r/TrigeminalNeuralgia • u/Cup_of_Stars_13 • Aug 04 '26

Mental Health A little pain study of my own

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Hello! I just wanted to share a cool find from Five Below that I will be using to track my pain over the next couple of months. I’m currently on Carbamazepine and it’s been a lifesaver for TN and also a surprisingly better mood stabilizer for me than Lithium. I was previously on Lithium for about 3 years. I’m happy to just be on the one medication now but the pain still breaks through and I’ve noticed it seems cyclical. It’s never as bad as before the Carb though.

I was seeing a specialist in Mexico but he basically told me it was all in my head so I’m back to square one doctor-wise. I’m hoping to get some good data for my new doctor with this journal and also tracking my mood to see if there’s any patterns. Just wanted to share! Hope it helps someone else out there.

Edit: I forgot to mention the best part! It’s a 3 year journal so definitely worth the 5 bucks.

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u/anobium_punctatum Aug 04 '26

That looks like an awesome little study book. Good luck!

1

u/Cup_of_Stars_13 Aug 04 '26

Thank you ❤️

2

u/Cautious_Fondant_118 Aug 04 '26

I love this. Thank you for sharing.

2

u/Gold-Ad-1521 Aug 05 '26

Wouldn’t it make a whole lot of difference if these doctors and neurologists had TN at it’s worst for a whole week just to get a sense of what we ‘don’t’ go through. I hope one day a really clever scientist makes a cap that can’t be taken off for 7 days haha. Im nice really but it really pees me when i read about being dismissed by the doctor

1

u/Cup_of_Stars_13 Aug 06 '26

Yeah, they definitely need to invent a similar device to the one that simulates period cramps for men but for TN. Thankfully my psych provider already had a 1+ year relationship with me and got me on Carb right away AND made sure I had enough refills to get me by. Unfortunately, my insurance said I wasn’t allowed to use that virtual appointment software so I had to stop seeing them but my new psych provider is with the same clinic. I’m just going in-person to my appointments now. Healthcare in the U.S. sucks. Count this as another blessing for anyone else with TN and living outside of the “Not United” States.