Hello everyone!!

I hope you are all ok?!

I've recently been diagnosed with TN and hoping to learn as much as possible as i can about this blasted disease! the pain is driving me nuts

if there's any tips you guys and girls can give me on making life easier then please help xx

Thanks and i look forward to catching up with you all soooooooon.

DONNA XXXXX

Donna I am sorry you are here for T.N. but I am gald you found your way here. Welcome
The first thing that would be very helpful is for you to read the stickies up at the top of this forum .
I would also learn what your triggers are and then avoid them.Like wind is pretty common trigger for us so many of us use face mask when we HAVE TO be outside in the wind , there is much info in the stickies caring for one with t.n. and the useful websites etc...
Also the t.n. bible Striking Back book is extremely helpful .
Are you on meds I think I read you were on one and had reaction now you are on another and adjusting to it ?? take your meds as prescribed give body time to get used to it . and like i see you did if any reaction happens call doc a.s.a.p. or go to e.r.
Stress also bring the pain levels up so find ways to relax like mediation or warm bath , calm music aroma therapy... try not to worry to much if that is possible.
also coming here and having contact with others who understand what it is like dealing with t.n. is a comfort . we are like a family and help each other , sharing info, tips, a hug just listening...your not alone and I am glad you found us.
If you have questions or just wanna chat we are here.
I do so hope the new meds are helping !
Low Pain wishes to you, let us know how things are going for you..we care!
PEACE
BMW

Hi Donna, I'm not a million miles from you hun. So sorry you have this horrable TN I have found now that I cant take Tegratol eather it affects my breathing like the pregablin did Pm me anytime hun. xxxxxxxx

brilliant thanks Burntmarshmallow, for all that advice that's wonderful and it is so easy to get stressed with it all

I also have IIH which is idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension so find day to day life hard as you can imagine, but i still manage at the moment to keep going to work and holding down my full time job .

I am due to see the surgeons to talk about surgery for my IIH soon too so that it looming by, do you know if IIH and trigeminal Neuralgia are linked in anyway?!

I do not think there is a link but I do know many who have M.S. seem to get T.N.
thought not vice verse people with t.n. dont get M.S. as far as i know anyhow it is usual M.S. folks getting T.N.
I will have to research IIH get the drift it is stress and blood pressure but will find out how far off I am ..goggle is so helpful
Low pain and I hope your Apt goes extra smooth.
remember we are here for ya anytime for anything.
Sunshine and stress free rest of week to you
PEACE
BMW

IIH is a build up of the spinal fluid which collects in the skull causing pressure on the brain causing daily headaches, and pressure in the back of the eyes on the optic nerves, I have Lumbar punctures every few months to drain off the excess fluid and lower the pressure, but it's very hard to deal with, it causes fatigue and generally makes life difficult.

Then topped with TN life is pretty nasty as you can imagine!

Donna I will post the best help I got from the best doctor ever!! he is the one who treated me and was a great help. he is in Portland and his name is Kim Burchiel. good luck !! I did not have to resort to surgery as my TN was atypical and with Tegretol and a couple months of time, it went to remission. It could come back but that was in 2004 and so far so good! I still have OC but I can control that. The TN made me suicidal so I promised my sons I would try the best doctor I could find before I offed myself ...this guy helped me out! go to him! Believe me I feel your pain!

[QUOTE=Donna1980;638282]Hello everyone!!

I hope you are all ok?!

I've recently been diagnosed with TN and hoping to learn as much as possible as i can about this blasted disease! the pain is driving me nuts

if there's any tips you guys and girls can give me on making life easier then please help xx

Thanks and i look forward to catching up with you all soooooooon.

DONNA XXXXX[/QU

Donna, I posted Kim Burchiel before I noticed you are in UK..so my next suggestion is hook up with the Trigeminal Neuralgia support group nearest to you and they can point you to a good Neurologist or Neurosurgeon who can help. Meanwhile, Tegretol is the best of the drugs to stop the pain, even tho it makes you feel dopey, it is better than the pain! Skip Neurontin...that one is a placebo and an expensive one. If your doctor prescribes it..get another doctor. Carbamazipine is the generic for Tegretol and both are primary treatment for epilepsy and stop the pan of TN good luck!

Hiya Joan

I can't take Carbarmezapine as my body took a big nasty reaction to it which landed me in hospital which is why i'm on gabapentin.

I'm slowly working my way up the dosage of this so hopefully i will get some relief soon