CIDP (Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) is a condition that affects the neurological system. No one is sure what causes the disease but it can be difficult to diagnose as there is no single diagnostic test for it. The symptoms experienced are varied between patients but they can include tingling (pins and needles), loss of feeling beginning in the toes and fingers, weakness (affecting arms and legs usually together). Others have symptoms of respiratory muscle weakness which causes difficulty in breathing. 

My grandfather who lives in Australia, was unfortunately diagnosed with CIDP around 18 months ago. Before he started getting some of the respiratory muscle weakness symptoms, he used to love walking and playing golf. He would go for a walk every morning without fail and he played golf regularly. Along with being a doctor, these are his passions. As he started getting out of breath and tired more often, he found it harder to do these activities. He has had no choice but to stop these activities because the difficulty in breathing means he can hardly walk far without getting tired. Now, 18 months later, he finds it difficult to even walk around his house once and is pretty much housebound. Seeing him like this is really upsetting to me because  my grandfather who has always been such an active man can't even go for a walk now. Now he needs to rely on my grandmother in more in day to day life. This has resulted in neither of them being able to come and visit us like they used to do every year in summer. Both my brother and I really miss having them here especially when we have our summer holidays.

For Christmas, this year rather than buying me a present, I would be grateful for donations to GAIN charity. GAIN is the only charity that supports people with CIDP along with Guillain-Barre disease and other associated inflammatory neuropathies. This will help further research into finding a cure.

Thank you x

For more info visit www.gaincharity.org.uk