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Autonomic neuropathy

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Maybe if I knew what 'autonomic' meant? :D

I think I have the neuropathy, my feet hurt underneath. My sister went to the supermarket on the front the other day and came home sans one shoe. She said she didn't know she wasn't wearing it. I asked if her feet were numb underneath, couldn't she tell she wasn't wearing her shoe? She said she felt cold and damp and presumed she'd stood in a puddle. My other sister went back and found her shoe. We're dobbing her in to the doc as she hasn't been injecting her insulin for years. :( It's very depressing and worrying. I shall google autonomic...
 
There’s a lot of information out there. What symptoms do you have?
 
Welcome to the forum @MJM

Neuropathy relates to damage to the nerves which high blood glucose levels can cause over time. Depending on which nerves are damaged and the function those nerves perform (signalling / switching / communication) different sorts of neuropathy can cause changes to sensation, pain, sensitivity to touch, or can impair the autonomic nervous system that controls functions such as heartbeat, sweating, digestion and bowels among many other things, without you having to consciously think about them. The ones effects we most often hear about on the forum are probably gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) and erectile dysfunction.

There is a little more information on this page

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)

What is diabetic neuropathy? Diabetic neuropathy is when diabetes causes damage to your nerves. It can affect different types of nerves in your body, including in your feet, organs and muscles. Nerves carry messages between the brain and every part of our bodies so that we can see, hear, feel...
www.diabetes.org.uk www.diabetes.org.uk
 
I’ve just heard about this and it fits my symptoms. I’m now even more worried. Is there any hope? MJM, you have my sympathy. I’ve just been given constipation medication which isn’t working. I am desparate.
 
If anyone can help I’d be grateful, MJM, how are you? Are you frantic too? Or have doctors actually seen you?
 
Unfortunately @MJM has not visited the forum since making the post so you may not get a reply.
 
WoolspinnerEm said:
I’ve just heard about this and it fits my symptoms. I’m now even more worried. Is there any hope? MJM, you have my sympathy. I’ve just been given constipation medication which isn’t working. I am desparate.
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You should speak to your Dr about your worries @WoolspinnerEm - autonomic neuropathy usually develops over a long period I think?
 
My Physiotherapist said keep a rolling pin on the floor and roll it under a bare foot whenever you’re sitting down. I don’t know if it was the same thing but as most of my left foot is numb (since MRSA and op) it has certainly helped but with increased feeling some nerve pain has returned too
 
Thank you for the replies. I’m going to take this weekend off being online, I’m having information overload and getting rather tense! Everyone is very kind. It is appreciated. Back on Monday, I hope!
 
Good morning @WoolspinnerEm

Hope you’ve had a restful weekend 🙂
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Good morning @WoolspinnerEm

Hope you’ve had a restful weekend 🙂
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Thank you for talking to me. I’m in denial I think. So much pain, I’m talking to my gp tomorrow about what next. I suppose I just don’t know what to do. I’ve been given a mild laxative which is working but I don’t know if I can take it forever! Nothing moves through otherwise. Any way, I’ll be talking to him about all this I hope. And find out if I’m being referred to anyone or have to wait until after this pandemic. So many specialist nhs services are still suspended in Sheffield. Can’t sleep fo r worry. It’s very kind of you to contact me, much appreciated. My family don’t want to talk about it, they change the subject. I think it frightens them too much. (It frightens me too much!j
 
Glad you’ve got a chance to chat things through with your GP tomorrow.

Hope the pain subsides and that you can get to the root of what is causing it and get a definitive diagnosis and course of action for your constipation and pain. Hopefully you can get a referral for proper assessment.

Do be honest and upfront with them about how severely this has been affecting you, and the impact it has had on your mental state.
 
Thanks for the advice. I hope they’ll listen. As a woman in her fifties everything seems to get attributed to the menopause. It’s so frustrating. Let’s hope tomorrow will be different!
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Glad you’ve got a chance to chat things through with your GP tomorrow.

Hope the pain subsides and that you can get to the root of what is causing it and get a definitive diagnosis and course of action for your constipation and pain. Hopefully you can get a referral for proper assessment.

Do be honest and upfront with them about how severely this has been affecting you, and the impact it has had on your mental state.
Click to expand...
I have talked with my doctor and am being sent for tests in the new year. Mri and others. I hope this shows results and I can find out what exactly is wrong with me. They did say, because of COVID this might be delayed. Thank you everyone for the help and advice. Im sorry it took so long to reply. I’m very tired and going to sign off until the new year. let’s hope it’s a better one for everyone. WoolspinnerEm.
 
Hope you are able to enjoy the festive season in some way and get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment in the New Year.
All the very best to you and your family. X
 
Thanks for the update @WoolspinnerEm

I hope your tests can happen in a timely way in the New Year, and you get some clarity on your diagnosis and a plan for treatment going forward.

Best wishes for a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas.
 
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