Sigh. If I could tell you all the “bad” things that have happened over the past four years of my life your head would spin.
I try to stay positive and I’ve pushed through a lot. I do feel stronger, but at this moment I feel exhausted. On May 30th, I had to go to the ER for a severe TN attack. The very next day my husband was severely injured at work.
My husband works in the glass business. He does a lot of commercial glass work as well as residential, I.e., installing mirrors and windows. On May 31st, he and a coworker were removing a large mirror when it busted. My husbands left arm and hand received multiple lacerations. It took five days to have surgery and we learned he cut all the tendons in his arm/hand twice. It also cut an artery and most superficial nerves were also cut. It’s been a very trying time.
We have two children (15-months and 7-years) and really no family nearby to help. Luckily, some neighbors have helped when they can, but it’s just a stressful time. He started PT this week and is in a lot of pain. I actually had an argument with his doctor to get him adequate pain medication. I think on average I’ve slept 5 hours at night.
The added stress has been causing my TN to worsen. I was prescribed Trileptal, but my intial doses left me a little too groggy and sleepy. I need as much mental clarity as possible right now. My doctor lowered the dose, in combo with neurontin, so I will try that soon.
We have a long road ahead of us. Right now they believe he may only get 30% back of his left arm. I pray we prove them wrong.
I feel more stressed than anything. I’m not feeling sad, but just tired of bad things happening.
I know alot about the glass bus. I was in it for over 20 years and seen alot, hope your husband gets better and i will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, this little saying kept me going when things were real bad maybe it will help you "things always get real bad before they get better and god will never give you more than you can handle" plus the old saying "never give up" find your strength and use it . All my best and good luck to you and your family
I have found that the more stress I'm under the more my TN happens. I wish I could make it all go away, at least the TN pain, but I can't. Just know that a lot of people are praying for you, and even though its hard right now, dont forget to take care of you.. My thoughts and prayers are with you..
Oh, dear, you're in a very hot furnace right now. Please know that your family will be on my prayer list and please keep posting on the progress. When this TN visitor came to visit in '02, my youngest was 15 mo, 2nd child was 3 yo, and oldest was 9 yo. Each day was a miracle to finish well—and we did! The main thing that popped in my mind through the horrendous pressure was "This is not a surprise to God." How did that thought pop in my brain? Don't know for sure, but I believe God whispered this to my spirit. He knew my desperation and knew I was at the end of my strength and spoke such a beautiful, uplifting notion to me that I've held close ever since.
I also want to encourage you and your husband with a little story from a friend of ours at church. J Bird is his name and this nick name comes to him because he flies over the fret board of his guitar :-) He was in a major accident with a chain saw that found it's way to his left wrist. It was an accident that happened while he was helping his dad out in the yard. The ER folks and surgeon thought that with all the severed muscles and tendons, he may never play again as he did prior to the accident. He says he was really good before the severing, but God healed him in a way that he is far better now. Before and after this accident, he played professionally on different CDs and with different artists. God not only healed all the severing, but made him better than before. The local TN warriors on this site (you included), have a choice each day: Will I trust or will I worry? For me, I surrendered all my worrying energy, and now hold fast and trust my Anchor of Hope. I CAN and WILL trust today because I KNOW that He will make good on the bad stuff in my life. He has already in many ways, and for other things, I will trust He will make good on His Word :-) I find a LOT of solace in the Bible and in books written that explain things I don't understand in the Word. Like the Jesus Chronicles by my old pastor in California, Jack Abeelen. I also like Kay Arthur's books under Precept Ministries. There is TD Jakes and Joyce Meyer I listen to over tv when I use a heating pad on my face and this keeps my feet on the ground. There are so many arrows pointing us in a good direction, I'm sure you've found a few of your own.
Kiss and smile with your baby and young child often. The humor of my kids have kept me in stitches at times and I so enjoyed being here with them during their early years and now that they are in Jr High, it's still fun! I must say that the college student is the one that puts me over into belly laughs these days!
Please msg me if you'd like to chat more. Know that I've got your back in prayer on healing for you and Donnie—I look forward to hearing on the progress of both of you :-)
It's okay to feel sad and not to try and bury your feelings deep down inside. Without sadness we can not have happiness so its okay to let our natural feelings rise to the surface. When it becomes an overwhelming part of our daily life is when we need to deal with it. There should be a natural balance between happiness and sadness and this is a good place to come to maintain that balance.
Thanks everyone for your stories, words of encouragement and prayers! Every day is a test of our stength and patience. We’re hanging in there.
My doctor agreed that stress can make TN (or any pain related issue) worse. Got my lower dose of Trileptal now, so hopefully that will help. My TN has been bad the past two days, but I’ve been managing.
Hubby is working hard at PT, but it’ll be months before we know exactly how well he’ll turn out. There are times he gets low and I try to encourage him.
I think my head spun when our TV died last week and had to get a new one. Ugh.