I am writing for my husband, Bob... You requested PN history. Here goes. This is all for my husband, Bob.

• Prostate Cancer, surgery in 1994.
  
  
• Heart attack on 5/15/98 and had Angioplasty with two stints in heart arteries.
  
  
• Aug, 1998, stroke.
  
  
• Diagnosed with PN by local neurologist in Sioux City, August, 1999.
  
  
• Sept. 1999 -- sent to see a neurologist who specializes in neuropathy; to University Hosptial in Ames, Iowa. Diagnosis confirmed. Had all of the standard tests and sent home to continue treatment in Sioux City.
  
  
• Takes 1600 mg of Neurontin a day; 100 mg of Elavil at night to help him sleep and Tylenol with Codeine #3 for breakthrough pain.
  
  
• He went to therapy at the local hospital and was released with a brace for the right leg and foot.
  
  
• April 12, 1999 Carotid Artery surgery, left 60% blocked; right 85% blocked. They opened the right artery. Had swelling of lower lip and tongue, not able to talk well for several weeks because they had to move a nerve in the neck.
  
  
• July, 1999 -- Problem with left leg and foot. Tingling of foot and toes; couldn't pick up foot to walk in a normal manner. This progressed to severe. After several visits to the doctor they ordered a permanent brace for the left leg. Severe pain day and night.
  
  
• Still having severe pain, mostly from 3:00 p.m. till bedtime. Foot and ankle and lower leg swells terribly and gets very painful. Feels like he's walking on shards of glass. Toes are mottled or look like peanuts.
  
  
• We went to the doctor last week and they increased the Neurontin from 1200 mg. a day (300 mg. tabs) to 1600 a day (400 mg ea.). So far this hasn't helped, but it takes awhile for the neurontin to start working anyway.
  
  
• Takes more Tylenol than he used to because he has breakthrough pain more often now. Can't walk without a cane; four-legged type...is to the point of not being able to walk at all.
  
  
• He can still drive, but can't walk any distance at all anymore.
  
  If you need more information, e-mail me and I'll reply. Keep up the good work. We need to get as much information out there as possible to make the public aware of this terrible disease. There are so many people that I know who have never even heard of this.

  We didn't even know about it until Bob got it, and our doctors were baffled for quite some time. Blood tests and MRI's, cat scans, etc. all finally told the story.
  
  God Bless you for what you are doing!
  
  Jan & Bob
  Naj1879@aol.com
  
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