Hi NM Dewey,
Although I haven't posted an official new member introduction yet, I'm sitting bedside (in a nursing home) with my 56 year old husband whose PN has mystified mystified three neurologists (seeing number 4 next week, one who specializes in neuropathy) and countless other doctors who have seen and tried to treat him since October when he became blind and January when he could no longer walk. I'm learning a lot from this site, but I want to share something from the caregiver's perspective.

On the first anniversary of my husband's initial trip to the hospital, he asked me, "Has this been our worst year or our best year?" And I had to say, both. Although he is in constant pain, we are on the brink of financial ruin, he hasn't been home since January, we've become closer, and are communicating much more intimately than before (the'best' part) . Is every day rosy? Of course not! Every day pretty much sucks for him, which makes it hard for me, too. But, because he's not angry all the time, doesn't wallow in self pity, can even laugh sometimes, it's bearable. Scary, but bearable. We avoid the "woulda, shoulda, coulda" and live by a few mantras, mostly focussing on doing the next right thing, and remembering it's not what life hands us, but how we deal with it. I hope this helps,
Sandy in Texas