Monday, May 20, 2013

Happy Trigeminal Neuralgia Anniversary to Me

The Bluenose Marathon was held this weekend in our amazing city of Halifax, NS.  Thousand of people including children gather to run or walk various distances.  I'm so proud of all my friends who accomplished their goals this year.

I had the pleasure last May 20th to attend as a spectator to cheer on some friends.  I was blown away by how many people I actually knew there.  The energy at the finish line is contagious, you just can't help but get caught up in every one's adrenaline and happiness.  That evening I went to my friend Jen's house for a BBQ.  Jen, who is also a runner but didn't participate in the Bluenose was soon making plans for us to run the 10K in 2013 .  Jen and I were gym and trail walking buddies.  She would push me hard enough to hate and love her all at the same time.  I didn't get to the gym as much as I would have liked with Jen anymore.   By early spring I was feeling horrible during and after a work out.  Horrible enough to speak to my doctor about it.  So Jen and I took up walking the local trails, 5k several times a week.  I still didn't feel the best during or after these walks but it was better then the gym!!

Jen was convinced she could have me running 10k no problem for the next Bluenose, "we'll start tonight" she said 2 minutes of running, two of walking.  I remember feeling pretty much the same way I felt at the gym except I remember my ear hurting.  After getting back to her house we started our evening BBQ and my life as I knew it changed with taking the first bite of my hamburger.  The most excruciating pain I ever felt in my life.  Oh no, there is something wrong with my tooth or teeth I couldn't tell where exactly the pain was, I just knew I couldn't eat anymore.  Within ten minutes I needed to go home.  The pain continued and by Monday I was begging to get in to see my dentist.  I could barely open my mouth for the x-rays as I was being shocked with pain again and again.  My Dentist found nothing and said he would have to send me to see a specialist. The shocks to my face continued, everyday more and more.  I couldn't eat, talk, brush my teeth even washing my face was painful.  You have to understand this is like receiving an electric shock, a taser, a thousand elastic bands hitting you all at the same time  I started keeping track of how many times a day this was happening to me.  By May 31st I was getting 56 shocks a day and by June 2nd it had climbed to 188.  I stopped keeping track when it was over 300 a day.

Enough is enough, after desperately doing my own research  I went back to my family doctor and said I think I have Trigeminal neuralgia.  He agreed it was possible and said he would have to send me to see a Neurologist for further testing.  Three things usually cause Trigeminal Neuralgia, blood vessels pressing on the root of the nerve, a brain tumour or MS.  My Dr reassured me that he didn't think I had Multiple Sclerosis or a brain tumour, so we will send you off to see a specialist to rule out a compressed nerve.

There was approximately a 3 or 4 month waiting list to see my Neurologist as I hadn't been a patient of his for over a year.  I very calmly said to the receptionist, "you don't understand, I don't care what I have to do or where I have to go but I need to see him yesterday, I am going insane with this pain."  A call a few weeks later had me off to the Bridgewater Hospital (an hour drive) to see him at his clinic there.  He confirmed with Neurological testing in his office that he too didn't think I had a brain tumour or MS, that it was most likely a compressed nerve and lets start controlling the pain with meds until we get you an MRI, just to rule out all the "scary" stuff.  "I'll send you to Antigonish Hospital it's quicker he said"  I finally received a letter from them, October 2nd 2012.  October the 2nd?  That's months away, I will loose my mind by then.  My family Doctor tried to get me in sooner but their response was "I was not one of their patients so they were not able to move my appointment ahead, did I still want to keep my Oct appointment?" UMMM YES!!!! Now I have to admit I was treated well when I was at the Antigonish hospital.  However, I sure would like to have the name of whomever my Dr's office spoke to and personal show her/him my MRI results.  Maybe perhaps the brain tumour diagnoses might make them think twice about questioning a Dr's request to move an appointment forward.

On Oct 3rd our life changed forever, with the call of my diagnoses.  My life has consisted of nothing but life changing events, Doctors, specialist, test, surgery, recovery, MRI's, x-rays and even more specialist.  However, one life changing event that didn't happen that was supposed to, running the Bluenose Marathon this year.  Yesterday would have been my day if it wasn't for a brain tumour getting in the way.  There is one thing for sure that I have learned in this past year, you just never know what a year will bring.  So never say never, maybe 2014 is my year to run in the Bluenose, however 5k might be more up my ally.


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