Hi,
Seeing as I have only been feeling the pain of TN for about 4 weeks this has been an interesting 4 weeks to say the least. I had a great Dr this first full blown episode tell me what it was. (He confessed reading a back issue medical journal about it) Then after 2 visits to the ER for pain management a nurse practitioner that had worked for a neurosurgeon so she was very familiar with TN. I have who I think is a good neurologist who is interested in me, keeping me out of pain as much as possible and listening to my wishes about not being a drug zombie. But of course there is another issue. Family
Let me start by saying this is something new, the whole I am sick thing. I think that is part of this, I have never had anything above a cold. Then TN comes along hits me like a sledge hammer and says seal with it.
My wife, who has stood by me thick and thin of course is so tender and careful sometimes I feel like I should be put in a padded room. For the first week she wouldnt even touch my face, not that I blame her. I am pretty sure that she is about as scared as I am with what is going on.
We live and by choice, with her Mother (jokes may follow). Her mother has suffered from depression of various things but sees me as falling down that hole because I have been rather obsessive about researching TN and everything about it. Mother makes some of the dark comments, oh you will get through this, you will get better, ect ect. And of course if I fire something dark off about hating things, or being upset she clams up because she thinks I am aiming everything at her.
Now of course there is the start of memory issues, I lost a full day already, wife got me back on track. Of course there are all the other issues that come up with medication, treatments, episodes you know the rest. I am trained first responder so being ready for things is something I do, but how do you get everyone around you ready, or even get them to listen without the pat on the hand and it will be ok BS response?