Nueropathy after Arsenic Toxicity

[HSM]

My symptoms began in early March. They started with an overall feeling of over stimulation and skin sensations (quite mild), but still present.  Within 1 week I started to have back pain, non localized back pain. It felt deeper than muscle or spine/disc issues. I felt better leaning forward if I was sitting in a chair or if i had a heating pad on. Again, the pain was not related to muscle aches, it almost felt as if something hot was running through my back.  I began to have times of shallow breathing and eventually passed out along with all over body chills (with no fever). I went to an emergency room and they did the typical blood work up and also some x rays to see if i had an infection. All came back normal.  I later had a doctor suggest it was stress and had me try xanax PRN, however my symptoms remained and I just felt as if i didn´t care about the symptoms (because its a sedative). For a week or so i felt alot better and then began tingling and pins and needles feelings in hands, arms, feet and legs. Within the week it would move to my head and face.  My shallow breathing continued and i felt overall fatigued. I spoke with a nuerologist who suggested that i have a spinal tap to check for Guillan Barre, however they opted to do a contrast MRI and send me to an infectios disease doctor.  My MRI came back normal. WE awaited results for encephilitis, lead and arsenic poisoning. My doctor had pretty much assured me that mine was anxiety and we pursued getting an anti anxiety drug, before we received all results. 2 days later i found out that my arsenic levels were 4 times the normal limit.  I recieved Dimercaprol 1 time. While my next urine toxicity test came back in the normal range, it still showed in my urine. My nueropathy continues, it comes and goes. My Nuerologist has suggest that i up my dose of klonopin to see if it helps, i´m taking 1 mg per day.  Some days i feel 90 percent, other days i feel 20 percent. I have tingling and burning sensations in my arms and breathing issues. I still feel like something hot is running through my body. Do you have any experience with Chronic Arsenic Toxicity and nueropathy. Does my nueropathy sound normal, for nueropathy. Is it something that comes and goes?

Thank you so much HSM

[Myah2006]

Your story sounds so much like mine, it isn't even funny... This is the first time I have heard of someone having arsenic poisoning and also who has the same recurring problems that I do.  My doctors asked me if I was a hypochondriac when I kept going back to them for more tests. Then when they found the arsenic poisoning, they didn't know what to say. I too was originally given anti-anxiety meds because they thought that my symptoms were all related to anxiety.  Did you ever find out where you got the arsenic poisoning from???  We were never able to pin point the source of mine....
Thank You for your post. It gave me a piece of mind.

[annebody]

I was diagnosed with arsenic poisoning as well as other family members. Trying to find out how became impossible but I researched it for 2 years and have volumes on sources of arsenic. My symptoms started as burning in my lungs, shortness of breath and back pain.  It progressed to flu like symptoms, vision problems, heart palpitations, muscle weakness and burning sensations, oddly enough worse on one side of my body. It was a terrifying ordeal and thanks to my gynecologist who tested for heavy metals, I was able to survive the ordeal.  i have permanent nerve burning and hyperstimulation, as well as other residual effects.  There are phosphate mines in the area in Florida where I lived but I also lived on a golf course.  Arsenic problems surround the phosphate fertilizer industry including ground water pollution but it was also used as a cheap pesticide MSMA to control weeds on golf courses, parks, to clear land, and on orchards.  You are not alone, and I would love to start a web site to identify others.  The problem is that most poisonings probably are not diagnosed!

[annebody]

I was diagnosed with arsenic poisoning as well as other family members. Trying to find out how became impossible but I researched it for 2 years and have volumes on sources of arsenic. My symptoms started as burning in my lungs, shortness of breath and back pain.  It progressed to flu like symptoms, vision problems, heart palpitations, muscle weakness and burning sensations, oddly enough worse on one side of my body. It was a terrifying ordeal and thanks to my gynecologist who tested for heavy metals, I was able to survive the ordeal.  i have permanent nerve burning and hyperstimulation, as well as other residual effects.  There are phosphate mines in the area in Florida where I lived but I also lived on a golf course.  Arsenic problems surround the phosphate fertilizer industry including ground water pollution but it was also used as a cheap pesticide MSMA to control weeds on golf courses, parks, to clear land, and on orchards.  You are not alone, and I would love to start a web site to identify others.  The problem is that most poisonings probably are not diagnosed!