← Return to Increasingly Difficult to Accept Peripheral Neuropathy

Discussion
fisbo avatar

Increasingly Difficult to Accept Peripheral Neuropathy

Neuropathy | Last Active: Aug 10 12:43pm | Replies (233)

Comment receiving replies
Profile picture for Ray Kemble @ray666

Good morning!

This topic's title, "Increasingly Difficult to Accept Peripheral Neuropathy," to which I say, Oh, yes! But what I find difficult, even increasingly so, are not the symptoms or the meds or the seemingly endless doctors' appointments; no, what I find difficult is the way peripheral neuropathy has reduced my life, shrinking it down to the narrowest of pleasures.

Wisdom says to resist, that aging itself is a narrowing down; the addition of a chronic disease like PN, however, only accelerates that narrowing down. I see fewer friends. I go fewer places. More and more I find myself turning down invitations.

Most damaging of all is how a disease like PN can erode a person's sense of purpose. From the moment I was diagnosed, I had resolved never to "become my disease." I've learned, in the months that have followed, what a challenge, what an uphill battle that can be: to not become your disease; instead, to remain––in your friends' eyes and, most importantly, in your own eyes, something of the person you've always been.

I'm not sure why I'm letting this all pour out this morning. Probably it's been on my mind. Probably just seeing this topic's title set me off. 🙂

Anyone else have thoughts along these lines?

Ray (@ray666)

Jump to this post


Replies to "Good morning! This topic's title, "Increasingly Difficult to Accept Peripheral Neuropathy," to which I say, Oh,..."

Every day my friend, every day 🙃 - the mind is a powerful thing. Maybe that's why it helps to stay positive. What really gave me a lift this morning was our latest Connect member spotlight - Don’t leave the good parts out: Meet @jlharsh - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/newsfeed-post/dont-leave-the-good-parts-out-meet-jlharsh/. I loved the lyrics of the 2 songs in the spotlight.

Ray
I am so frustrated with my PN for so many reasons. But the most depressing reason is that I cannot walk without using a walker. Even with the walker I can only walk maybe twenty to 30 yards before I have to sit down. I have a transport chair that my wife can push me around in if I want to browse a store or go to any event that involves walking a lot or standing a lot. I’m 76 but before this PN hit me last September I was very active as a senior. I played golf, went to concerts and never missed my grandkids sporting events. I could go on forever about how my midlife has changed for the worse. In spite of all the tests and doctors and physical therapy and pool visits and home exercises I still can’t walk on my own. So I’m not going to give up but there are times when I really really want to give up. Thank God for my wife, who does EVERYTHING for me, and my friends who will not let me give up. Best wishes to you.