OK, right now I'm taking 1200mg Gabapentin and 200mg Tegretol between 5:00 & 6:00 am. At noon I take 600mg Gabapentin and 100mg Tegretol. I repeat the latter between 5:00 & 6:00 pm, and between 10:00 & 11:00 pm I take 600mg Gabapentin.

Thank goodness, I can finally brush my teeth and chew my food. Still some discomfort, but overall things are much better.

Side effects have increased, but so far I'm dealing with it. (Nice to have the holiday weekend to test things.)

Going to work as usual tomorow, we'll see how that goes. I have to schedule some blood work with my family doctor too.

Dan

Hey Dan,
Glad to know you're feeling better. Chewing is such a luxury that people take for such granted!!!!! LOL Sometimes the side effects will go away. Topamax causing numbness and tingling in the hands, but it has decreased a lot in me. So, you do get used to the side effects a lot.

Good luck at work tomorrow.

Berni

Things seem to have stabilized somewhat. Using 3000mg Gabapentin and 400mg Tegretol daily.

Am able to chew, but really have to watch exactly what I'm trying to chew. Too tough or too crunchy does not work at all. Brushing teeth is tolerable, but that's all. If possible, I try and schedule meals and tooth brushing around that time of day when the meds are at their most effective.

My Doc at Mayo is setting up an appointment with another Doc to discuss what surgery might be appropriate.

The side effects at this point are:

sudden periods of sleepiness (do tend to make those long-distance trips in the car exciting)

sudden loss of control in the hands or feet

some difficulty in speech

weight gain (I've put on 10 pounds in the last two weeks)

Time will tell, I'll have to see what this second Dr. at Mayo has to say.




Dan

Okay, it's been awhile, but I have an update.

It's gotten to the point my meds are causing more side effects then I want to deal with. My wife has to drive me to work. My employer realizes my productivity is down, but is willing to put up with it for now until I get something figured out. I can't speak long sentences without slurring my speech. Hand dexterity is way off, as are my memory and thought processes.

All this and I'm still having breakthrough pain.

I am scheduled for surgery at Mayo Minnesota on Thursday. They are going to perform a right retromastoid suboccipital craniectomy and then a microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve root. My neurosurgeon, Dr. Piepgras, is 80% certain a loop of artery is causing the problem, and that this procedure is the resolution.

Ever onward.............