I always knew I was unique

I was 16 at my first job serving coffee at a wedding and by the end of the night I had noticed that my right index finger, after holding the carafe for many hours, had gone completely numb. That was the first time I knew that I was a little different.

My second episode happened when I was probably in my early 20s sitting on a concrete floor for a couple of hours. I got up and I noticed that the entire right side of my thigh was completely numb. The sensation came back but it took a long time and by a long time I mean at least a year.

I remember my father telling me when I was in my 30s that he was diagnosed with a neurological condition that was hereditary. I promptly went to Google and looked up what HNPP was and figured out that this most likely was causing my numbness through my 20s and 30s.

Entering into my 40s my symptoms have progressed but so far are manageable. I did notice that after my first covid vaccine I had a flare up, my nerves seemed more sensitive. After I reported the event I had some diagnostics done and that is when I formally got my diagnosis of HNPP.

I golf, I garden and do mild exercise but I am always careful. I do recover when I rest and give my nerves time to heal.

I do try to maintain a healthy weight, a healthy diet and mild exercise (low impact hiking or walking) I take vitamin B complex, omega-3, magnesium and vitamin D. I faithfully wear my wrist braces at night. I have kneepads and a foam mattress topper.

That’s my story.