pointing out symtoms to family members

[Guest guest]

Elinor,

I know this is very hard. I was diagnosed at 18 and had the

unfortunate luck of having to break the news to my mother that her

feet were not 'normal'. She was in major denial for about 2 years.

She continously claimed it was " your disease " but now she is 55 and

on disability. It hit her hard when her hands just stopped working

(she was an accountant).

I'm not telling you to tell him or not tell him. It's too hard of a

decision to make alone. However, I know both my mom and I are glad I

told her because she couldn't understand why her hands and feet

stopped working. She is from Cuba and the doctors there told her mom

that she was just lazy and that's why she walked funny. Her self-

esteem improved when she had a name to her funny way of walking.

Cristal