I didn't mention it earlier, but our sweet friend, Lucy, is having a flare up of trigeminal neuralgia, or TN, a disorder affecting the areas of the face where the trigeminal nerve's branches are distributed, including the lips, eyes, nose, scalp, forehead, and upper and lower jaws. Often caused by an artery that compresses the nerve, the condition can bring about stabbing, mind-numbing, electric shock-like pain from just a light wind or a finger's glance of the cheek. The pain is so severe that TN is often called 'the suicide disease.'
Lucy had the first episode on Feb. 10, 2006. She began taking medication which, in time, controlled the pain and caused the attacks to subside to where she was only taking one pill a day. Today, her doctor told her to start taking four pills a day again. Until her body gets used to the medication, she is very lethargic and then very giggly and then it's time to take another pill and then it starts all over again. Thank God she's a good sport and able to laugh at herself. Surgery is an option, but is very dangerous.. paralysis to that side can occur, so she chooses not to have surgery and I don't blame her.
We are praying that the TN will quickly respond to the medication and she can cut back to one pill/day. Otherwise, she's worthless.... well, not really, but you know what I mean.
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