We are patients living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, here for your support.

ENCOURAGEMENT

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If you're having a particularly discouraging time, are in a lot of pain, or just need a listening ear we would love to have you join. We all go through times when we need an extra dose of encouragement. Looking forward to getting to know you here!

Location: subject-specific group
Members: 29
Latest Activity: Apr 16

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Discussion Forum

How's everyone doing?

Started by Vicki Dvorak Apr 16. 0 Replies 0 Likes

Hey, I haven't talked to all of you in a while. Hope all is well. Please let us know how you're doing by responding to this discussion. :)My MS symptoms have really been kicking in the last few weeks but, thankfully, my TN is being managed pretty well with Neurontin and Baclofen.What's new with all of you?xoVickiContinue

Let's Introduce Ourselves

Started by Vicki Dvorak. Last reply by amberzak Jan 17. 38 Replies 0 Likes

Hi, I guess I better be first since I started this group, huh? My name is Vicki and I live in Kirkland, Washington with my husband and our Puggle (a Pug/Beagle mix) named Bojangle. Our youngest son recently went off to college so it's a real time of adjusting but also kind of nice just having "us". I was diagnosed with MS and TN last year and because of debilitating fatigue and the poor economy, we downsized to a condo. I'm loving it here and feel reallyspoiled to have a great view of the waterfront...we were looking out at the Christmas ships with their lights on tonight. I've been in a flare up the last two weeks and it hasn't felt much like the holidays. This really lifted both of our spirits.I've been pretty sick with neurological symptoms for almost 10 years and haven't been able to hold a job. Because of this I picked up the amazing and rewarding hobby of photography. It kind of took on a life of it's own and now I have an art publisher and my photos are for sale in Sears…Continue

What helps you cope?

Started by Vicki Dvorak. Last reply by Vicki Dvorak Jan 12. 13 Replies 0 Likes

Good morning, everyone. Just curious how you cope when you're in a lot of pain or having one of those days where life with TN looks pretty bleak. It's been a really rough month for me (I have MS and TN and have been in a big flare up of both) and one thing I do that helps me get out of bed in the morning is to consciously think of 5 things in my life that I'm thankful for...in other words, 5 reasons to get my rear out of bed! lol.Something else I've decided I'm going to do today is get out my journal (which I rarely write in) and write those 5 things down along with a whole list of other things, so that on the really bad days I can atleast take a glance at it and be reminded that there are better days a head and that there are still many good things in my life.What about you? What helps you cope?Continue

A Verse I Read Today

Started by Vicki Dvorak. Last reply by booklass Dec 27, 2011. 1 Reply 0 Likes

Welcome everyone! I read a quote today that reminded me of the support and encouragement we find on this site:"We are weathered by pain and sheltered by our friends."So happy to have found all of you. We all know the dark places this disease has the potential of taking us. Let's give each other some hope along the way. :) ~ VickiContinue

Tags: inspiration, hope, encouragement

Replying to Individual Comments

Started by Vicki Dvorak. Last reply by Vicki Dvorak Dec 22, 2011. 3 Replies 0 Likes

One thing you will learn about me very quickly is that I'm very technically challenged. I'd like to be able to respond to individual comments but am not sure what setting I should have our group page on to be able to enable that feature.Anyone have any ideas?~ VickiContinue

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You need to be a member of ENCOURAGEMENT to add comments!

Comment by Jackie on March 28, 2012 at 9:48am

Comment by Chris K. on February 10, 2012 at 12:09pm: Oh, Booklass, I feel for you. The same thing has happened to me and it is not fun. Pepper seeds can be just as bad. I once spent ages meticulously picking the seeds out of a jar of roasted red peppers and one got me anyway. They are tough little buggers.

Comment by Vicki Dvorak on February 6, 2012 at 12:13pm: Aww...sorry Booklass. Take it easy today and no more tomatoes..at least not today. ;)

Glad you're feeling a little more upbeat, Stef. I was going to send you a message today to see how you were doing. xo

Comment by booklass on February 6, 2012 at 12:10pm: Felled by a tomato seed. I was doing soooo well, with just minimal pain, then yesterday a tomato seed migrated to my right side. When I proceeded to bite down on food on my left side, the seed got caught and the pain on my right side was....memorable. Now my face hurts today. Not as bad as before meds, but bad enough to take it easy today. When did I become so fragile? A tomato seed!

Comment by Stef on February 6, 2012 at 10:13am: I'm glad I came back here today. Thank you for your kind wishes and prayers. I pray for a cure for this stuff, for all of us, quite a bit.

Your prayers must have helped some. Thank you. I had a great day yesterday with my family. :)

I appreciate the cyber hugs.

God bless each of you and thanks again.

Comment by booklass on February 6, 2012 at 12:55am: Stef, I'm sorry. That sounds so inadequate, but I don't know what else to say. TN is so isolating, not just physically, like with the phone, but emotionally. Looking healthy and feeling awful, who can understand unless it is someone who has experienced it? And it's rare, so I don't know anyone except here. I'm glad you have this group. I'm glad I have this group! Hang in there.

Comment by Vicki Dvorak on February 5, 2012 at 12:29pm: Hi Stef, thanks for being so open about how you're feeling. I can relate to having those really down days. It's so disheartening to not even be able to do the simplest tasks without feeling pain. You'll be in my prayers this week. Here's a big cyber hug for you!!!

Comment by elstep on February 5, 2012 at 7:44am: Stef, a big big hug from me You and your daughters continue to be in my prayers xx

Comment by amberzak on February 5, 2012 at 5:30am: Awww stef. Sorry to hear you are struggling. I haven't got any advice for you at the moment because I'm relatively new to this, but I'm pulling you into the centre of the group hug. X

Comment by Stef on February 4, 2012 at 11:18pm: I was a trooper for a long time, as some of you more senior members know. Lately, I've been really down. I mean, r-e-a-l-l-y down. For the first time since right before I began pain management in '09, I'm feeling whooped by this stuff.

I'm glad this subgroup is here. I've tried to give many here encouragement through this past year. Now, I find myself needing it.

I'm finding myself clinging to the outer side of that group hug, please.

I love the friends I've made here. Both of my parents, one in bad health, and both of my children, have needed my help so much lately. I'm the only Grandchild on both sides (no 1st cousins).

I used to spend many hours of the phone with my dear friend, Gloria E, from this group. She is like a 2nd mother to me. Lately, I haven't been able to spend much time on the phone, as speaking much has brought on attacks/flair-ups. I miss her company.

I'm coming here to this wonderful new group. Thanks, by the way, Vicki, if I haven't already said so. Us Moderators, well, we're TN patients too, (except for Red) and we need support just like the rest of our members.

When I have more time (because right now, duty calls as it usually does), I look forward to reading the discussion above, "What helps you cope?". Great topic.

Wishing you all blessings and hope.