Hi my name is Anna and I am in my 40s and I suffer from chronic pain in my face and unfortunately it has been going on for years. I write about my unsuccessful trips to doctors, frustrations, and fears. Currently after my last neurologist appointment I still have not been diagnosed. At this point after suffering for so long the constant pain has worn me down. I am no longer able to do most activities, I am not able to drive anymore so I have lost my independence. I have lost my individually as well and I grieve for all these things.
Any type of chronic pain is a real condition and one of the number one reasons people visit there doctors. I hope you as the reader are able to understand this issue better and hopefully be able to sympathize with others….
Thank you for visiting and please feel free to subscribe
Anna and Max the Cat 🐈
https://septumpiercedoldladyannapatterson.link
gravatar link
- I keep going and going and going….Tell us one thing you hope people say about you. This will be a short answer as I am currently under the weather and Max the Cat is unavailable 😪 Hopefully, people would say that I try very hard, despite all the physical and mental limitations that I am currently battling… perhaps they would say… Read more: I keep going and going and going….
- Wow 👏 this meme really says it all…I found this meme on Fb today! I think it really says it all!!
- Short video on chronic pain and anxiety and depression 😢Dear readers, I had been searching YouTube for a good video to post 📫 that might possibly help. I havent had a lot of luck but I found this short video about chronic pain and anxiety and depression 😢 I know I suffer from a lot of anxiety especially during flares as well as depression… Read more: Short video on chronic pain and anxiety and depression 😢
- SpongeBob 🤣🤣🤣What’s your favorite cartoon? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 very short answer SpongeBob 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
- Custom Meme for Saturday…. Anyone else perhaps?Dear readers, It seems to be getting more and more difficult for me to explain this to folks these days 😕 especially doctors! and acquaintances! I am finding this the case more and more the longer the pain continues without an answer. 😡 Its very disheartening Has anyone else found this to be a similar… Read more: Custom Meme for Saturday…. Anyone else perhaps?
- Its a time warp 😀 at Casey JonesDo you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it? My favorite place 😍 in the entire world is Casey Jones Village in Jackson, TN My mother 👨🍼 and I used to visit all the time ⏲️ It holds very special memories for me. It has the homey and comforting atmosphere of an… Read more: Its a time warp 😀 at Casey Jones
- SidetrackedDear readers, I’ve gotten a bit sidetracked but I should be back soon! God bless yall Anna and Max the Cat 🐈 😻
- Pain Scale Shirt 👕! Once again sent home with no relief or pain medicationsDear Readers, I was going to post 📫 something else! Perhaps an inspirational Thanksgiving quote ✨️ 🤔 However, upon having to call an ambulance again yesterday (and unfortunately getting one dose of iv torridal and then being once again sent home without any pain medication or pain control) 😬 I was staring at the hospital… Read more: Pain Scale Shirt 👕! Once again sent home with no relief or pain medications
- Max says… Turkey TV dinners 🍽 😋Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays? Hi 👋 everyone this is Max the cat 🐈 my human is a little under the weather so I thought I would write ✍️ a short daily prompt for today 😀 In the last few years, our tradition has been a turkey TV… Read more: Max says… Turkey TV dinners 🍽 😋
- Cats. Cats 🐈 😻 and more cats..What are your favorite animals? Cats 🐈 are my favorite 😍 animal. Big cats 🐈 little cats! All kinds of cats 🐈 😻 lions, tigers, housecats 😀 they are all.so beautiful and fascinating 👌
- Dear Readers for Thursday 😬🙄 We Must keep Going Despite current challengesDear Readers, It has been a challenging week, so many things have been occurring. Dealing with them all, plus handling the pain has been quite rough. 😬 Unfortunately, I was back in the hospital again over the weekend. Upon arriving home, I recieved a visit from adult protective services with the state of Florida, apparently… Read more: Dear Readers for Thursday 😬🙄 We Must keep Going Despite current challenges
- My human and books 📚 by Max.. todays daily prompt 😎What book are you reading right now? Max says…Sadly, reading had become to difficult for my human in her current condition 😢 because it aggravates her facial pain 😢 😭 However, if she could read 📚 I think she would enjoy Steven King 🤴 (as she likes horror movies) However, as a cat I don’t… Read more: My human and books 📚 by Max.. todays daily prompt 😎
- Cleaning the litter box 📦 😌What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can? Hmm……well I don’t particularly have a routine. I sleep 😴 when I am able and eat when I am able…..etc… So perhaps 🤔 I should say I tend to put off things such as light housekeeping (if that counts) 🤔 The… Read more: Cleaning the litter box 📦 😌
- An Endless Cycle…Hospital, Pills, Doctors not taking pain seriously 💊Dear Readers, I was back in the hospital 🏥 over the weekend, unfortunately due to severe pain as well as severe constipation. I did not necessary want to go, I called an ambulance to check me out but unfortunately was forced to go with them (something I didn’t realize they could do) I have been… Read more: An Endless Cycle…Hospital, Pills, Doctors not taking pain seriously 💊
- Teeth and tattoos 😬Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car). I would imagine that I’ve spent a massive amount of money on my teeth for crowns and cavities etc..unfortunately 😬 which possibly could all be undone due to my inability to keep good dental hygiene due to chronic pain.. In the… Read more: Teeth and tattoos 😬
- Misunderstanding of Chronic Pain..I believe that this week I have never been so misunderstood in my pain, I actually had a pet sitter say to me”Why can’t you just be normal?”
