work it out, and say " don't you mean so and so ? " they have got the cheek to say " thats what i said didn't i ?, you know what i mean anyway :)
Being a mind reader can be hard work at times :D
take care
Brian

[Bluey]

That's funny