I was just wondering if when most of you wake up in the morning that you think the pain may not be there that day and then after you wake up for about an hour or 2 the pain comes back.
That is what I thought was going to happen to me today. I woke up early about 6 am and I had no pain at all. After being up for about 2 hours I noticed that my jaw seemed very tight and the pain started up once again. It makes you wish that you would have stayed in bed.
The past week or so the pain hasn't gone away at all even at night today was the first day I woke up with no pain. When I started talking to my boyfriend and my mom the pain came back. Is it because I was talking or just that I am up and about for the day?
I think most docs would tell you that you should take the Tegretol on a regular schedule, to keep your blood levels as nearly constant as you can. Allowing breakthrough pain by reducing or delaying your dose, can make the pain harder to manage over time.
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Denise Smith said:
Oh I forgot to add....should I be taking my Tegerol as soon as I get up or wait for the pain to start up?
Yes he is correct though. I recently was adding back in Topamax and would not take it during the day if I needed to drive, but would pay for it later and it could take a couple of days to get things back under control. Hopefully after some time, the effects of your meds will lessen somewhat.
Yes, in the mornings, I too get a small reprieve from the constant aching quality which my pain presents with underlying the other symptoms. It is why I take my meds before I feel like I need them, and have for a couple of years now. Because it seems like once the pain is on top of me, I cannot get rid of it.
One doctor told me that many times Trigeminal Neuralgia patients will get a small reprieve in the morning, and no one knows exactly why. I would tend to think that the compression on the nerve would be lessened by sleep, as the heartbeat slows, thus, the blood isn't pumping as fast. Then, when it speeds back up to normal, whatever is pressing on that nerve says "Heee-llo".
Yes, I validate the statements of the others. You should take any medications as soon as you get up, instead of waiting until you feel the pain. Blood levels of Tegretol, I have been told by a doctor who tried me on should be kept fairly consistet.
I use to take that Topamax for my Intracranial Hypertension that I also suffer for the past 4 years. I had to quit taking that medication because it made me very stunned and there was no way I could function on that med. I know people that take it for the past 8 years or so and that is the way they are very stunned. Does it make you feel that way?
Debbie said:
Yes he is correct though. I recently was adding back in Topamax and would not take it during the day if I needed to drive, but would pay for it later and it could take a couple of days to get things back under control. Hopefully after some time, the effects of your meds will lessen somewhat.
Yes, I agree. I have about five minutes in the morning with no pain. The most wonderful minutes of my day. I take my meds within the first minutes I awake. I agree that it must be the pain returns because I am up and becoming active, thus my heart rate increases. Juanita
I personally find that if I have low pain the best thing to do is lie down. Read a book or watch tv. If I stay in a vertical position my pain gets worse. Wow, how bad does that sound? lol I do find that some days talking hurts and other days if doesn't. . .but I guess thats why I'm told I have ATYPICAL TN. My pain goes in cycles with no particular pattern. Sinus, ear, jaw, teeth, throat, eye and cheek pain. There are days that my face either hurts all morning and a little in the evening or the opposite, or it hurts all day and night.
I agree with most people on this discussion. There is a short time in the morning when all seems well - then the usual begins.
I believe it is a combination of effects. Changes in pressure, heart rate and motabolism. Throw in the fact that as you start your day you continually introduce yourself to triggers and I can understand why it takes a bit to kick in.
I also agree that you have to take the Tegretol on a regulated schedule. From my research and experience - this is a drug that stays in your system, not a break through drug. If this is the case then you want to take it on a regular basis, not shock your system by taking it here and there.
If you know what your triggers are, try not to have them introduced all at once in the mornings. That can be difficult because we end up having breakfast, putting on make-up and brushing our teeth all in a very short time.
I just started to take Neurotop Retard same as Tegretol. I think taking it is a lot better than the pain. I thought in case I need too much of it, and bad side effects would be present, I would try surgery.