Have had 5 1/2 days of almost NO pain!!! WOW! I have been in Heaven! - then, while at work, I guess I was looking fairly 'intense'... a person that doesn't know what I am going through was not being mean, but 'tweeked' my left cheek - THE ONLY PLACE I CANNOT HAVE TOUCHED - before I could move... it was then all over. I instantly had to leave the area and just about lost it...but I couldn't! I had an event going on with over 100 people coming in and out of our restaurant area and had 4 students helping me that I was responsible for!! We are truly cursed...people that don't know truly can't understand that touching our faces could send us into DAYS of excrutiating pain; and now has. You know how I am feeling; don't need to describe...uggh.
hi cris--
Wow! Sorry to hear about that. When you get to feeling better, let me recommend that you get the word out at work about your TN. If someone came up to me and suddenly tweaked my left cheek (which they probably wouldn't...), I'd be a "goner" for about 2-3 months! If a soft summer breeze can set TN off, I can't even imagine a tweak! YIKES !!!
oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I am sooooo sorrry for you. gentle hugs Cris. :(
thanks guys...feelin pretty rough tonite. I have discussed this with people I am around...kind of difficult to let others I am not around know...NEED THAT SIGN - right???!!!
Cris, we need to put our heads together and come up with a good way to let strangers know not to touch us. This HAS happened to me before too. So I know what you are goin thru... Unfortunately I haven't come up with anything yet. If you do.. be sure and fill me in on it.. K?? We just look soooooo darn normall!!!!!!!!!
Isn't that the worst part of this? - we look so darn normal. Some of my co-workers can tell when I am in pain already, by looking at my eyes. When I am in the worst pain, my eyes are very red and my forehead is very "stressed" looking. However, if I am having a low pain day, you cannot tell that there is anything wrong with me. Even doctors that have never heard of TN, look at me and I can almost hear them totally disbelieving I have this disorder. People do that too, like I am making all this up!!! Right, like I need to pretend that I am in extreme pain to get attention. There are alot of far less painful ways to get attention than TN.
AMEN D! I also have had some co-workers look at me and ask if I was alright...they know, but the whole school certainly does not! We have over 2200 students with over 110 staff...I am a friendly person, but am not friends with all...am somewhat a private person too...we just don't have that 'classic' look of a person with a chronic painful disorder, do we!
This was my first instance with a person touching my face since all this started last Sept. Min, we GOTTA come up with something!! Suggestions from you really smart people would be MOST appreciated!!!
Hi cris,
Yeah, I did notice the topic title about needing the sign-I was just kidding with you. I have a 2x3" card that's laminated in plastic, briefly explaining that I'm in facial pain, talking is difficult in not impossible due to TN and what it is. I keep it in my pocket when I'm in pain and/or getting twinges. But I knew there were gonna be Tweakers around, I'd carry a "occupy protester" sign on a stick!
Stay Well, Rick ;-)
cris said:
thanks guys...feelin pretty rough tonite. I have discussed this with people I am around...kind of difficult to let others I am not around know...NEED THAT SIGN - right???!!!
Cris,
A few of my students have come up to me and gone, "does this hurt?" and tapped me on the right cheek. My right cheek is a DO NOT TOUCH zone. If they were little it would be tolerable, but they are teenagers. It never feels good. Thankfully only a couple of them have actually made contact before I realized what they were trying to do.
Well, if we had warts or sores or greasy hair or something like that. I bet people would not want to come up to us an touch our faces or hug us or even come NEAR us. But.. of course this would not be a good idea for those of us who are still working. But maybe you can work with some of these ideas and come up with something else?? That is not so frightening but will still deter unwanted attention from strangers.. LOL
Dude...REALLY!!!...uhn uh...!!! Just the fact that they know this is a 'stay away zone' and do this on purpose with them saying "does this hurt" is unthinkable!!! I don't know the circumstances of your school, but if a student touches a teacher in a manner / intent to causing harm, they are immediately escorted out of the building for up to the remainder of the year!!! What does your administration say about this? You ARE keeping documentation??? I understand your love of teaching, I love it too, BUT not to the point of THAT! ...truly enraged right now!! I was a nurse for 12 years, went to culinary school and worked as a chef for 5 years and have been teaching for 7 years...THIS is the most stressful career I have every had and at the same time the most rewarding. Fred...is there any other area of education you could get into that would make it more 'safe' and environmentally work friendly??? I am worried about you!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:
Cris,
A few of my students have come up to me and gone, "does this hurt?" and tapped me on the right cheek. My right cheek is a DO NOT TOUCH zone. If they were little it would be tolerable, but they are teenagers. It never feels good. Thankfully only a couple of them have actually made contact before I realized what they were trying to do.
