Rumination and Response - a Column by Ezekiel Lim

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…

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…

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…

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…

A few months ago, I learned something new about my wife’s side of the family as we celebrated Thanksgiving. My mother-in-law suffers from familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), which I already knew. But my wife’s grandmother told me that three of her own siblings had also been diagnosed with…

Holiday travel reminds my family just how important a wheelchair-accessible van is for transporting my mother-in-law, who has familial amyloid polyneuropathy. It can be difficult for neuropathy patients and their caregivers to be home all the time, and traveling may be necessary to keep the holiday spirit alive.

The past few weeks have been challenging for my extended family and me. My mother-in-law, who has familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), experienced a health setback that required an extended hospital stay. Before this, she seemed to have achieved stability in her daily life, and improvements in her health were…