Rumination and Response - a Column by Ezekiel Lim

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.

The onset of familial amyloid polyneuropathy forces daunting shifts in the relationships between caregivers and their loved one. When my mother-in-law was diagnosed with polyneuropathy, she began to despair of life itself. Her sensitivity to touch made things that were once part of everyday life, such as hugging, nearly impossible.