Min
Yep, we truly gotta 'get our ugly on'...then they will leave us alone! :D (you are too funny!)
Min C said:
Well, if we had warts or sores or greasy hair or something like that. I bet people would not want to come up to us an touch our faces or hug us or even come NEAR us. But.. of course this would not be a good idea for those of us who are still working. But maybe you can work with some of these ideas and come up with something else?? That is not so frightening but will still deter unwanted attention from strangers.. LOL
Cris,
I have addressed the issues with my administration with mixed results. As you have mentioned this is an invisible disorder to all who aren't looking for it or care enough about you to notice. I was told by one assistant over discipline that since I had taken a doctor ordered leave (before diagnosis) on December 5th...returning after Christmas break to find that I had had a long-term sub that completely undid all of my classroom discipline in a couple of weeks...that I really needed to handle events of that nature myself (as a classroom management issue) or else the students that were doing these "little things" to get to me would think I am weak and keep running over me in this regard. One was actually flipping the lights off and on at random times when going by the room of my neighboring teacher (who gets severely bad migraines) causing her to get migraines 3 days in one week. The student was threatening to do the same in my room to see if it would make me sick as well, but when the head principal caught wind of this (by my doing) the student was brought in with parents and told that if either she (the one who has migraines) or I were sickened in any way by the student's antics the school was going to bill the parents for the costs of the subs on any day we had to be out due to the student's offensive behavior. That student has not attempted anything since with me.
As for other areas of education where I could work...I am qualified educationally to Prof at local colleges (at least in an adjunct capacity), but the pay for that at our local schools is somewhat poor and the colleges have no benefits. I am not sure that I presently could find a non-teaching position in the county where I work. I would be less concerned if not for that fact that my career brings the insurance to our household. It is really good insurance too. Insurance through my wife's employer starts at something like $800 every two weeks (that would absorb most, if not all of her pay...$1600 per month), whereas my insurance has much better coverage and costs like $140 a month to cover all 3 of us for my part of it.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I get a lot of the tough kids in my school as my bosses feel my demeanor and rigorous content is better suited for them than others in my department. Lucky me....
Fred
cris said:
Dude...REALLY!!!...uhn uh...!!! Just the fact that they know this is a 'stay away zone' and do this on purpose with them saying "does this hurt" is unthinkable!!! I don't know the circumstances of your school, but if a student touches a teacher in a manner / intent to causing harm, they are immediately escorted out of the building for up to the remainder of the year!!! What does your administration say about this? You ARE keeping documentation??? I understand your love of teaching, I love it too, BUT not to the point of THAT! ...truly enraged right now!! I was a nurse for 12 years, went to culinary school and worked as a chef for 5 years and have been teaching for 7 years...THIS is the most stressful career I have every had and at the same time the most rewarding. Fred...is there any other area of education you could get into that would make it more 'safe' and environmentally work friendly??? I am worried about you!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:Cris,
A few of my students have come up to me and gone, "does this hurt?" and tapped me on the right cheek. My right cheek is a DO NOT TOUCH zone. If they were little it would be tolerable, but they are teenagers. It never feels good. Thankfully only a couple of them have actually made contact before I realized what they were trying to do.
Fred
Definitely a catch 22, isn't it...since I am a CTE teacher, we have in the past been an area of the 'dumping ground' of sorts for students that just can't function / make it in other classes. It has taken several years, starting with the top peeps at the board, to change the thinking of the validity of our courses and the rigor that is brought to them with the professional instructors along with the credentials that are required to teach these courses. We are no longer the dumping ground and it has made such a change in the classroom climate. I FULLY understand your dilema of the classroom mgmt issue. It is NOT easy - BUT - without the support of your administrators, which it sounds like is somewhat lacking at your school, not sure where to go from here! Have you talked to anyone at the board level? I know it is TABOO to go above the principal's head - but...YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU and it clear that there is little to no support at you school level. Again...DOCUMENT everything! Are you a member of your local teachers union??
