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The companionship of dogs and other pets may benefit patients by helping them cope as they manage the symptoms of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). But depending on when the pet becomes part of the family, its presence may also be a hindrance, unknowingly aggravating the patient’s pain. That’s especially…

It’s winter here in New Zealand. I woke up to a thin sheet of ice covering the deck, staying frozen just long enough to glint in the morning sun. That happens when moisture trapped in the air cools drastically and the temperature drops below freezing overnight. Now that I live…

As I mentioned in my last column, my mother-in-law’s peripheral neuropathy symptoms seemed to take a turn for the worse in April. At the same time, my wife and I were experiencing additional life changes with the birth of our second daughter. Our priorities shifted, and we were…

The past month was challenging for my family. My wife and I were expecting the birth of our new child at any moment, according to my wife’s symptoms and her doctors’ words. But at the same time, my mother-in-law was experiencing pain related to peripheral neuropathy, which has resulted…

I’m happy. That’s the best way to describe my state at this stage of my life. When my husband, Aubrey, passed away on May 22, 2022, my whole world was stirred and uprooted. He’d been diagnosed with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis in 2013, and his disease journey took…

March signals a change in seasons, often accompanied by a change in temperatures. Caregivers of patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) must be mindful of the transition from cold temperatures to warmer ones. My mother-in-law’s peripheral neuropathy symptoms make her susceptible to pain during extreme hot or…

Author’s note: I received no compensation for writing about the following products. I just really like shoes. My mother-in-law suffers from peripheral neuropathy pain due to familial amyloid polyneuropathy, or FAP. This pain requires her to move around in a motorized wheelchair because too much walking can be…

I’ve moved! It’s exciting, but the move was daunting because of the sheer amount of work that went into clearing out items from a place where my children grew up from 2007 onward. This place was our family home, housing much laughter, tears, and peace. History seeps through the walls,…

My mother-in-law, who has familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), often experiences tingling and burning sensations as well as pain in her hands and feet. Because of that, she must keep them covered at all times. This is the reality of peripheral neuropathy. She also experiences other symptoms that…

Starting in late November and often lasting through March, the cold weather in much of the U.S. can be a burden for many patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Those living on the East Coast or in the Midwest often face especially brutal winters. My mother-in-law’s FAP symptoms require…