Hi folks, I haven't posted in quite a while, due to not much change in my symptoms. Thankfully, my "TN" episodes are still very sporadic and far between. I am still somewhat skeptical of my dx, but for lack of any other answer for the ear pain, I will accept it for now. My neuro had set me up for a consultation with his neurosurgeon, but I cancelled because I am no where near the stage of surgical treatment. I thought it was rather wasteful of everyones time and money to send me to a surgeon at this point. Also, I figure by the time I need to see a surgeon for my ear pain that there will be new forms of treatment - we can only hope. The last bad episode I had lasted about 8 hrs, so I took 300 mg of tegritol which is 100mg more than I have taken before. After the last dose, I had terrible night mares continually all night long. My husband travels and it was a miserable night - therefore, I will never again take tegritol when he is away. Is this a common side effect?

Thanks,
Rhonda

well all drugs/meds have side affects and everyone has diffrent reactions to them. I dont know if nightmares is a comon one but i do know for a fact a couple meds that i was put on made me severly depressed and even kinda suicidal. and the latter isnt a comon side affect for most people.
I would make note and tell doc ... make sure it is in your file so that they all know teg affects you like this. It is importion to have it in your file so you can stay safe AND find reliefe to controll the pains..not add stress nightmares and such to the mix.
Keeping you in my healing thoughts and prayers.
Let us know what your doc says about this because it would be so helpfull to pass the info to others who might have same issues with teg. and or other meds.
Low pain and nightmare FREE wishes on you.
PEACE
BMW

Hi, Just got out of rehab and heard from many that they had there teg.
upped and had horribal nightmares. I agree with B have it on your files,
tell all Drs. No one should have to go through that..I hope for better days for you.. Hugs to all,Sue

Hi, thanks for both response, and your good wishes. I will tell my doc this on my next visit. I am not even certain that the teg is even helping the ear pain. I always apply heat and that seems to help better than anything. Have not tried the teg without the heat.

Rhonda

Hi,
I have been on trileptal for only a few days and it is chemically the sister to tegretol...last night I had the worst nightmares! I don't even usually remember my dreams. Last night I was crying and everything. I'll have to keep a record of that...hopefully it was just something I ate..and not the meds since I have been doing so well on them so far.

Hope you are feeling better!
Melissa

Rhonda.. my TN pain was in my ear too. I always wondered if this really wasn't TN.. b/c it was jabs into my ear canal not my check or jaw.

But it was.. ultimately in 2006 I had MVD thus far pain free.. PTL.

I used to post on this list as heismyjoy (if you can find my old posts) I couldn't remember mylog in name to get started again with the old name.

Blessings

Martha

Hello Martha, so nice of you to respond - it is rare that I hear about someone who's pain was just located in the ear. I do have a very hard time accepting the TN diagnosis - mainly because it is nothing as severe as most of these folks oh here are dealing with. Mine is always on the right side, and ONLY in the ear, the outer ear and the immediate area surrounding the ear. When I do have an episode any movement that effects the muscles in that area - such as smiling, chewing, or turning my head to the left to check my side mirror when driving. With a 50 mile work commute - this can be murder!!

And the other reason I can't believe it is due to the fact that applying heat relieves the pain better than any medication. And thank GOD, my episodes are so sporadic. I also suffer from motion sickness and sometimes I will start to have an episode and if I use my allergy nasal spray it will go away in a few minutes.

Sorry, to hear that I may be in store for the real deal some day - but so glad to hear that you are pain free after your surgery. I will definitely see if I can locate your old posts.

Thanks, and God bless.

Rhonda