FINDING PURPOSE IN THE PAIN
My journey with Trigeminal Neuralgia has taught me profound lessons about invisible diseases and chronic pain. I never truly understood the silent battles others fought until I faced my own. It's a debilitating pain that often goes unseen, making me wish we had a "light up pain scale" on our foreheads. This blog is my voice, and yours, aiming to bridge the gap between suffering and understanding.
About Me
Hi, I am Kim West. I am 60 years old and live in Macon Georgia. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia at the age of 45. I am a divorced mother of 3 adult children each married and blessing me with a total of 7 amazing grandchildren. I was a preschool teacher and married at the onset of my diagnosis. I love the Lord with all my heart and cannot imagine where I would be today if He was not carrying me through it all. My greatest support team has been my mother and father and my 3 children. None of us had any clue what I was facing over 15 years ago. God also blessed me with the most precious gift of my pup, Harley, 3 years ago. He truly IS my emotional support!
I am not a medical professional of any type and can only share from my own personal experiences. It has been a long road with many tried and failed and tried again medications, procedures and surgeries. I am working on a post to share my detailed journey in upcoming post soon. I hope that you will continue to follow my site and share with others who might find some encouragement from it as well. It helps just knowing that we are not alone and that there is someone else who truly understands. I hope that you will join my email list and share your own personal stories with me. You can email me at the address below.
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I have been going they all this TN stuff & hard pain, for 5 yrs now! It’s harsh to have this pain. I’m using CBD oil , that has helped with my pain! Thank God
Thank you all for joining me here! Only those of us who have TN can truly understand it and the many phases and unrelenting pain. If you follow along my blog I will begin sharing my personal journey of 15 years battling and surviving this invisible disease. It took many different tries of medication combinations to get some relief. When I was diagnosed 14 years ago I was the only patient with it at all my physician offices. My pain management doctor concurred it is one of the hardest pains to treat. He started giving my nerve blocks in my face while mildly sedated. It would bring relief only for a few days. I had mvd and it turned into a much more advanced brain surgery which took me 18 months to recover and it did eventually lessen the shocks but created type 2 TN where I live in 24/7 pain now. Eventually a few years later my neuro team at Emory university hospital implanted a periphial nerve stimulator into my head and face. It eventually became infected in my whole face and had to be removed spreading the infection. That surgery resulted in anesthesia Delarosa. It’s been a long journey for me. If I could do any of it over I would have the balloon decompression first. I would also try gamma knife before doing any of the 4 head surgeries I thank you all for joining me on this journey. We can encourage and support each other. At this time I am managing my TN very well. I will be praying for each of you by name. Lean into Gods arms and he will hold onto you even when you don’t feel it. God bless you
Kim
Hello Kim. God bless you, 🙌 I also suffered from TN, not as long as you for 3 years. I know and understand your pain. I had surgery about eight months ago. I see that you love the Lord, so I asume you are a believer like me and I want to encourage you to hang on to your faith, there are some seasons we don't understand l, but he is your strength in the middle of the pain.
Ive had TN too for over 2 years now, just the most worst pain ever. Got it after a traumatic event that occurred . I have awful pain 24/7
I have tn after surgery for an inoperable brain stem tumor bow affecting my left eye even more
Heading in for balloon rhyzotomy and very scared.
Hi I would love to join I have TN ,GPN and ON
Following ..drs are pretty sure this is what I have and not GCA..