OK I said I had lots of questions, I will try to organize them into some order:
I am trying to understand what is happening to me, better to deal with the known than the unknown.
I lost the center vision in my left eye about 20 years ago, it just bled out in the center for no known reason; I did not even notice it until I went in to renew my Drivers License and was told then. I do remember a really bad head ache but as I have said, I can control pain to some extent.
For the past 3-4 years, my vision in my right eye has been giving me fits. It would blur or double after intense periods on the computer, sometimes it would feel like it wanted to tear up, but never did. Headaches would always accompany this but while I have a touch of glaucoma and early macular degeneration, the eye doctors see nothing. They are treating me with drops for the glaucoma and just keeping an eye on the macular degeneration. The Headaches start as pressure in the temple area and then take the area over and under the eye (this is the same side as the TN). Sometimes I would get a tingling sensation going down my cheek to my jaw, kind of like a light electric shock. I found that when this happens I need to go lay down shut my eyes and rest. The ringing in my ears would get real loud during these boughs and my hearing would suffer. Was this the early stages and it has it just caught up to me? Does anyone know how this will affect my vision on the effected side (my only good eye)?
Currently, I get pressure in my temple almost daily, sometimes I would get the tingling down my cheek and lighter pain under and over my right eye. On a pain scale I would put it at a 1-2 (remember for me 10 is get to ER or cut my head off) (manageable but I know it is there). When this gets to a 4-5 is when I have to take the pain medication or it is going to a seven in short order. Is anyone else seeing these or do I need to look for another cause?
My doctor has given me prednisone twice, each time for 5 days each, is this normally the time frame for that?
I have managed to set off a couple of attacks with a known action, Shaving was one a sneeze was one and brushing my gums was one. But it would not happen the same way every time and so far, I have not set off a major attack (over 7). Are others finding that the attacks have different levels of pain? Are others finding that what sets it off this time may not set it off again or that different things set it off at different times?
I mentioned the ringing in my ears. That I have had for over 40 years (I was in the military for a long time). But it seems that the ringing gets real bad just before and during an attack. Are others seeing that to?
Being an old guy going through this is bad enough; I do not know how the younger members are dealing with it. Relationships, career and family must be a real bear. I feel really blessed that my wife of 30 years is with me, and I want to thank you all for putting up with me.