Re: Re: Help Tingling in hands and feet

June 29, 2003

I first heard about ALA (alpha lipoic acid -- not to be confused with alpha

linolenic acid by the way) from Dr. Weil. He is a Harvard med grad, an

integrative medicine practitioner, (combo of traditional and alternative

therapies) who runs a dep't of same at a univ out in AZ (I think int's AZ). I

subscribe to his newsletter both online and by snail-mail. Have been taking

800mg

ALA daily, in 4 aliquots, for at least a couple of years. Can't say it has done

anything to stop my neuropathy, but who knows? Maybe it would have gotten a

lot worse than it has if I hadn't been taking it; just know I'm afraid to stop.

I believe it's also used to help regulate blood sugars (helpful for

diabetics). In fact, that may be why it helps arrest neuropathy in some. My endo

told me

years ago the only way to stop the advance of the neuropathy was to get

control of my blood sugar -- which never happened till after WLS.

Carol A

---------------------------------------

In a message dated 6/28/2003 10:46:25 PM Central Daylight Time,

looneybird@... writes:

> Have any of you heard of the use of alpha lypoic acid for

> neuropathy? One of the surgeons in our group at a support group

> meeting said that there have been some studies done on the use of it

> to (I thought she said reverse but my friend said to stop)

> neuropathy. I checked at the health food store and they hadn't heard

> of any use for alpha lypoic acid for that. This came us just as I

> getting the dx of Charcot foot so I kinda forgot about it but you

> have reminded me with this thread.

> Alice

> The Loon

> RNY 12/28/00

>

> ....BUT I had diabetes pre-WLS and had developed some neuropathy

> >already due to it, which also causes tingling. I expected it not to

> reverse itself (bcuz it almost never does) but I did expect it to not

> get any worse, and it has done. My last labs show I'm borderline

> anemic and I don't know why that either: I supplement up the wazoo

> and I'm not even distal.

>

> Carol A

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