I know we are getting off of the topic of how to let others know not to touch our faces, but your kiddos KNOW not to touch your face and have done so out of spite and pure meaness! again, I am worried about you and the situation you are in. ...truly blessed with my school and district. We work sooo very hard to do a job that we love and to make a difference. Okay, I'll stop preachin' now... :D
Thanks for opening up and sharing what is happening with you...it is truly wonderful to have a safe place to talk and let out our hurts and even fears with one another! My fear is that someone will AGAIN touch my face in a way like the person did (tweaking my cheek!! ugh)... I also fear this will eventually take me away from my career that I love and away from the kiddos I have made true connections with. It is a wonderful thing to SEE those positive changes that we have had a part in... have a good, restful weekend my friend!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:
Cris,
I have addressed the issues with my administration with mixed results. As you have mentioned this is an invisible disorder to all who aren't looking for it or care enough about you to notice. I was told by one assistant over discipline that since I had taken a doctor ordered leave (before diagnosis) on December 5th...returning after Christmas break to find that I had had a long-term sub that completely undid all of my classroom discipline in a couple of weeks...that I really needed to handle events of that nature myself (as a classroom management issue) or else the students that were doing these "little things" to get to me would think I am weak and keep running over me in this regard. One was actually flipping the lights off and on at random times when going by the room of my neighboring teacher (who gets severely bad migraines) causing her to get migraines 3 days in one week. The student was threatening to do the same in my room to see if it would make me sick as well, but when the head principal caught wind of this (by my doing) the student was brought in with parents and told that if either she (the one who has migraines) or I were sickened in any way by the student's antics the school was going to bill the parents for the costs of the subs on any day we had to be out due to the student's offensive behavior. That student has not attempted anything since with me.
As for other areas of education where I could work...I am qualified educationally to Prof at local colleges (at least in an adjunct capacity), but the pay for that at our local schools is somewhat poor and the colleges have no benefits. I am not sure that I presently could find a non-teaching position in the county where I work. I would be less concerned if not for that fact that my career brings the insurance to our household. It is really good insurance too. Insurance through my wife's employer starts at something like $800 every two weeks (that would absorb most, if not all of her pay...$1600 per month), whereas my insurance has much better coverage and costs like $140 a month to cover all 3 of us for my part of it.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I get a lot of the tough kids in my school as my bosses feel my demeanor and rigorous content is better suited for them than others in my department. Lucky me....
Fred
cris said:Dude...REALLY!!!...uhn uh...!!! Just the fact that they know this is a 'stay away zone' and do this on purpose with them saying "does this hurt" is unthinkable!!! I don't know the circumstances of your school, but if a student touches a teacher in a manner / intent to causing harm, they are immediately escorted out of the building for up to the remainder of the year!!! What does your administration say about this? You ARE keeping documentation??? I understand your love of teaching, I love it too, BUT not to the point of THAT! ...truly enraged right now!! I was a nurse for 12 years, went to culinary school and worked as a chef for 5 years and have been teaching for 7 years...THIS is the most stressful career I have every had and at the same time the most rewarding. Fred...is there any other area of education you could get into that would make it more 'safe' and environmentally work friendly??? I am worried about you!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:Cris,
A few of my students have come up to me and gone, "does this hurt?" and tapped me on the right cheek. My right cheek is a DO NOT TOUCH zone. If they were little it would be tolerable, but they are teenagers. It never feels good. Thankfully only a couple of them have actually made contact before I realized what they were trying to do.
Thanks Cris, "Ugh!" is right on the cheek tweaking. I mean, who does that other than someone's stereotypical great aunt who also baby talks to everyone? Hope I do not offend any great aunts in the group, but I know that no one here would dream of doing that. What ever happened to the personal bubble in social settings?
I am going ot try my best to de-stress this weekend. I wish the same for you.
Fred
cris said:
Fred
Definitely a catch 22, isn't it...since I am a CTE teacher, we have in the past been an area of the 'dumping ground' of sorts for students that just can't function / make it in other classes. It has taken several years, starting with the top peeps at the board, to change the thinking of the validity of our courses and the rigor that is brought to them with the professional instructors along with the credentials that are required to teach these courses. We are no longer the dumping ground and it has made such a change in the classroom climate. I FULLY understand your dilema of the classroom mgmt issue. It is NOT easy - BUT - without the support of your administrators, which it sounds like is somewhat lacking at your school, not sure where to go from here! Have you talked to anyone at the board level? I know it is TABOO to go above the principal's head - but...YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU and it clear that there is little to no support at you school level. Again...DOCUMENT everything! Are you a member of your local teachers union??
