Rumination and Response - a Column by Ezekiel Lim

During the years that I’ve been acquainted with my mother-in-law, I’ve familiarized myself with the symptoms and treatments of her polyneuropathy. She’s specifically prone to peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the most prominent being tingling and burning sensations in her feet. These burning and tingling sensations greatly affected her daily life.

For those suffering from symptoms of familial amyloid polyneuropathy — such as loss of nerve function in the hands, feet, arms, and legs — Neurontin (gabapentin) may be a commonly prescribed treatment. While caregivers must be aware of the side effects that gabapentin may produce in patients,…

For caregivers tasked with the care of a loved one suffering from familial amyloid polyneuropathy, understanding the symptoms of the disease and its prescribed treatments is crucial. Peripheral neuropathy affects nerve function in the patient’s arms, legs, feet, and hands. Neurontin (gabapentin) is one of the most common…

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy comes with plenty of symptoms that patients and caregivers must be aware of. Symptoms such as autonomic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, cardiac symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy…

The peripheral symptoms of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) may prove troublesome for the maneuverability of patients. Caregivers are faced with the daunting task of helping patients navigate day-to-day errands and long-term travel. Symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and…

The diagnosis of a rare disease in a loved one is enough to usher a new caregiver through a cognitive process caused by an onslaught of emotions. This cognitive process, prompted by a traumatic event and known as the five stages of grief, is the grieving process a caregiver…

For new caregivers, depression is a clear and present danger. As the fourth of the five stages of grief, first described by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, depression is the manifestation of an intense preoccupation with the present. While loved ones suffer through the symptoms of diseases such as familial…

The bargaining stage of grief begins when the reality of a traumatic event sinks in. As a stage of coping, bargaining is composed of the “if only” that comes as the result of appealing to an outside force or higher power. Someone going through the bargaining phase petitions a higher…

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy is a disease with an onset that appears randomly. With a large range of ages at which symptoms first appear, news of a diagnosis can blindside both those with the disease and their caregivers. The second phase of the grieving process is anger. For a…

The diagnosis of a disease like familial amyloid polyneuropathy in a loved one has a profound impact on the daily life of a new caregiver. Faced with the future implications of this diagnosis, the caregiver likely experiences a range of emotions best defined by the five stages of grief.