Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group

I was only diagonosed with ATN a few weeks ago and so of course I take tegretol, but sometimes I get worried that I have something else.. The symptoms sound so much like so many other things. So I would like the opionon of anyone.. maybe someone has the exact same symptoms as me. When i was 18 turning 19 i started getting the attacks.. usually every 3rd day.. mostly at night.. only on the left side of my face, pretty painful, was told it was a sinus infection so I just dealt with it for about 2 months than it went away. Now i'm 21 and they are back! they came back about a month ago.. I get a constant attack that lasts anywhere fomr 1 - 2 hours, I usually just end up falling asleep and wake up feeling good. The attacks come at about 2:00 am.. but not all the time.. and its a constant searing, burning, aching, want to rip out my teeth and stab my temple with a knife constant pain. it doesnt throb. ive seen pictures and diagrams of where the trigienimal nerve goes and thats where all of the pain is. i would like to use shock like but i really have never been shocked haha so i cant say that. nothing takes the pain away.. im taking 400 mg of tegretol a day now and the attacks seem a little less severe, but i still get them almost every night. i am hoping they just go away now anytime! also about 5 days ago.. 2 little ball like things have grown behind my ear.. they are under the skin.. and every time i push on them it makes me feel very sick. and the left side of my neck is very tender and feels brusied. i am wondering if maybe its a side affect of the tegretol. ill defenitly be going back to my doctor soon! anyways i think this is really long but if anyone read the whole thing, well give me your opionon.. i am hoping my doctor knows for sure what this is, because i really want the medication that im on now to work haha.
Thanks!
hope all is well in everyone elses life's!
Posted on 05/15/08, 02:05 am