- Dear readers for Saturday and short update on conditionDear Readers, So much has happened lately 😕 I sure would like to start writing about it soon, however my pain has worsened and right now I am really uncertain what will happen to me or Max. There is still a possibility of moving into a place where I can get better care, however I… Read more: Dear readers for Saturday and short update on condition
- Chronic Pain Quotes for SaturdayDear Readers, Chronic Pain quotes for Saturday.. Anna and Max the Cat 🐈
- Dear Readers, Missing Max the Cat 🐈 MISSING YOUR PETDear Readers, I am still in the hospital as they try to find a medication that can somewhat control my pain as I await transfer 🏥 to a rehab facility. So far, they have not had much luck with pain control, and I am concerned that I will not have much success if they do… Read more: Dear Readers, Missing Max the Cat 🐈 MISSING YOUR PET
- Dear Readers for SaturdayDear readers, I apologize for not posting lately 😕 or keeping up with others’ work. I have been in the hospital 🏥 in celebration, florida for a week. Unfortunately 😔 I will also not be going home to my apartment 😕 I am going to go to a rehab facility for other medical issues as… Read more: Dear Readers for Saturday
- Dear readersOne of the worst things about this current flare-up of pain isn’t just the emergency rooms or the bad teeth. It’s the fact that I’m not to write much 😪 and I must tell yall I certainly do miss posting the daily prompts, fun stories and hopefully informative articles, plus I get a lot of… Read more: Dear readers
- More “funny chronic pain memes 🤣 “sort of”
- “Candy Fatigue,” aka Pill Fatigue No more useless pills, please!Dear readers, I don’t know about y’all, but I certainly have ‘pill fatigue’. Y’all know those brightly colored things that come in a prescription bottle, those things that kind of remind you of little pieces of candy. Every day when I have to take mine, I like to imagine that they are brightly colored skittles,… Read more: “Candy Fatigue,” aka Pill Fatigue No more useless pills, please!
- More Funny Chronic Pain Memes 😀
- “I’m fine” Everything is cool 😎If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be? Hmm, let me think 🤔 stop saying a word that I use regularly. I would really enjoy giving up the phrase “I’m fine” I use this phrase quite frequently when speaking 🔊 with others, even if the phrase is… Read more: “I’m fine” Everything is cool 😎
- CHEESE OMELET 🧀 AND WHAT I “DID”AND “DIDNT LEARN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM LAST WEEKLetter to Max Dear Max, Being in the emergency room last week sure was not fun 😕 especially when it appears I came out worse than when I went in 😪 My initial reasons for going were not for my facial pain (because I knew there was nothing they could do for that) or for… Read more: CHEESE OMELET 🧀 AND WHAT I “DID”AND “DIDNT LEARN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM LAST WEEK
- Cozy Log Cabin 😀 Perfect Place 👌What does your ideal home look like? My ideal home 🏡 would definitely be a little cabin in the woods, surrounded by trees 🌳 with a freshwater stream flowing nearby. and a small screened in front porch with a swing and some comfortable chairs 💺 so I could sit outside and watch the sun rise… Read more: Cozy Log Cabin 😀 Perfect Place 👌
- Awareness 😀Why do you blog? I like to blog 😊 because I hope to make a few folks aware of the issue of having chronic pain. Hopefully, I might be able to help someone as well 😀 and perhaps make a friend 😀
- Chronic Pain Reminder QuoteIt definitely helps me to look at this quote every day.