I know we are getting off of the topic of how to let others know not to touch our faces, but your kiddos KNOW not to touch your face and have done so out of spite and pure meaness! again, I am worried about you and the situation you are in. ...truly blessed with my school and district. We work sooo very hard to do a job that we love and to make a difference. Okay, I'll stop preachin' now... :D
Thanks for opening up and sharing what is happening with you...it is truly wonderful to have a safe place to talk and let out our hurts and even fears with one another! My fear is that someone will AGAIN touch my face in a way like the person did (tweaking my cheek!! ugh)... I also fear this will eventually take me away from my career that I love and away from the kiddos I have made true connections with. It is a wonderful thing to SEE those positive changes that we have had a part in... have a good, restful weekend my friend!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:Cris,
I have addressed the issues with my administration with mixed results. As you have mentioned this is an invisible disorder to all who aren't looking for it or care enough about you to notice. I was told by one assistant over discipline that since I had taken a doctor ordered leave (before diagnosis) on December 5th...returning after Christmas break to find that I had had a long-term sub that completely undid all of my classroom discipline in a couple of weeks...that I really needed to handle events of that nature myself (as a classroom management issue) or else the students that were doing these "little things" to get to me would think I am weak and keep running over me in this regard. One was actually flipping the lights off and on at random times when going by the room of my neighboring teacher (who gets severely bad migraines) causing her to get migraines 3 days in one week. The student was threatening to do the same in my room to see if it would make me sick as well, but when the head principal caught wind of this (by my doing) the student was brought in with parents and told that if either she (the one who has migraines) or I were sickened in any way by the student's antics the school was going to bill the parents for the costs of the subs on any day we had to be out due to the student's offensive behavior. That student has not attempted anything since with me.
As for other areas of education where I could work...I am qualified educationally to Prof at local colleges (at least in an adjunct capacity), but the pay for that at our local schools is somewhat poor and the colleges have no benefits. I am not sure that I presently could find a non-teaching position in the county where I work. I would be less concerned if not for that fact that my career brings the insurance to our household. It is really good insurance too. Insurance through my wife's employer starts at something like $800 every two weeks (that would absorb most, if not all of her pay...$1600 per month), whereas my insurance has much better coverage and costs like $140 a month to cover all 3 of us for my part of it.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, I get a lot of the tough kids in my school as my bosses feel my demeanor and rigorous content is better suited for them than others in my department. Lucky me....
Fred
cris said:Dude...REALLY!!!...uhn uh...!!! Just the fact that they know this is a 'stay away zone' and do this on purpose with them saying "does this hurt" is unthinkable!!! I don't know the circumstances of your school, but if a student touches a teacher in a manner / intent to causing harm, they are immediately escorted out of the building for up to the remainder of the year!!! What does your administration say about this? You ARE keeping documentation??? I understand your love of teaching, I love it too, BUT not to the point of THAT! ...truly enraged right now!! I was a nurse for 12 years, went to culinary school and worked as a chef for 5 years and have been teaching for 7 years...THIS is the most stressful career I have every had and at the same time the most rewarding. Fred...is there any other area of education you could get into that would make it more 'safe' and environmentally work friendly??? I am worried about you!
Fred (a_Cuppa_Coffee) said:Cris,
A few of my students have come up to me and gone, "does this hurt?" and tapped me on the right cheek. My right cheek is a DO NOT TOUCH zone. If they were little it would be tolerable, but they are teenagers. It never feels good. Thankfully only a couple of them have actually made contact before I realized what they were trying to do.
I trigger points move around but the worst is when it's on the right side of my nostril and the tip of my nose - a single hair can trigger a reaction that makes me look like I just got tazed. I didn't tip my head back far enough today and bumped my nose on the lid of my coffee cup. Nearly wore my coffee hehe.
The worst is that I often can't give my kids a good night kiss and they have to be very careful about kissing me on the cheek but they are the most understanding of all and are so caring and careful.
As for telling people, I've usually load the Wikipedia article on my iphone and hand it over to the person that thinks they understand pain because they had their knee scoped or some such crap like that haha
good idea - loading into the i-phone! gonna do that!! thanks
Todd Friesen said:
I trigger points move around but the worst is when it's on the right side of my nostril and the tip of my nose - a single hair can trigger a reaction that makes me look like I just got tazed. I didn't tip my head back far enough today and bumped my nose on the lid of my coffee cup. Nearly wore my coffee hehe.
The worst is that I often can't give my kids a good night kiss and they have to be very careful about kissing me on the cheek but they are the most understanding of all and are so caring and careful.
As for telling people, I've usually load the Wikipedia article on my iphone and hand it over to the person that thinks they understand pain because they had their knee scoped or some such crap like that haha
I have an automatic panic reflex when I see someone or something coming toward my face. My hand goes up, protecting the side of my face, then I have to say "Sorry, that's just a reflex I have for my face pain." maybe you can develop it too with lots of practice, so it becomes "muscle memory/instinctive" for your hand to go up. I don't touch my face, my flattened hand is about 2 inches from my face, maybe more, in case their hand hits my hand into the side if my face.
Sheila -
sounds like you have had the same experiences...I really didn't notice that much touch to my face until all of this! Oh well...I like the idea of developing that 'muscle memory' protective instinct...
Sheila, I have that too. I automatically block things coming at me. Even when they don't hit me necessarily. Paranoid!! LOL