Life goes on, Making new choices
I have not been on lately. My husband has had only one really severe attack lately. This occurred on August 18th. I had a old school buddy visiting my home, someone I had not seen in 33 years. As part of the visit, we decided to go Kayaking in a nearby lake. Since my husband's TN diagnoses, we have been doing very little socially and this was somewhat an ice breaker to returning to some form of outside activity.
We loaded the kayaks up on top of vehicles the night before and went to the lake the next afternoon. While on the way, we were stopped several minutes for resurfacing of the road. I could smell the tar, and wonder if this could be offensive.
We arrived at our destination, unloaded and went out on the lake. The day was beautiful and it was nice to enjoy it. The lake had few people on it and we mostly stayed close to the shoreline. Occasionally, a larger vessel would cause a wake and we had to deal with it.
After returning to shore, my husband wanted to use his underwater metal detector. Both kayaking and detecting was a hobby he had before the onset of TN.
My friend and I chilled on the shore, watching the birds and water line.
After a brief search by my husband, we began loading up the kayaks again. He was tying them down, and trying to secure them. I can say, that now it takes longer for him to do this and he gets upset about it.
We get into the cars, start back and the pain began. He keeps a book in the side pocket of the car and as I drive, he is hitting the book with his fist. I have seen him worst, but it still is intense when you are driving and cannot do anything except get him home QUICK!
He was embarrased that he had the attack in the front of my friend, but we "tried" to be normal. This is how TN is..........takes you down, when you least expect it.
We have made many changes in our life since last July 2009, and finally decided to sign up for Social Security Disability. His neurologist doesn't think he can return to work, and just spending a day out, resulted in pain. Can you imagine what would happen if he tries to get a job. The stress would probably cause an attack.
At the Social Security Adminstation office, the lady was very nice but she had never heard of TN. This is how it goes. People have never heard of this, can't believe that he looks ok, doesn't show any distress, and is sick. All I can say is, being there is not nice when the pain occurs and as his wife, I get "sick" watching him suffer.
My friend works in research of Cancer and Alzhiemers at a well know university. After seeing a TN attack, and understanding it is neurological, a place where some of the current studies occur, thinks she can return to work and get her boss interested in some kind of research on this. If only this could result in help for everyone.
Who knows, maybe an attempt to enjoy a day with a friend can lead to help for others. If anything happens, I will let you know.
We loaded the kayaks up on top of vehicles the night before and went to the lake the next afternoon. While on the way, we were stopped several minutes for resurfacing of the road. I could smell the tar, and wonder if this could be offensive.
We arrived at our destination, unloaded and went out on the lake. The day was beautiful and it was nice to enjoy it. The lake had few people on it and we mostly stayed close to the shoreline. Occasionally, a larger vessel would cause a wake and we had to deal with it.
After returning to shore, my husband wanted to use his underwater metal detector. Both kayaking and detecting was a hobby he had before the onset of TN.
My friend and I chilled on the shore, watching the birds and water line.
After a brief search by my husband, we began loading up the kayaks again. He was tying them down, and trying to secure them. I can say, that now it takes longer for him to do this and he gets upset about it.
We get into the cars, start back and the pain began. He keeps a book in the side pocket of the car and as I drive, he is hitting the book with his fist. I have seen him worst, but it still is intense when you are driving and cannot do anything except get him home QUICK!
He was embarrased that he had the attack in the front of my friend, but we "tried" to be normal. This is how TN is..........takes you down, when you least expect it.
We have made many changes in our life since last July 2009, and finally decided to sign up for Social Security Disability. His neurologist doesn't think he can return to work, and just spending a day out, resulted in pain. Can you imagine what would happen if he tries to get a job. The stress would probably cause an attack.
At the Social Security Adminstation office, the lady was very nice but she had never heard of TN. This is how it goes. People have never heard of this, can't believe that he looks ok, doesn't show any distress, and is sick. All I can say is, being there is not nice when the pain occurs and as his wife, I get "sick" watching him suffer.
My friend works in research of Cancer and Alzhiemers at a well know university. After seeing a TN attack, and understanding it is neurological, a place where some of the current studies occur, thinks she can return to work and get her boss interested in some kind of research on this. If only this could result in help for everyone.
Who knows, maybe an attempt to enjoy a day with a friend can lead to help for others. If anything happens, I will let you know.
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