- Around 2 or 3 amWhat’s your favorite time of day? My favorite 😍 time of the day or “night” is in the wee hours of the morning 🌄 when I am unable to sleep 😴 Sometimes, I am able to hear the distant sound of a low mournful train whistle in the distance if I listen 🎶 hard enough.… Read more: Around 2 or 3 am
- Chronic pain specific therapy. Is there such a thing?.I have been doing some research lately because I was curious if there are therapists who specialize only in chronic pain. When I went to reddit, I saw a post 📫 where someone had mentioned a doctor like that. However, when I went to youtube, I didn’t see anything similar. It appears to “my knowledge”… Read more: Chronic pain specific therapy. Is there such a thing?.
- Motivational quote for those with chronic pain 💪Be proud of yourself 💪
- You tube short on criteria for Atypical Face Pain for information purposes
- Introduction to Living with Chronic Pain with Anna and Max (the cat)Hi, my name is Anna, I am in my 40s, and I suffer from chronic pain in my face. Unfortunately, it has been going on for years. In this journal, I write about my unsuccessful trips to doctors, my frustrations, and my fear as well as provide some informative information, some quirky daily promts some… Read more: Introduction to Living with Chronic Pain with Anna and Max (the cat)
- Health restoration and talking animalsDescribe your life in an alternate universe. My answer isn’t very interesting or imaginative, but in my alternate universe, my health would be completely restored, The entire new universe would be covered with flowers, gardens butterflies, and trees 🌳 always beautiful, peaceful and calming 😊 Here, there is only one human who is surrounded and… Read more: Health restoration and talking animals
- Chronic pain ruins people’s lives: Highlight from The Chronic Pain Epidemic. Youtube video about two minutes longI have been searching for more chronic pain explanations here on YouTube lately. I didn’t really want to get to a really depressing side of the issue, but of course, this can be for all serious illnesses, but this is what happens to a great deal of chronic pain patients. It’s actually interesting, though. It… Read more: Chronic pain ruins people’s lives: Highlight from The Chronic Pain Epidemic. Youtube video about two minutes long
- Max, I’m feeling a bit low.Dear Max, sometimes I get really low about things. I don’t mind living alone at all. In fact, I rather enjoy it. It’s quite peaceful and quiet, I try to keep my spirits up, but on the days that I feel like im sinking into a bit of a depression 🫥 I sure wish you… Read more: Max, I’m feeling a bit low.
- THE MAGICAL CAVE-PART TWO OF TRAINTACKS IN THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINSWhen we left off, Max and Anna were walking down an isolated train track 🛤 in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. They had disappeared 😕 into the fog 🌁 searching for their next adventure. Once the fog had dissipated, and the sun’s 🌞 rays began to shine through the thick mystic green mountains, ⛰️ Max… Read more: THE MAGICAL CAVE-PART TWO OF TRAINTACKS IN THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS
- Train Tracks in the Smokey Mountains.. “Stories I make up “inside my head” when it’s a bad pain day”PART ONE Sometimes, when the pain 😢 is so excruciating, like today and all I can do is take deep breaths, praying that it will pass, as well as desperately trying to go to sleep with an ice bag, I make up stories “inside my head” in order to keep myself somewhat calm.😮💨 Sometimes, it… Read more: Train Tracks in the Smokey Mountains.. “Stories I make up “inside my head” when it’s a bad pain day”
- Bad Pain Day (a little about pain medications)Unfortunately, today is an especially bad pain day for me, and it has been quite difficult to write. However, I really enjoy it 😀 so I push on. Now, I suppose I just have to get some rest and try some deep breathing exercises and use lots of ice. I dont think I can do… Read more: Bad Pain Day (a little about pain medications)
- Quite Disappointed in effects of newly prescribed B- 12 SHOTSPerhaps some of my readers have been prescribed B-12 shots for their vitamin deficiency’s If so, I am curious 🤔 if they helped? On a personal note, I was prescribed a weeks worth of B-12 injections 💉 to administer here at home by my neurologist two days ago. I was very concerned 😟 about side… Read more: Quite Disappointed in effects of newly prescribed B- 12 SHOTS
- Second appointment with Dr. El-Said (neurologist today) (birthday today).Dear Max, In short, the appointment did not go well at all. Exactly what I expected to happen, unfortunately, did. I don’t suppose it is not necessary to write a long letter about what happened 😕 at the office, because it was quite simple and something that has happened to me with every doctor I… Read more: Second appointment with Dr. El-Said (neurologist today) (birthday today).
