I thought I would start a journal as some others have - hoping that it will help somebody else. Sorry if its a little out of order and disjointed - Got Trileptal?
In October, 2010, I got my first job with my Master's Degree in Social Work! I was in college for 10 years and raising my kids - my ex husband - their father died in 2001. I had dental insurance and was running to get all kinds of medical and dental work done. I've had almost every tooth filled, crowned, pulled or root canal in 48 years--- my parents had really bad teeth! And I had no dental insurance most of my adult life.
In October, 2010 I had a semi-easy back molar taken out ---So I wasn't worried, although I only had a shot for numbness, I was fine.....
I told him I had numbness after this semi-easy pulling and he just keeps talking about my sideways last wisdom tooth and sawing off my jaw bone.... after almost a year of research, I believe I got TN because when he knocked me out for the second more complicated work, that he jerked my neck around.
He worked on the left side -- but within 4 hours I was in the ER, but nobody knew why --- I got dillaudid...and it only touched my pain for an hour. My pain was on the Right side. I can only imagine that it would be about like having police grade tazers shocking the cheek area (v2 branch)
He is a renowned area oral surgeon but he sets up a semi circle of chairs and bam bam bam -- doesn't listen. He insisted I would be in big trouble if this work wasn't done. Now I think he might have been right, but harried, neglectful and disrespectful to my needs.
Somebody sent me to a neurologist and he dx TN1 because the wind blowing hurt bad. After ruling out MS with MRI of course. So I was put on neurontin. Made me dizzzy.... it was hard to work at the state childrens office ! Then he put me on Lyrica -- I was sooooo high - I giggled through all my trainings. However, seriously, I wasn't able to drive kids to visitation visits nor prepare perfect meticulous court documents. I had to leave my job. Mutually. Lyrica nor the first med stopped my pain.
Then came trileptal and depression. April Fools Day - after being single 15 years....I had a wonderful wedding on the beach, I had finally married the one I needed and deserved. From January 2011, till about June, I tried to go on a few job interviews, but I must wonder if they think I sounded like an idiot! I started forgetting my dog's name, where I put important things, and my new husband who has the patience of a saint, was getting frazzled with me.
So I lowered my medicine and asked my neurologist if I could have Ritlin to concentrate so I could research all this MVD stuff. I'm afraid to raise it back anymore -- but I got lidocaine patches and cream also that I researched --- neuro only has a couple of other neuralgions -- so wasn't very forward looking except change the meds.... Lets try Lamictal....NOOOO
So now I have a date with a wonderful popular caring neurosurgeon that is keeping tabs on my from another state. I am to do MVD late October.
I think I'm a good candidate cause the meds are gonna kill my cognitive abilities
Because I've had no damaging procedures
Because I have TN1
Because I have a competent surgeon who has done thousands of MVDs
I'm most afraid of being put under general anesthesia - that is my biggest fear -- after that I'll worry about any deafness, or numbness etc etc etc
So I'm jumpin in the pool folks!
I think its odd that most stories dont say that they have had TN for a year and are going to jump carefully into MVD....am I crazy?
-- my neuro here says he thinks I'm being very proactive and was surprised that I came in for patches and left by telling him he needs to do my MVD aftercare!
I'm glad you are all here -- and I have found a support group to attend twice before the big day.
Kimberly in KC