After reading the experiences, I now understand why the doctor probably thinks I am hopeless because I reject the drugs for my problems. If I can't stay awake enough to get out of bed, I quit the pills and don't try to stay on them. living alone means I must take care of myself and I can't do that if I am not awake. I can't stay on drugs that drug me for weeks waiting for me to get used to them. I don't intend to check into a nursing home so I can lay in an expensive place half asleep waiting for problems to improve. No, no, that is not the answer. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuropathy, and prescribed 12 months of gabapentin after one painful attack. The pain went away and I have only had a couple of attacks in the past several years which I control with hand pressure on my face. The doctor never checked to see how I was getting along, and I have not mentioned it to him since. I have no problems with the face now, but have no idea why I am getting along well. I do have neuropathy in my left foot and take nothing for it nor do I mention it to my primary doctor.
The neurologist I saw said to take a wait and see attitude about the future. I eat carefully and exercise some, but not enough. My numbness never lasts very long, and is mostly at night or early in the morning. I wear socks to bed which seems to help. I have an uncharted future, I know, and take it one day at a time. I only took two gabapentin pills with that first encounter. I intend to be a tough old lady in the end rather than try to live half awake and unfed, unclean, and on drugs. Let me know when the docs learn how to successfully treat some of these neuropathies. I had back surgery and I can walk and bend over with a cage in my back. That's it for now. Dorisena