- What is a Fear Flare? With chronic pain?.I am always afraid I will have a more painful flare-up, and I am usually right. Since Atypical Face pain is constant and never goes away. I am worried 😟 that the pain will become unbearable Fear of pain flare-ups does make things quite difficult to accomplish. As the post above discusses, it is a… Read more: What is a Fear Flare? With chronic pain?.
- A deeper dive into loneliness and chronic pain or illness. Another thing the sufferer might do is grieve Lonliness and chronic illnesses can sometimes intertwine themselves with each other. If you have ever known someone who might be battling a chronic disease or perhaps you have had one yourself, then you will most likely be able to understand this situation. Certainly, one of the things… Read more: A deeper dive into loneliness and chronic pain or illness.
- Are you tired or fatigued?When a person is “tired,” sleep normally corrects the problem. However, when a person is fatigued, it is a daily lack of energy that interferes with normal functioning and is not corrected by sleep.
- It’s the thought that counts..😀Dear Max, My wonderful friends from back in Memphis are sending me my yearly birthday 🎂 present today. The gift is usually food, popcorn 🍿 or cookies 🍪 etc. Unfortunately, I am unable to eat any of those things 😕 because they can cause an absolutely excruciating facial pain flare-up. So, for the past few… Read more: It’s the thought that counts..😀
- Daily prompt 😀 Dream dinner Party.If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite? Well, let me think for a minute 🤔 I have never been to a dinner party or hosted a dinner party, so I would probably need a little help from Julia Child! After I watched some of… Read more: Daily prompt 😀 Dream dinner Party.
- Here at Quest Labs in FloridaFortunately, as I had mentioned before, the neurologist (Dr..El Said) had ordered some blood work 🙄 to be done at quest laboratories here in Florida. so I decided to make an appointment for this morning 🌄 around 10 am. to try and go ahead and get it taken care of. 😌 My helper came and… Read more: Here at Quest Labs in Florida
- Eyes Wide Open…odd symptom of facial pain..In the last couple of months, another symptom that I used to have has come back with a vengeance. I am unable to keep my eyes shut! I try to force them to close but it causes more pain when I do. and they just pop back open again. Unfortunately, it is quite an odd… Read more: Eyes Wide Open…odd symptom of facial pain..
- Dear Cat, Can you tell me?Dear Max, If you could talk 👄 I would ask you what’s it’s like to be a housecat? All your medical needs are taken care of. You always have food at your disposal. You even have toys as well as warm blankets to cuddle in at night 🌙 However, most importantly,you have someone who loves… Read more: Dear Cat, Can you tell me?
- Describe your most memorable vacation ✨️Describe your most memorable vacation. In the summer of 1994, when I was seventeen, my mom and I took a road trip down to historic Covington, Georgia My mom and I were both excited 😊 and we got along well back then. We had a wonderful time taking lots of little side trips and stopping… Read more: Describe your most memorable vacation ✨️
- Concerned about recent finances with expenses that I have not had to incur before. Lately, my finances have become a real worry 😟 I have had to purchase some unsessary items for medical use, which I have been unable to return. For instance, just the other day, I purchased a new heating pad for my arthritis. Unfortunately, the heating pad just didn’t get hot enough, so I had to… Read more: Concerned about recent finances with expenses that I have not had to incur before.
- Painsomnia..Dear Max, I wish I could sleep. Painsomnia seems to be a fancy word for not being able to sleep due to pain. 😴 To tell you the truth, Max, sometimes I get a little jealous when I see you sleeping peacefully 😴
- Another possible cause and contributor to my Atypical Facial Pain..Spinal Stenosis or Cervicalgia ( it is also quite painful 😒)
- It is just so strange 😳 that the world keeps going..Today, I was coming back from another dental appointment, sitting in the passenger seat while my “helper” drove. Since I rarely ever got out of the house due to the pain, I decided to open my eyes and really look around for a few minutes.🤔 Even though I had been this route many times, something… Read more: It is just so strange 😳 that the world keeps going..
