October 12th, 2023

Ah, Thursday – the day the universe decided to test my mettle while substitute teaching. It started like any other day, but soon enough, my unwelcome companion, Trigeminal Neuralgia, decided to clock in.

Imagine this: I’m in front of a classroom full of eager minds, ready to share wisdom and knowledge. Suddenly, it strikes. The pain, sharp and relentless, is like a thousand red-hot needles in my face. The room spins with colors I can’t name. I stopped talking mid-sentence, mid-word even, and resorted to deep breaths. My gaze shifted from the digital board to the window, where the world outside seemed strangely serene. For a few minutes, I let the young scholars do as they pleased (within reason of course) because, at that moment, I couldn’t focus on anything but the intensity of the pain.

Finally, the end of my workday. I’d weathered the storm with grit, but it was time to call it a day. I left work an hour early, ready for the next phase of my quest for answers. First stop: the MRI scans, which hopefully was to shed light on the mysterious Trigeminal Neuralgia. Then, a quick detour to the hospital for some baseline bloodwork, just to keep tabs on the grand adventure that is my health.

The journey continues, and I’m taking it one episode at a time. Teaching may have its challenges, but I’ve learned to face them with strength, even in the company of my uninvited guest, Trigeminal Neuralgia.