autonomic dysfunction?

[trc1962]

Hi. Have posted that I am dealing with a major flare for the past week to 10 days brought on by possibly a respiratory virus and getting over tired. I have dealt with peripheral neuropathy in the past and it usually responds to prednisone pretty well. This time the neuropathy feels like it is up in my buttox area as it is tight and sore and usually it does not go up quite that high. It has caused me to either not be able to have a BM at all for three days and then suddenly go 5 times a day. Also my stomach is just so bloated like it isn't emptying for a long time after I eat. Is this what autonomic neuropathy feels like? I start a low dose of methotrexate today but it won't kick in for quite awhile I assume. I put a call into my rheumy and hope he can work me in to get a better idea of what is going on. I hate prednisone, especially in higher doses as it just blows me up like a pin cushion and makes me retain water so I am just bloated. Hoping the rheumy can help.

[warmwaters]

Autonomic neuropathy can take a lot of different forms, as it's neuropathy of the automatic systems of our body. Things like digestion, blood pressure, heart beat, balance, temperature regulation, breathing, blinking, and so on.

So just like where you might get neuropathy varies, where you get autonomic neuropathy can vary. Mine seems to be around temperature regulations (I can be hot or cold without a lot of relationship to the actual temperature), balance/blood pressure, and maybe diarrhea (depends on which expert you ask). Others are different.

So you could be having autonomic issues in digestion, or you could be having neuropathy in your buttocks that is affecting the mechanics of having a BM. Or something else is messing with you digestive system, such as a reaction to a medicine or the virus you had. It's hard to know. In addition to your rheumy, might want to see your GP to see if s/he has anything thoughts.

[Carolina]

Hi, this is a list from NIH Medline.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000776.htm

Symptoms vary depending on the nerves affected. They usually develop gradually over years.

Stomach and intestine symptoms may include:

Constipation (hard stools)
Diarrhea (loose stools)
Feeling full after only a few bites (early satiety)
Nausea after eating
Problems controlling bowel movements
Swallowing problems
Swollen abdomen
Vomiting of undigested food

Heart and lungs symptoms may include:

Abnormal heart rate or rhythm
Blood pressure changes with position that causes dizziness when standing
High blood pressure
Shortness of breath with activity or exercise

Bladder symptoms may include:

Difficulty beginning to urinate
Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
Leaking urine

Other symptoms may include:

Sweating too much or not enough
Heat intolerance brought on with activity and exercise
Sexual problems including erection problems in men and vaginal dryness and orgasm difficulties in women
Small pupil in one eye
Weight loss without trying

I don't have weight loss without trying (pooh) but I do have most of them.  Not the heart rate and bp stuff however.

The most important thing is that there just isn't a d....d thing to do about this, except alter diet as needed, and learn patience, persistence, and acceptance.

I almost never have stomach and digestion issues.....cast iron constitution.  But I do have most of the others.

I have lung damage:  COPD, small airway obstruction.  Bladder damage, Interstitial Cystitis.  All the fun there is.

I am ever hopeful, of course.

Hugs,  Elaine

[trc1962]

Thanks for the replies. The rheumy is unsure what exactly is causing the problem but it is related to the flare. Along with it I have experienced very bad reflux which has been silent for awhile. His plan is to stay on 10 mg of prednisone for about 2 more weeks and in the mean time start the methotrexate. If the methotrexate doesn't work his next plan is rituxan but not yet. I am taking miralax to try to get the bowels moving but right now they aren't doing much. It is kind of a wait and see thing, but the important thing is to slow down the inflammation so damages can begin to heal. I just have to be patient as it took awhile for the damage to happen and it will take awhile to get it quiet. I have been dealing with a high TSH (last check at 12) and finally saw the endo 3 days ago, however he can't do anything until I am off the prednisone and get an accurate blood test.