- Some Chronic Pain 😢 Quotes that I wish weren’t true
- My Facial Pain has been causing recent Dental Issues..Dear Max, Unfortunately 😔 severe facial pain can contribute to dental problems due to the pain caused by toothpaste. Just like the severe pain that it causes with most foods. Over the years, I have tried many kinds of toothpastes, hoping that one of them might not be as painful 😳 There have been toothpastes… Read more: My Facial Pain has been causing recent Dental Issues..
- Atypical Face Pain What is it? Short VideoVERY SHORT VIDEO
- Daily prompt. What is your favorite season of the year, and why?What is your favorite season of year? Why? My favorite seasons are late spring and early summer. Since Florida🌴 doesn’t have any seasons. I am taken back to when I was a little girl in Memphis during April, May, and June before it got too hot to enjoy the days and evenings. Walking around with… Read more: Daily prompt. What is your favorite season of the year, and why?
- A Simple Hobby…..Max the Cat photos…..Today, I decided to post about something that did not involve doctors or pain. MAX IN COLOR POP One of my hobbies, before all these medical things began, was to take photos of all my kitties 😸 I really enjoyed editing them, and I loved the challenge of trying to make them perfect 👌 I… Read more: A Simple Hobby…..Max the Cat photos…..
- Tegretal that Dr. EL-SAID gave me “does not work”On May 22, I went to see my third neurologist, Dr. El-Said. Dr. El-Said prescribed some tegretal or Carbamazepine because I had mentioned to him that it was very painful to eat or to brush my teeth. Dr. El-said then mentioned that this sounded like trigeminal neuralgia, possibly. He also said that the medication would… Read more: Tegretal that Dr. EL-SAID gave me “does not work”
- More doctors 😪 December 2023 Virtual appointment follow-up Luis HurtadoI will begin here in December 2023. I had a virtual follow-up visit with Dr. Luis Hurtado. Dr. Hurtado had ordered me to get a scan of my sinuses, so I had done that in November. Dr. Hurtado went over the scan, and unfortunately, the findings were acute sinus infection. I would find out later… Read more: More doctors 😪 December 2023 Virtual appointment follow-up Luis Hurtado
- Third Neurologist Appointment Today Unfortunately, there still is no diagnosisI am going to send you more tests and possibly refer you to other doctors. Honestly, trigeminal neuralgia is usually easier to treat than atypical facial pain Dear MAX, Hello Max, who is currently hiding in his cat tree 🌳 because I had to give medication for his current bowel trouble. On Tuesday morning 🌄… Read more: Third Neurologist Appointment Today Unfortunately, there still is no diagnosis
- I feel so overwhelmed and guilty 😔How do you deal with guilt 😔? Especially when it involves your furry friend. I would advise against looking up the symptoms on google that your furry friend is exhibiting. Doing so can certainly cause more worry than necessary. Especially if you are an excessive worrier or have a lot of anxiety. Also, when you… Read more: I feel so overwhelmed and guilty 😔
- DOCTORS, Dr Luis Hurtado in August 2023, and Dr. Mark steeler in March and November 2023DEAR MAX When this pain started back in March of 2023 it definitely was not as severe and as disabling as it is now. So, when I made an appointment with my first ear, nose, and throat physician back then, the physicians name was Dr. Steelher and I were certain that this was a sinus… Read more: DOCTORS, Dr Luis Hurtado in August 2023, and Dr. Mark steeler in March and November 2023
- The Before Time.. Before the facial pain took over my lifeDEAR MAX I call the “before time” (of course, before March 2023.(and the facial pain mystery had begun). These days are a bit difficult to think about. I had finally left my ex-boyfriend and had moved into a new apartment for the first time. I moved in at the end of 2020. It was so… Read more: The Before Time.. Before the facial pain took over my life
- If you have ever had a dismissive doctor, read this quoteDorothy goes to see a doctor about her illness, and this is what he says to her. He does not believe she is sick. I Dont know where you doctors lose your humanity,but you lose it, you know if all of you could get very sick and very scared at the beginning of your careers,… Read more: If you have ever had a dismissive doctor, read this quote
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- December 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- November 2022
- October 2022
- July 2022
LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN WITH ANNA AND MAX 