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When I Was In My Early 40's, I Was Diagnosed

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Posted on Wed, 5 Jun 2019
Question: When I was in my early 40's, I was diagnosed by a neurologist as having peripheral neuropathy. I'm 82 now. Over the years, the diagnosis has been changed. Never was Cidp mentioned. In fact, I just now learned of Cipd. The ony treatment I've received is vitami0n supps , acupuncture, and PT. Now, I have the following symptoms extreme loss of balance,, loss of feeling in my feet, legs and arms, and fatigue. I'm NOT diabetic, no heart problems and take a water pill for somewhat elevated blood pressure. I was a runner until I was 70. I go to the gym twice a week and usually swim a couple of days. Although, at this time my health is going to hell in a handbasket - fatigue.
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Follow up: Dr. Dariush Saghafi (0 minute later)
When I was in my early 40's, I was diagnosed by a neurologist as having peripheral neuropathy. I'm 82 now. Over the years, the diagnosis has been changed. Never was Cidp mentioned. In fact, I just now learned of Cipd. The ony treatment I've received is vitami0n supps , acupuncture, and PT. Now, I have the following symptoms extreme loss of balance,, loss of feeling in my feet, legs and arms, and fatigue. I'm NOT diabetic, no heart problems and take a water pill for somewhat elevated blood pressure. I was a runner until I was 70. I go to the gym twice a week and usually swim a couple of days. Although, at this time my health is going to hell in a handbasket - fatigue.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Introductory comments need more direction please

Detailed Answer:
Good evening (from XXXXXXX ITALY).

Although it is a mere 6:40pm in the Sunshine State....we are looking at a slightly chilly night in XXXXXXX IT as I am on a trip with the family...therefore, GOOD EVENING...or more like, GOOD MORNING!

I'm sorry you're not feeling well and can appreciate the confusion and seemingly dismayed feelings you have over things, however, in order to really give you the best possible advice could you please help organize those introductory comments a bit more? First off, you're not really asking a specific question which is what every patiewnt needs to do on a network such as this....we are rendering advice BASED on a specific QUESTION that patients have about their condition.

Please keep in mind that I am only getting to know you NOW and I don't know anything of the evolution of your symptoms which first took you to the neurologist when I was but a young COLLEGE LAD.....I ain't no spring chicken for sure since I've got 4 kids who are all in their 20's and have the heartiest doggone appetites and needs imaginable....but they're healthy and think their OLD MAN does OK to keep the lights burning and the gasoline flowing in their cars which is generally about all kids of that age care about, right?? LOL!

So, my understanding is that you were diagnosed with PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY. You never told me what those initial symptoms were nor how the neurologist really PROVED that diagnosis , and honestly the way we go about proving the diagnosis has really changed in 40 years!! And that's a fact, so believe it or not...things are actually in your favor because we can actually go through and review the symptoms you had, the lab results or other diagnostic studies performed to GET TO THAT DIAGNOSIS and see just how valid things had been assessed at that time.

Next, you mention CIDP kind of SUDDENLY....which took me by XXXXXXX as much as it did you....but again, no detail on WHAT the sequence of events were that started happening nor WHEN these things CHANGED on your end that then, got someone think up of another CRYPTIC ABBREVIATION that is referred to those in the Ivory Towers as "CIDP"....was it the SAME NEUROLOGIST as you saw back in the 1980's when you were probably rockin' out to MTV showing videos of Van Halen, AC/DC, The Eagles, and maybe even KISS or MADONNA when they were all just young energetic kids??? HAHA!

Can you tell me what types of tests were done more recently or whenever CIDP was brought up in discussion? And was the diagnosis of CIDP being offered as a SEPARATE entity from what had been diagnosed 40 years ago as peripheral neuropathy (PN) or is CIDP an EVOLUTION or MORPHING of what you had 40 years ago into something heading in a different direction now as you're getting older? OR is this CIDP diagnosis believed to be a piece of perhaps a bigger puzzle? Or is CIDP now being told to you to have been the diagnosis ALL ALONG but not made way back in the 80's when you first got diagnosed?

