Hi, my name is John. And I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy). Thanks for reading these articles about my journey with neuropathy. You are an encouragement me to me.
Since I started writing this blog in September 2023 I've been honored to have over 5000 visitors come to the site. If you like what you read, please follow this blog and you'll be notified first when a new article is posted.
Resolutions can help push us to make changes and improvements. However, your personal list doesn't have to be anything formal. Each and every morning we have a new opportunity to ask more questions and try to find more answers to the health issues we're facing. And to stand up for ourselves as patients who deserve and need competent care.
CIDP, peripheral neuropathy and related afflictions are cruel diseases that exhaust and overwhelm you as a person. They wear out your body through indescribable, sporadic and extremely variable pain and discomfort.
And yet we can't give up. Even when we have a January insurance plan date that requires a new order for the treatments already approved last year we must push on. Unfortunately, that's the way the process works. If you lose your doctor, for whatever, reason, you must find another. Regardless of the obstacles, we need to make sure we're taking advantage of whatever care options are available to us. Even if the process for obtaining such treatments is slow and frustrating.
Never give up.
Why? Because new medical approaches might be waiting just around the corner. Above all, remember that we all have value and worth, even if we can't easily get around. Or if we need a wheelchair or a walker 24-7. I fit that latter category and so do many others. No matter what has changed, we can't allow ourselves to lose touch with those we love and care about. We still deserve to be heard and treated with respect.
Resolve not to be so hard on yourself. Resolve to know when you've had enough and need time to rest. Resolve to say "Thank You!" each and every day (and maybe more than once a day) to your Caregivers. Resolve to smile when you can and to find a few delightful distractions that let you forget the pain even if only for a moment. And resolve to always be honest about your needs and questions.
I strongly encourage you to find others who are dealing with the same struggles -- and this includes our priceless Caregivers. Join online support groups and discussions. Keep educating yourself about your condition. Truly, you're not alone even if you feel that way sometimes.
And if you have a friend, co-worker or family member struggling with neuropathy please share the link to the Life with Neuropathy blog with them. I'd really appreciate it. And hopefully so will they! Also, below I've provided a list of topics that you may want to explore further.
May today, tomorrow and the days, weeks and months ahead give you surprising solutions, encouragement, and the courage to get through the tough times. I hope and pray that 2024 will provide new options, strength, and healing for each of you. Thanks for listening.
John
Life with Neuropathy Topic List:
Creative Ways to Stay Connected with Your Interests.
Requesting a Handicap Placard.
Seeing Your Walker on the TV Show Monk.
Putting Tennis Balls on Your Walker.
Maintaining Gratitude Through Tough Times.
To follow my Life with Neuropathy blog, visit lifewithneuropathy.blogspot.com. Find the three lines next to the search button in the upper right hand corner and click "Follow." You'll be notified of my future blogs. Would love to have you on my core team of readers!
Thanks, Tim Mossholder, for the perfect picture. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@tim-mossholder.
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