Now Vincent, I've got your referral notes from your GP, but I wonder if you could tell me in your own words how this all started, what treatment you've had, how that's gone, and anything else you think I should know.
Thank you, Doctor. Yes, well, it all started about . I was just one morning and everything was completely , when suddenly I felt a go right across my for no apparent reason. Then after that, the came quite often. If I had to describe it, I'd say it's like a and it usually hits the of my face. Like I said, it goes right across it, but it's my , , and my that seem to take the brunt of it. It's a feeling too. It feels like an . I have to say it leaves me feeling quite .
And have you noticed any patterns or triggers? Is there anything that seems to bring this on?
Well, like I told you, the first time it happened I was , but now I notice that my teeth and also bring it on. It seems to be anything to do with . I mean, even the can cause a sudden of pain. And also just using my face or mouth can bring one on too, so I mean like just can cause one, or at something suddenly or for a long time. Basically anything , pleasurable, or seems to cause me horrendous pain.
And do you think that the condition's developed or changed in any way since your first attack?
Oh, they're definitely happening more often. And not only that, it feels like they're affecting my . At the beginning, the attacks probably only lasted about, what, or so! But nowadays. I find myself with the really painful part of the attack for at a time. And it's actually now. I used to be able to with the pain by my fist or myself through it or whatever, but I can't now.
And I see here that your GP prescribed you some medication. Has that helped at all?
Well, I expect you can see on my what I'm on. My doctor was to give me at first because apparently there are one or two that can cause serious . But he found one that carried a very , so I was on that for a time. Anyway, after a while they started to their , so then he put me on . That's what I'm on now. I don't know if it's , but I also take supplements - oil and vitamin D.
How are the antispasmodics working out for you?
Well, I have to admit that when I take them, the pain is a bit more , but they do affect me in . I mean, I'm all the time. I can hardly keep my . And just trying to follow a or remember what it is I'm supposed to be doing has become a . It really doesn't take much to make me . I mean, it's embarrassing. So to avoid people thinking I've completely lost it or whatever, I've ended up at home a lot of the time. Now that's something I've never done, and I think it's that more than the pain which has led to some very . I mean, that's not really like me, Doctor.
I see. Well, from what you've been saying, it sounds like we need to book you in for some tests and explore the possibility that...