Did any of the treatments you received with the diagnosis of PN (vitamins, acupuncture, PT) seem to mitigate or slow the symptoms down at all (whether the real diagnosis was PN or CIDP?).

You gave me a good description of your overall historical background as having remained active and athletic through your 70's, (BULLY FOR YOU MAN!....Atta way to go!.....Let's work on getting you back into those RUNNING SHOES, deal?). Believe me, it can be done....if you want. You say that your health is "going to hell in a hand basket" and I'd like a more interpretation of that statement.....you're not diabetic, doesn't sound like you're suffering from lung issues, or have suffered a stroke, cancer, or migraine headaches. Nor did I hear there is a tumor in your head, or an aneurysm ready to burst.....SOOOO.....please tell me the specifics of why your health is GOING TO HELL...etc......and I do mean that I 'd like you to break it down...symptom by symptom.....Given me each problem and how significantly it's affecting you and whether or not it seems stable (i.e. not changing a whole lot over time), or seems to be getting worse on an accelerated time line...or perhaps you're not sure of whether it's really GETTING WORSE or not....you just know that you can't jump up and down like XXXXXXX XXXXXXX did or is still destined to do as soon as he fully recovers from that bypass.

Are you not going to the gym or swimming...any particular reason you're not doing those things? If you decide to stop going to the gym, stop being active, and stop all the things you used to do even up to a decade ago because of these other symptoms then, YES, things will accelerate even and perhaps, you'll be able to make good on the statement of going to Hell in a Hand Basket, at least make it an Easter Hand Basket, no? :)

So, I think there's a lot of reason to support an air of optimism with regard to health...your history for 82 seems very benign and even enviable for all the things you were doing just up to 10 years ago or less. So, I think there's a definite chance we can get things back on track....but we will need to have you sign on to the plan as well.

And look at that....I've been typing away for over an hour without even realizing it....geeze....time goes by when you've got a lot of points to make...now, give me some feedback and answer some of my questions in a bit of a more organized presentation of how this has all has gone down and explain why you can't do things anymore as you were before......AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.....careful what you wish for because if I give you some tips as to how to go about doing some of that....are you willing to execute the action plan???

If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turn out.

You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.

Regards,


This query required 80 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.




Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dariush Saghafi (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Introductory comments need more direction please

Detailed Answer:
Good evening (from XXXXXXX ITALY).

Although it is a mere 6:40pm in the Sunshine State....we are looking at a slightly chilly night in XXXXXXX IT as I am on a trip with the family...therefore, GOOD EVENING...or more like, GOOD MORNING!

I'm sorry you're not feeling well and can appreciate the confusion and seemingly dismayed feelings you have over things, however, in order to really give you the best possible advice could you please help organize those introductory comments a bit more? First off, you're not really asking a specific question which is what every patiewnt needs to do on a network such as this....we are rendering advice BASED on a specific QUESTION that patients have about their condition.

Please keep in mind that I am only getting to know you NOW and I don't know anything of the evolution of your symptoms which first took you to the neurologist when I was but a young COLLEGE LAD.....I ain't no spring chicken for sure since I've got 4 kids who are all in their 20's and have the heartiest doggone appetites and needs imaginable....but they're healthy and think their OLD MAN does OK to keep the lights burning and the gasoline flowing in their cars which is generally about all kids of that age care about, right?? LOL!

So, my understanding is that you were diagnosed with PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY. You never told me what those initial symptoms were nor how the neurologist really PROVED that diagnosis , and honestly the way we go about proving the diagnosis has really changed in 40 years!! And that's a fact, so believe it or not...things are actually in your favor because we can actually go through and review the symptoms you had, the lab results or other diagnostic studies performed to GET TO THAT DIAGNOSIS and see just how valid things had been assessed at that time.

Next, you mention CIDP kind of SUDDENLY....which took me by XXXXXXX as much as it did you....but again, no detail on WHAT the sequence of events were that started happening nor WHEN these things CHANGED on your end that then, got someone think up of another CRYPTIC ABBREVIATION that is referred to those in the Ivory Towers as "CIDP"....was it the SAME NEUROLOGIST as you saw back in the 1980's when you were probably rockin' out to MTV showing videos of Van Halen, AC/DC, The Eagles, and maybe even KISS or MADONNA when they were all just young energetic kids??? HAHA!

