I am 18 years old and have just been diagnosed with TN about 3 months ago. When my first attack happened i thought it was just a face cramp. Then a week later I had another attack that hurt so bad i couldn't even swallow my own spit. My doctors tried to pass it off as a migraine, which i knew that wasn't the case. Then finally after them dancing around the subject they took me to go get a MRI and a CT for my head to see if it was a tumor. Luckily it wasn't. I feel that my doctors and my parents don't take my condition seriously. I was just wondering if there is anyone close to my age that has this rare disease? Even if not i would like to know of people experiences over the years with TN.

Yes, there are babies diagnosed with the condition. My knowledge stems from the mothers postings on an older forum and from a lot of research on the subject. There were also postings from people around your age as well. If your doctors aren't taking your complaints seriously, you should get an appointment with a neurologist, since they usually diagnose and treat the condition. And make sure you see someone who listens to your complaints. As for your family, I don't have any advice. They can be just as difficult to deal with as complete strangers. Its sad that others just don't understand the magnitude of the pain and the effect it has on us. Take care and post what you finally decide to do and the results.

The following link http://www.fpa-support.org/aboutfp/i...ml#Description has a very vivid description that should get anyone's attention. Read on down to the description area. Print that article and let them all read it.

When I was first diagnosed the very first line I read was :"Considered to be the most painful afliction known to mankind" - it scared the snot out of me to read it, but thankfully mine has not been that bad so far. I have a very long commute to work everyday and I have a copy of this description in my car incase I should ever get stopped by police while I am having an episode. Not sure that it would do any good - but would explain why I can not speak clearly. Unfortunately, some policeman around here are just plain mean and could get physical if you did not "cooperate". I guess this may sound silly, but you just never know.

So sorry to hear that you have been dealt this at such a young age.

Prayers and best wishes for pain relief,
Rhonda

Hi bthomas,
To help your family understand, you should take at least one of your parents to see the neurologist with you, and ask the neurologist to explain the condition to them. If there has been anyone (outside of my dear husband) who understands this condition, it is the doctors and neurosurgeons. It's strange, but my friends seem to understand and sympathise much better about this than my family. Go figure.... and the support on the TN boards has been great, so stick around and keep talking, ok? I know it seems strange to talk to complete strangers, but they don't stay that way for long.
Lily