POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: phildinftlaudy on September 05, 2012, 09:12:18 pm
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Two separate areas that I would like some feedback on...
Saw my ID doc today - she has scheduled me for an EMG due to pain in feet - tingles, heat, needle/shock feeling - that travels up my leg to just below my knee...
She also gave me a script for gabapentin (1 capsule, 3 times daily)...
She seems to think that the pain/sensation may be neuropathy.... I was told a couple of years ago that I had neuropathy, but that doctor never ordered an EMG and did not prescribe medication...
I know there are many members who have experience with neuropathy - I guess my question is, is gabapentin standard to prescribe? side effects? effectiveness?
Also, she is a bit concerned that my glucose was showing high for 2nd set of labs in a row.... not far above the threshold but high enough that she is adding an H1A (??), hemoglobin test? Anyone know anything about this?
I know that diabetes runs heavy in my family - my father had late onset diabetes requiring daily insulin shots and my mother was borderline for years and just had to go on injections a few months ago (grandmother had severe diabetes)....
I guess any insight that could be provided regarding the above would be appreciated..... (on a positive note - in addition to the VL still being UD, the dayummmm syphilis titer is staying at 1:4 - which is acceptable).
Thanks for any feedback.
-Phil
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Gabapentin/Neurontin is fairly standard, at least for the first attempt at treating it, and this is because it has a low propensity for side effects. The dose you were given is about as low as it goes, so if you don't feel any relief she can raise the dose much higher.
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Gabapentin/Neurontin is fairly standard, at least for the first attempt at treating it, and this is because it has a low propensity for side effects. The dose you were given is about as low as it goes, so if you don't feel any relief she can raise the dose much higher.
Thanks Ms. P.
I was just going through some of the older posts and saw that Betty was on it before and that you are on it...
Hoping it brings some relief.... I have had a few pretty bad bouts with the foot and leg pain - but nothing debilitating - more of an annoyance right now. She was going to do Lyrica - but opted for the gabapentin.
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H1A hemoglobin is a standard test for blood sugar regulation. It tests the sugar attached to your red blood cells. H1A measures the general long-term reguation of sugar in your blood, blood glucose measures the as it is now at this moment level of sugar in your blood.
- matt
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Hi Phil, yeah, it certainly sounds like neuropathy. What you described is what happened to me, but years ago. I was on Gabapentin, but a pretty high dose (900 mgs 3 times a day). At least from what I remember that's what the dose was; it's been quite a while since taking Gabapentin, so trying to precisely remember the dose is difficult for me.
I'm on Lyrica now. It works pretty well also, and I've not experienced the side effects that other people seem to fear, or experience. I still have the shocking pain from time to time, but certainly nothing like it was prior to medication.
I've not heard of H1A for blood sugar testing. When I get my routine labs, my doctor checks my A1C. This also shows what a typical blood sugar has been over the last 6 months. Maybe the H1A is for pre-diabetes diagnosis? Not sure. Anyway, good luck with that. I detest having diabetes, and sometimes having AIDS is easier to manage. But I'm an insulin dependent diabetic, so managing blood sugar is trickier than when just being able to manage it with pills, exercise, diet. I always have to watch almost everything-carbs cause blood sugar to spike just as much as sugar does. Well, empty carbs. For instance, if I eat a piece of white bread (which I haven't done in a long time), it will cause my blood sugar to rise more than if I eat a piece of whole wheat. It's about how the body is able to break it down, and eating "complex" carbs is better, because it keeps the blood sugar steadier than eating "empty" carbs. That goes for pasta, cereal etc. Anyway, I'm rambling. I will be looking back for an update, though, to see what the H1A shows. If it does show definite diabetes I would recommend asking your doctor to refer you to a diabetic dietician. I saw one a while back and it helped quite a bit.
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Wow - thank you so much Newt and Betty for the information... It was truly helpful.
People can sometimes say what they will.... but one thing I know for sure about these forums, is they are invaluable when it comes to receiving feedback, experience, expertise, and support....
I will keep everyone posted.... (don't worry - there will be no "dayuummm diabetes" or "dayummmm neuropathy" thread)
Thanks again to Ms. P., Newt, and Betty --- feedback is appreciated!
-Phil
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My pill-pushing Doc put me on Gaba a few years back because I complained about my feet being tingly. She never sent me for the EMG, she just gave me the scrip. I never really thought I had Neuropathy, and If I did it was very mild, but I took the pills anyways.
My scrip was for 300mg 3x daily. I tried that for a few days but then gave up, the stuff makes me very drowsy. Too drowsy to function, so now I use it mainly at night to help me sleep.
-W
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I take mine all before bedtime, same dose. I would call it "mildly sedating" but it doesn't knock me out, in fact the sedation takes a good hour to feel, and oddly often my libido increases. So I'm left in this delirious state of having to chose spanking the monkey with machofucker or dozing off to a good Hitler documentary. I'm sure with your shriveled testicles you don't encounter this issue, eh Guilhermina?
I can't imagine being sedated by one single capsule though, but then I can throw back 15 klonnies and go out shopping. This is the difference between a man and a boy.
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H1A is the same as A1C, HbA1c is the full acronym, stands for hemoglobin A1c, a measure of glycated (ie sugar-bound) hemoglobin - matt
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H1A is the same as A1C, HbA1c is the full acronym, stands for hemoglobin A1c, a measure of glycated (ie sugar-bound) hemoglobin - matt
Ah, thanks Matt. I thought it odd that they would have two tests basically doing the same thing.
Also, I failed to mention the importance of protein when dealing with diabetes. Protein helps maintain a steady blood sugar level. If I have a "crash" in my sugar (hypoglycemia), I eat a little candy to bring the sugar up, then eat some protein to keep it steady. Like for breakfast, I eat either an egg, or a piece of toast with peanut butter.
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Phil,
I'm sorry to hear about this potential of you having neuropathy and/or diabetes problems. I can't say that I known much about gabapentin. But I do know a couple of folks who have had neuropathy problems, and have gotten relief from acetyl l-carnitine (it's an amino acid). I know this is a bit homeopathic because it is basically a nutritional supplement, but you may wish to give it is a try if you can't get relief through other means. You can research it, and make a decision for yourself. Just be sure that you buy acetyl l-carnitine, and not l-carnitine or carnitine.
Cheers,
Henry
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hi phil,
Buckmark is right about the supplements. i started getting the tingly, burning, and numbness in my feet and ankles sore like i climbed a mountain. also my left hand and arm started going numb.
My doctor changed my medication from Atripla and it started getting better after a while. i still have flareups with the feet and ankles, sometimes i have great days and it doesn't bother me at all, but some days i have to just sit it out
I take a supplement called Mitochondrial support from life extensions, it has super R Lipoic acid and a few other things that help you mitochondrial toxicity. It seems to me it works pretty well although it is expensive for a 30 day supply its about 80 USD, but i order it online at amazon for about 55.00.
I'm usually alright but my feet are never the same as they once were, but i manage it most of the time. My doctor still wants me to go back to the neuro to be checked for MS, because the flareups i get are oddly extreme where my whole body gets numb, face, groin, legs, feet, head, mouth
Also i take Klonopin when i get a bad flare=up and it helps quite a bit. my doctor also gives me hydrocodone as well, but i have to try to control myself with these since they both have a 'hook' on them, but what else can ya do.
i tried Lyrica for a while, but i never noticed a difference. right now as I type my feet are OK, but prob in a week or two i will have a flareup
that will put me down for a week or so.
my HIV doc said we would try other options if it gets worse as far as medications.
if you have any questions for me please feel free to ask