Can you tell me what types of tests were done more recently or whenever CIDP was brought up in discussion? And was the diagnosis of CIDP being offered as a SEPARATE entity from what had been diagnosed 40 years ago as peripheral neuropathy (PN) or is CIDP an EVOLUTION or MORPHING of what you had 40 years ago into something heading in a different direction now as you're getting older? OR is this CIDP diagnosis believed to be a piece of perhaps a bigger puzzle? Or is CIDP now being told to you to have been the diagnosis ALL ALONG but not made way back in the 80's when you first got diagnosed?

Did any of the treatments you received with the diagnosis of PN (vitamins, acupuncture, PT) seem to mitigate or slow the symptoms down at all (whether the real diagnosis was PN or CIDP?).

You gave me a good description of your overall historical background as having remained active and athletic through your 70's, (BULLY FOR YOU MAN!....Atta way to go!.....Let's work on getting you back into those RUNNING SHOES, deal?). Believe me, it can be done....if you want. You say that your health is "going to hell in a hand basket" and I'd like a more interpretation of that statement.....you're not diabetic, doesn't sound like you're suffering from lung issues, or have suffered a stroke, cancer, or migraine headaches. Nor did I hear there is a tumor in your head, or an aneurysm ready to burst.....SOOOO.....please tell me the specifics of why your health is GOING TO HELL...etc......and I do mean that I 'd like you to break it down...symptom by symptom.....Given me each problem and how significantly it's affecting you and whether or not it seems stable (i.e. not changing a whole lot over time), or seems to be getting worse on an accelerated time line...or perhaps you're not sure of whether it's really GETTING WORSE or not....you just know that you can't jump up and down like XXXXXXX XXXXXXX did or is still destined to do as soon as he fully recovers from that bypass.

Are you not going to the gym or swimming...any particular reason you're not doing those things? If you decide to stop going to the gym, stop being active, and stop all the things you used to do even up to a decade ago because of these other symptoms then, YES, things will accelerate even and perhaps, you'll be able to make good on the statement of going to Hell in a Hand Basket, at least make it an Easter Hand Basket, no? :)

So, I think there's a lot of reason to support an air of optimism with regard to health...your history for 82 seems very benign and even enviable for all the things you were doing just up to 10 years ago or less. So, I think there's a definite chance we can get things back on track....but we will need to have you sign on to the plan as well.

And look at that....I've been typing away for over an hour without even realizing it....geeze....time goes by when you've got a lot of points to make...now, give me some feedback and answer some of my questions in a bit of a more organized presentation of how this has all has gone down and explain why you can't do things anymore as you were before......AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.....careful what you wish for because if I give you some tips as to how to go about doing some of that....are you willing to execute the action plan???

If I've provided useful or helpful information to your questions could you do me the utmost of favors by CLOSING THE QUERY along with a few positive words of feedback and maybe even a 5-star rating if you feel it is deserving? I am definitely interested in getting updated information on your condition if you'd care to drop me a line at www.bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi and let me know how things turn out.

You can always reach me at the above address for this and other questions. I wish you the best with everything and hope our discussion has aided in your understanding of a few concepts related to your concerns.

Regards,


This query required 80 minutes of professional time to research, assimilate, and file a response.




Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dariush Saghafi

Neurologist

Practicing since :1988

Answered : 2473 Questions

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When I Was In My Early 40's, I Was Diagnosed

When I was in my early 40's, I was diagnosed by a neurologist as having peripheral neuropathy. I'm 82 now. Over the years, the diagnosis has been changed. Never was Cidp mentioned. In fact, I just now learned of Cipd. The ony treatment I've received is vitami0n supps , acupuncture, and PT. Now, I have the following symptoms extreme loss of balance,, loss of feeling in my feet, legs and arms, and fatigue. I'm NOT diabetic, no heart problems and take a water pill for somewhat elevated blood pressure. I was a runner until I was 70. I go to the gym twice a week and usually swim a couple of days. Although, at this time my health is going to hell in a handbasket - fatigue.