I’m almost at my 10 year mark with my debilitating Idiopathic PN, and I think I’ve achieved optimism, or maybe it’s complacency. Like @ray666, I’m happy at maintaining and thankful I don’t feel like I’m regressing. But my new life I’ve been dealt requires a lot of hard work and discipline, both mentally and physically. (Physically means PT, but also knowing limitations and when to rest in order to make it through the long haul).

I look back at where this thing crippled me 10 years ago, but now can walk/waddle, drive. And do some things with my hands again, and I know I don’t want to go back to those bad 6 months of my life. I also spent about 2 years in the negative areas of frustration, doctor blaming, and general feeling of isolation and hopelessness as I tried to learn about the disease and (hoped to) find a cure. I was fortunate to find this group on my own and have been overwhelmed by the help in lifting me up and pointing me in the right direction. At 61 now, I’m staying optimistic I can stay this way another 10 years!