[Curve]

I have been surfing, checking out site and just gathering general info. This place looks fun, Informative and best of all Helpful to me in two ways~

I have the pleasure having 2 of the fun conditions covered on this site.
Diagnosed with Trigeminal neuropathy (appears to be atypical~Figures, I am anything BUT typical, just in general, LOL)in October, and BiPoII (actually first Dx'd with Cyclothymic disorder but since I am more Up than Down, that was changed) in...2007-8 ish?

My TN pain is constant. Mostly feels like I have been hit in the jaw with a bat, have a tooth abscess, severe swollen gingivitis and an ear infection, all at the same time.
Sometimes I get the 'icepick in the ear' That hurts like crazy for a few minutes.
Sometimes I get the 'Oh my God my mouth, jaw and sinus cavity have been burned with a hot poker and my vision is going and I want to sit in a corner, eat crushed ice and whimper until I die'.
Those times really really bite. And scare the heck out of my family.

Usually I am somewhere between Baseball bat and hot poker.

I have a friend on another board (a weight loss board) who recommended that I look for forums for TN pain, and this is one that I have found that seems to fit for me pretty well.

My 'net time is hit and miss, It is always on, But I am not always in front of the computer.

I am 42, Married for 20 years. I have 3 Children, (well they were children, now they are my adults) DD1 is 25, DD2 is 20 and DS is 17.

I have one grandbaby, who, of course, is the most advanced, smartest, most beautiful 4 1/2 month old baby in the world Not that I am biased.....
And another grandbaby due in August.

My moods are very well controlled and have been for a long time, Using Lamectal for a mood stabilizer. I also take Ambien and Xanax to treat insomnia.

I am currently titrating up on Neurontin as well. So excuse me if I come across as loopy, but, well, Heck, I AM loopy. This stuff is not helpful to a productive day, But I am entertaining on it. If I ask my kids what day it is one.more.time. they may lock me in my room. Kidding.
It does make it fun to play with my granddaughter, she thinks Grandma is funny.

I just came off a course of prednisone for a flare and that brings my pain level to almost zero. But now, off of it, pain comes back. Hoping the neurontin will control it when I get to a higher dose.

I keep my granddaughter most days 14-16 hours while DD is in nursing school and working full time as a beautician, she is a fantastic Momma, and is working hard to get into a position to make a great life for herself and her daughter, I am happy to help her reach her educational goals! DD and the Baby live with us, Sometimes stay at DDs SO's house, and he keeps Baby when he is not working, he does odd jobs as he can find them~Jobs are scarce everywhere, aren't they?

I have been an MA for 25 years and I have loved it, I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful physicians, as well as some pretty unpleasant ones. I learned from all of them. Small offices where I was Nurse, Receptionist/biller to Huge offices where I was office Nurse to 2 or 3 Docs, to hospital ERs and Labs. Most recently I was an instructor in the medical arts program of out local Adult Ed facility. I loved it, but I couldn't handle it. It hurt to lecture. It hurts all the time. I decided not to accept another class session and am listed as a substitute instructor. Maybe when this is under control I can go back.

I have also had times when I wrote for a small newspaper in Kansas, and was a Realtor licensed in both Kansas and then Illinois, while still working in the medical field.(You would be amazed at what you can do while hypomanic, LOL)

25 years in the medical field. And I had never even heard of Trigeminal Neuralgia. Of course we had patients with Neuropathy, mostly post herpatic or peripheral. But the Face? With no warning or reason? No diabetes, Or peripheral vascular disease? No Shingles to start it out? Huh?

Ok, I have rambled long enough and baby is wanting some attention and face time.
I will visit more of the site today.
I look forward to getting to know you all!


Molly

[bobber]

Welcome Molly
You sound like you have a handle on things and are well educated with a good out look, with positive feelings,, Welcome..........bobber

[Jomar]

Hi Molly,
Nice to meet you.
Lots of nice people around here so jump in - and holler if you have any questions.

[(Broken Wings)]

Welcome to NT Mollie

It is a wonderful place to come and visit, to get help, to give help. You will be interesting to get to know as well.

I'm sure you will offer much here that we all will learn from. The joys and struggles in one's life has made us what we are. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

We do support each other here. Feel free to be yourself and know it's okay to express yourself. I vented a lot. No question is too silly. We're here for you.

keep up the good work with your family. They're worth it.

Here is the anxiety/depression forum link:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum50.html

the TN forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum26.html

and the chronic pain forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html

See you around the board.

[tamiloo]

Molly welcome to NeuroTalk!! Isn't this just the bestest place to talk to great folks and sometimes help someone who needs the lift.

It will be fun getting to know you!!!

[pabb]

perhaps Lyme disease?

[Dmom3005]

Originally Posted by tamiloo

Molly welcome to NeuroTalk!! Isn't this just the bestest place to talk to great folks and sometimes help someone who needs the lift.

It will be fun getting to know you!!!

Ditto.
You can find me in Bipolar, chronic pain and a few other places. Especially
when my other symptoms are flaring.

Donna

[azoyizes]

Hi Molly, and welcome to NT!

You are correct, this site is very informative and filled with nice, friendly people.

[NurseNancy]

oh my molly,
what an interesting and busy life you lead.

welcome to NT. you'll find great info here and the folks are very supportive.
feel free to look around and find a forum that clicks with you.

[MelodyL]

Hi, my name is Melody and I loved your post. With all the crap that has been handed to you, you still have a sense of humor. Not many people would.

I have diabetes and other stuff going on like degenerative joint disease but believe me, I had a bout of pain in my head when I had Bell's Palsy that I thought I would go out of my mind. It lasted two weeks. I remember calling up the doctor at 1 a.m. saying "I'm going out of my mind", and I remember the doctor telling me that PAIN IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH BELL'S PALSY".

I will never forget that. Pain is not associated with Bell's Palsy?? Oh really. I wanted to take a bat and take off the side of my face that was driving me crazy. Like I said, the whole experience lasted two weeks, and I have no idea why it went away but I will NEVER forget that pain.

And you live with this every day? And you still can enjoy the small things in life? Bless you for this, and you enjoy your lovely baby. She sounds wonderful. Good luck on the new one also. I will never be a grandma but I borrow my friend's grandchildren and I laugh and play with them.

To me, babies are very healing. And of course your grandbaby is the most adorable baby in the world. Of course she is. They all are.

I'd like to share a cute story with you. Yesterday I spent the day with my in-laws. There was my 2 year old great nephew. There was an air-hocky table (a full size adult one, not a kiddie one).

Do you know that this 2 year old and I played air hockey for 15 minutes, and this kid beat me. His eye hand coordination was amazing, and he actually got the puck in the goal. I have NEVER seen a baby do this in my life. He's only 2, but I think he'll be in the Olympics some day. I was hitting the puck and he's slamming it back at me. With perfect precise coordination.

Babies ARE WONDERFUL. Especially when they are good at air hockey.

You enjoy your babies and I hope that someday they find a way to have you live pain-free.

Take care,
Melody