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Is anyone familiar with autonomic neuropathy??

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Posted 1/25/2016 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have written on here before about having these symptoms of anxiety and don't think that is what is wrong with me. I have been having these rapid heartbeats since December and get dizzy spells, constipation, cold spells, and am terrified. I went to see a doctor today and she thinks it may be autonomic neuropathy because I have erratic blood sugars (extreme lows and highs) and was hoping someone on here could shed some light on this. Am I going to die soon, is there any medication to help with these aweful symptoms. The panic attacks frighten me the most. I have gotten to the point where I am afraid to sleep and eat.
Can anyone shed any light on this
Janet
Posted 1/25/2016 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Gosh, I'm sorry you're going through all this. This is what I found from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autonomic-neuropathy/basics/definition/con-20029053

Be sure to read through all the pages there. It explains what this syndrome is, symptoms, probable causes, tests for diagnosis and treatments (therapies and medication).

From what I read, it can be caused by erratic blood sugar, many highs and lows throughout the years, so this is what your doctor meant, I guess. Are you on a pump? (Sorry, I can't remember if you said you are or not.) This might be an excellent reason to look into getting one if you don't have one already.

I wish I could help more. I'm sure the panicky feelings are terrible to live with. Has the doctor prescribed any anti-anxiety medication?

At least one good thing has come with this diagnosis (providing this is correct), and that is now your doctor knows how to treat this. This is why it's important for you to understand what's going on.

Maybe others have more information and can post for you.
Posted 1/25/2016 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi LanieG,
Thanks for responding quickly. I just didn't feel like these were actual panic attacks. I felt like it had to do with my diabetes. Most of the doctors I have seen have all said it was psychological but I know it wasn't. I saw a different doctor today and she used to be my primary doctor and as soon as I described all the symptoms I have been having she said it sounds like autonomic neuropathy and it affects all kinds of organs in the body from your heart, your body temperature, your bladder, etc. I went to a urologist a few months ago and they said they believe I have some form of autonomic neuropathy in the pelvic nerves. It is hard to diagnose because it affects so many areas of the body but I am pretty sure it is that but I am so afraid I am going to die. I am terrified. I am not ready to go yet. I am afraid to sleep. This is the most terrible thing I have ever gone through.
I have had diabetes for almost 45 years and I inject insulin via pen needles. My sugars mostly run low but I get highs too. My hemoglobin was 6.2, which I thought was good but I think all of the years I have had extreme highs and lows are starting to catch up with me.
Thanks for the advice.
Janet C
Posted 1/26/2016 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Janet, during these past 45 years who knows how many times your blood sugar ran high and then went low, so if this is indeed a result of these swings, then the sooner it's treated appropriately, the better. Read up about it as much as you can so you understand what's going on and can be your own health advocate. I thought the Mayo site page that listed the therapies and meds was interesting. (And this is new territory to me, so I've learned something today.)

Yes, if your last A1c was 6.2 it was an average of 132 but that could be the average of very high and very low blood sugar. Unless you have a continuous monitoring system, then you don't know what the highs or lows were except when you tested.

In any case, I hope that now your doctor has a treatment plan. I'm sure this is terrifying for you. If all this is creating anxiety, then maybe anxiety medication would help? Ask your doctor about taking Benadryl at night to help you sleep.
Posted 1/26/2016 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, nice to hear about another condition that can be caused either by diabetes or autoimmune disorder, both of which I have. By all of my blood glucose history, my diabetes is very mild, yet I have some of the unpleasant side effects of high glucose. Isn't getting old fun?

Regardless, it beats the alternative.
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