Rest In Peace Dawn Raye Winner
Dawn Raye Winner
Dawn Raye Winner
born 7-24-1968 died 3-20- 2016
Today I said goodbye to my best friend
Complications, from 12 different medications, 29 pills per day, pneumonia, and recent unexplained fainting spells, took Dawn's life today.
For ten years Dawn fought Trigeminal Neuralgia, a very rare chronic facial pain condition that effected every moment of her being. Dawn had Type 1 and Type 2 TN in all three zones on the right side of her face.
The medical profession has no way to confirm or prove a patients pain level. Dawn has tried for so very long to convince her Dr's the pain is real.
Her first treating Dr. increased her medication levels continuously for 9 years instead of trying different "cocktails" as other TN treating Dr's do. After 9 years of increasing dosages, she had built up a tolerance to the opioid pain meds, which were no longer relieving her pain. Then, without explanation, her Dr. sent a letter "terminating their physician-patient relationship" with her, forcing us to find a new Dr. & pain management program.
We spent the last 12 months searching, No Dr. would prescribe the medications she had become accustomed to, no pain management program would effectively treat her TN.
She could not get relief from any medical professional, she eventually got turned away from every ER in the region, they believed she was "just seeking drugs".
She was forced to live without prescription pain medication for the last 12 months of her life.
Just being awake caused constant burning, stabbing sensations of Type 2 TN. The sudden extreme flares of Type 1 TN would leave her writhing in pain, wishing for any relief.
I fell in love with Dawn the day we met again, we started as childhood friends, our lives took us in separate directions, we both raised families and became single again, we both went through some tough times (what I considered tough times don't even compare to what Dawn survived) but for some reason, someone, somewhere forced our paths to cross again.
I am so glad Dawn came into my life, when I had given up on finding happiness, she showed me what happy is, she showed me true love.
I will never forget the times we had, good & bad, it's what made us us.
My heart aches for her every waking moment, my dreams are filled with visions of the short time we spent together. I know now that Dawn has finally won the fight against pain, she can now be free, free from the restrictions of working up the courage to endure the pain of taking a shower, of bundling up to prevent the slightest breeze from reaching her face, of the severe pain experienced when brushing her hair, or her teeth, of having to explain her condition to countless ER staff.
Dawn is free, pain free. I have dedicated the rest of my life to Dawn's memory and will continue her fight to make Dr.s aware of TN, the pain it causes and the dangers of suddenly stopping the prescription of pain meds. Please join me, when you are trolling the internet or Facebook, search for "Trigeminal Neuralgia", read "The Spoon Theory", support the cause, no $ needed, just sign the petitions, share the pages, share the stories of other sufferers, spread the awareness, maybe it'll catch on and the medical profession will become more aware of and cure this rare, debilitating condition.
The color teal is shared between TN & Ovarian Cancer.
Wear teal for Dawn. I do.
born 7-24-1968 died 3-20- 2016
Today I said goodbye to my best friend
Complications, from 12 different medications, 29 pills per day, pneumonia, and recent unexplained fainting spells, took Dawn's life today.
For ten years Dawn fought Trigeminal Neuralgia, a very rare chronic facial pain condition that effected every moment of her being. Dawn had Type 1 and Type 2 TN in all three zones on the right side of her face.
The medical profession has no way to confirm or prove a patients pain level. Dawn has tried for so very long to convince her Dr's the pain is real.
Her first treating Dr. increased her medication levels continuously for 9 years instead of trying different "cocktails" as other TN treating Dr's do. After 9 years of increasing dosages, she had built up a tolerance to the opioid pain meds, which were no longer relieving her pain. Then, without explanation, her Dr. sent a letter "terminating their physician-patient relationship" with her, forcing us to find a new Dr. & pain management program.
We spent the last 12 months searching, No Dr. would prescribe the medications she had become accustomed to, no pain management program would effectively treat her TN.
She could not get relief from any medical professional, she eventually got turned away from every ER in the region, they believed she was "just seeking drugs".
She was forced to live without prescription pain medication for the last 12 months of her life.
Just being awake caused constant burning, stabbing sensations of Type 2 TN. The sudden extreme flares of Type 1 TN would leave her writhing in pain, wishing for any relief.
I fell in love with Dawn the day we met again, we started as childhood friends, our lives took us in separate directions, we both raised families and became single again, we both went through some tough times (what I considered tough times don't even compare to what Dawn survived) but for some reason, someone, somewhere forced our paths to cross again.
I am so glad Dawn came into my life, when I had given up on finding happiness, she showed me what happy is, she showed me true love.
I will never forget the times we had, good & bad, it's what made us us.
My heart aches for her every waking moment, my dreams are filled with visions of the short time we spent together. I know now that Dawn has finally won the fight against pain, she can now be free, free from the restrictions of working up the courage to endure the pain of taking a shower, of bundling up to prevent the slightest breeze from reaching her face, of the severe pain experienced when brushing her hair, or her teeth, of having to explain her condition to countless ER staff.
Dawn is free, pain free. I have dedicated the rest of my life to Dawn's memory and will continue her fight to make Dr.s aware of TN, the pain it causes and the dangers of suddenly stopping the prescription of pain meds. Please join me, when you are trolling the internet or Facebook, search for "Trigeminal Neuralgia", read "The Spoon Theory", support the cause, no $ needed, just sign the petitions, share the pages, share the stories of other sufferers, spread the awareness, maybe it'll catch on and the medical profession will become more aware of and cure this rare, debilitating condition.
The color teal is shared between TN & Ovarian Cancer.
Wear teal for Dawn. I do.
