Writer. Mother. Living with trigeminal neuralgia, polycystic ovaries and a rare eye disease.
I thought I would cover a few questions I hear often about either asking for better treatment, or making complaints about medical treatment, when you are not happy with the service or care you have received.
Read more How To Make A Complaint At Your GP Surgery/Hospital UK
I think I've reached a point in my journey, of both my vision and my pain, where I've just had enough of not being disabled enough.
When you live with 'the suicide disease', no one talks about how bad the medication makes you feel, because it doesn't compare to the pain.. But the medication for trigeminal neuralgia is awful.
My vision loss is permanent. The photoreceptors in my eyes are damaged, like scarring, and I will never regain the vision back.
Over the last two months, I've had three bad bouts of neuralgia flare ups. I've had days where I've been unable to eat. I've woken up crying with a shock. I had an episode that lasted twenty minutes last week.
Read more I’m Back On Meds For Trigeminal Neuralgia After 4 Years Medication Free
When I was first diagnosed with TN, I was asked by my dentist if I was depressed. Apparently, pain disorders are more likely to flare up when you're anxious, stressed, or depressed. I can vouch for that.
Why am I always saying sorry for having additional medical needs? I even apologised to the HR department at my work for my disabilities.
Explaining TN to someone who doesn't live with it is near impossible, even a doctor, a pain specialist, or a neurologist. You can tell someone, 'this is the worst pain you could ever imagine' and the worst pain that person has been through is really bad toothache.
Read more I Can Explain My Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain To You, But You Won’t Understand
The Pain Corner 