A Life With Trigeminal Neuralgia
Living with TN is hoping that an increase in pain is a temporary blip – a change in weather, a medication adjustment, a prolonged source of stress – and not the predictable outcome of progression that my body seems to favour. The logical side of my brain considers all of these possibilities. I know that […]
Anniversaries can fucking suck. I know that’s a bit of a harsh opening, but it’s true. July 13th, 2021 marked 8 years of living with Trigeminal Neuralgia. 8 years – 96 months – 2920 days – 70,080 hours of living with this monster. No matter the measurement of time I choose, there’s this weird phenomenon […]
Hi Everyone, I think it’s about time that I did an update-style blog! To be honest, I’ve been trying to write a blog for the last month and a half, but it just hasn’t worked out. Between exhaustion from the TN event, some unresolved feels, and trying to manage life during a pandemic, writing hasn’t […]
Writing has always been my outlet. It’s how I learn, it’s my favourite way to communicate, and since becoming sick, it’s become a way for me to process the toughest of feelings. I never really planned on sharing my writing with anyone, though; that would’ve required being vulnerable and it hasn’t always been easy for […]
Well, it’s been one year since I had the surgery that drastically changed my life. Recovery has been an absolute roller coaster to say the least; every up has had a down, every twist has had a turn, and every bit of “full-speed” progress has required a brake. There have been times where I felt […]
Exactly one year ago, I was in the hospital sicker then I’d ever been. After being diagnosed with Serotonin Syndrome, the decision was made to cold turkey me off of over 50% of my medications. I spent 8 days in hospital going through such intense withdrawals that I thought I was going to die. That […]
I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t anxious when COVID-19 emerged. As a chronically ill person with a bad immune system, I don’t take viruses lightly. I know how violently my body reacts to a simple cold or flu; replicating that on a larger scale isn’t something I want to do. As the […]
When I was 10, I would try to imagine what my life would look like as an adult. It excited me to think about all the opportunities and responsibilities I would soon get to experience. Growing up couldn’t come soon enough. When I was 13, I thought I was invincible. I thought that through […]
About a month ago, I decided that I wanted to do a series on how chronic illness affects relationships. Throughout the years, I’ve seen how Trigeminal Neuralgia has created, disbanded, and altered the personal connections I pursue. Between family, friends, romantic relationships, the public, and even our relationship with our own bodies and minds, there’s […]
There’s a phrase that’s tossed around the chronic illness community and it’s something I think about a lot. “Don’t let your illness define you.” Perhaps because I share my story quite often and quite graphically, I’ve had many people tell me that I’m obsessed with my illness. While I don’t think obsessed is the right […]
Living With Teal 