If it's not one thing it's another. The moment I'm starting to save a little money and get on my feet, is the moment I find I have something "wrong" physically. And it is HORRIBLE! They are getting near to diognosing me with something called Trigeminal Neuralgia. Some fun TN facts: 1 in about 15,000 people have it. It is called "the Suicide Disease" because the pain is so horrid and unstopable that after a while you want to kill yourself. It is treated with anti-convulsants and depression pills and massive doses of pain killers. It renders some victims totally unemployable and house-bound. It gets worse and worse. There's "brain surgery" for those who can afford it (unfortunately, I can't).
Background: I thought I had an ear ache because I work in a factory, and am surrounded by loud noises at work. I went to the low-cost clinic and the nurse told me my ear was okay and said it was a dental problem. The next day, I went and saw their dentist thinking that I might get a tooth pulled. She checked my teeth and said they were perfect. I have massively strong teeth. She is calling in a pathologist, and then they will do MRIs-- which I can't afford either-- to see if the cause of the TN is a BRAIN TUMOR, or an ANURISM!!!
Obviously I don't even want to hear these words.
I've felt the pain before. It is like ice-cream brain freeze about 100 times a day. Sometimes it starts because of a cause, but most of the time it just hits you.
The doctor put me on a highly narcotic pill so I can sleep at night. (needless to say I actually did get a good night sleep), and I am on Tylenol extra strength.
Oh-- one good side effect: You usually lose a massive amount of weight-- why? It's too painful to eat. What a terrible way to diet. My life is starting to feel like a Stephan King novel.
The main thing I am worried about is because I am single and 50 that no one will take care of me if I should be unable to work-- I know I am projecting, and catastrophising, but right now I am studying to be a paralegal, and I need to get that (well paid) job to pay off the school loan and then buy some kind of little house for my dismal sounding old age. I was hoping to at least be able to work and make "decent money" for once, for at least 10 years.
If anyone knows of this disorder, or knows of better cures than opiates and brain surgery, (or kniows that it is not as bad as it sounds) please post.