Rumination and Response
— Ezekiel Lim

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…

My mother-in-law has always valued her autonomy. The pain of her peripheral neuropathy, the hallmark symptom of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), leads her to feel helpless at times. This helplessness gives way to grief and despair. Our family does our best to let our…

My mother-in-law, who has familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP), consistently adheres to her prescribed treatments, which has improved her mobility and overall mood. Because of this, she can handle more physical activity during family time. This positive change over the past few years, including those when I took a…

Medication adherence is crucial to managing familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Left untreated, FAP can have life-threatening consequences. As an article published in U.S. Pharmacist notes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), medication adherence can have a more direct impact on patient outcomes than even the…

After a hiatus of three years, it is with a mix of emotions that I return to writing this column. Allow me to reintroduce myself: My name is Ezekiel Lim, and I continue writing to share once again the journey of caregiving for my mother-in-law, who has struggled with…

Part of the work needed to ensure the overall well-being of neuropathy patients is to help them manage their moods and let them know that they are supported. Increased serotonin may help patients with peripheral neuropathy symptoms associated with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or diabetic…

May 2020 has arrived, introducing warmer temperatures and beautiful days — the spring season, a great time to be outside. When it’s not raining, warmer temperatures and sunlight may increase serotonin and boost mental health. However, many neuropathy patients suffer severe consequences from the rising heat.

Staying positive and maintaining mental health may be challenging during self-quarantine. For neuropathy patients, whether they have diabetic neuropathy, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, it may be difficult to venture outdoors for exercise or running errands. While staying indoors and at a distance…

Patients with peripheral neuropathy symptoms must practice caution when managing underlying symptoms by conferring with their doctors. One nerve damage treatment strategy to discuss with a doctor is vitamin supplementation to support a formal treatment plan. Vitamins known for treating symptoms of peripheral neuropathy may be found…