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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:59 am
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Well, half of my face is pretty much paralysed. It started on Friday, with my lip feeling funny. At least, I thought it felt funny. It was hard to describe.
On Saturday, I couldn't drink through a straw or whistle.
By Sunday night, I couldn't raise my eyebrow on the right side of my face, and it required effort to blink my right eye. Usually, blinking isn't a strenuous activity.
Sooo I went to a clinic yesterday at like 10, waited around for about 2 hours, and a nurse told me I probably had Bell's Palsy. Without much explanation, she sent me off to the regional hospital, where I waited 8 hours in the ER to be seen by a neurologist. Not my neurologist, but a gorgeous intern and a different neuro.
They did different tests (mostly making sure I had no numbness, weakness, or paralysis anywhere else), and told me, "Yup, Bell's Palsy. It could last a week, or it could last 6 months. Oh, and it'll probably come back randomly throughout the rest of your life."
I was extremely cranky by the time I got home last night (hadn't slept much Sunday night, didn't eat at all Monday, and had a massive headache for most of the time I was in the waiting room full of screaming kids), but...meh. I'm trying to look on the bright side.
Cons: -It's a bit harder to speak clearly -It's very difficult to eat noodles or drink through a straw -I can't whistle -If the past three days are any indication, the muscles that DO work are going to be strained from all the extra effort required, namely whatever controls my eye. -Dry eyes and headaches -I have to tape my eye closed when I sleep because it won't stay closed if I'm not conscious. Try peeling any sort of tape off your eyelid. It's not fun.
Pros: -I could be Jean Chretien for Halloween. (Or, if anyone asks what's wrong with my face, I could tell them I'm preparing for a role as Jean Chretien in a play.) -Alternatively, I could be Two-Face from Batman. It's pretty cool to be able to smile and frown at the same time. -I could wear an eyepatch over my taped-down eye and sleep like a pirate. -As far as random, possibly permanent, neurological conditions go, it's pretty harmless. This falls more into the "pain in the a**" category than anything else.
Wikipedia says I have a good prognosis: "In a 1982 study, when no treatment was available, of 1,011 patients, 85% showed first signs of recovery within 3 weeks after onset. For the other 15%, recovery occurred 3–6 months later."
I like them odds.
Discuss: -The War of 1812 Bell's Palsy -Annoying medical problems -Neurological problems -How much it sucks to be stuck in the ER -How much is must suck to work in the ER. -Other "pro" things I can add to my list.
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:38 am
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:09 am
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:38 am
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:42 am
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:47 am
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Jafthasleftthebuilding Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:23 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:35 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 6:51 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:01 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:03 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:32 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 7:42 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:55 pm
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Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:50 pm
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