I think the biopsies were done for SFN in 2021. I had to relocate due to a breakup and moved from Florida to Indiana Nov 2024. So, of course, winter’s onset began along with a lot of other stressors and I had a virtual appt with my rheumatologist in FL (I hadn’t yet gotten established with any specialists here) - my symptoms at that time were showing the dermatomyositis similarities, so she gave me a bloodwork order and it confirmed that. I had gotten an appt with a rheumatologist here in Indiana Feb 2025 and they confirmed the derm diagnosis along with CREST syndrome and she reviewed my neurologist’s file from FL and my new symptoms and referred me to the neuro which took a little longer to see, but her impression was that it was TN - so officially until I saw the neuro in June 2025, I didn’t get it confirmed with the “correct” specialist until then. It’s mostly on my left side, but my right side occasionally chimes in.

I had other complications previously with the autoimmune stuff (MCTD/Hashimoto’s among others) - but had an episode where I blacked out and fell in the bathroom and woke up on the floor bleeding from my face - later confirmed concussion & still persisting damage from the head injury - so it’s unclear if the TN actually was caused by the fall in Dec 2023 and part of the post concussion syndrome or if it’s part of the autoimmune stuff or if it’s part of the SFN…It’s a crazy roller coaster I’ve been on - and my stuff came on in for years slowly but surely but heightened in April 2020 - I’ve never had Covid - I’ve been tested numerous times for the illness as well as the antibodies - i think everything has been hiding in my body for years and my “go-go-go” work my tail off long hours to live my dream life finally came to a head about 3 months after I turned 40 - - so it’s crazy when people say “once you hit 40…” “it’s all down hill from there” - they aren’t lying!!!! Because it came and hit me like a brick wall that’s for sure…

My relocation initially was a good one, but then it turned sour quickly due to my dad’s rekindling of his previous wife & her high drama life - so my nervous system has definitely not had time to rest and heal anything that was already happening & therefore, the hits just keep coming - 🙁