This morning I knew something was different. I still had the same dull tongue, and it had not gotten better or worse in smoothness, and maybe a little worse in taste discrimination. I can tell food temperature, but not taste. Maybe this is a evolutionary effect to my wife's cooking (just kidding...I grew up on my Mom's cooking so I clearly have evolved before today) I didn't have any meetings at work in the morning, so I took my time and got there at 8:30. Once there, I felt that my smile was crooked. I was a little self conscious about it, so I kept my hand near the left side of my face when co-workers stopped by. I went about my business with no problems. I didn't go to the mirror to look, because it would be ridiculous if what I felt was the case. Now my eye has been shedding tears for at least a day and it is very tired. I attributed this to the 2nd night of reduced sleep since we had tornadoes at 3AM.
I took lunch at 12:00 and ate in the break room. Someone asked if I had dental work done today because the left side of my face was swollen. I said no, and mentioned that although it isn't numb or tingly, it does have significant reduced muscle control. I know it isn't working right when I smile. The left side of my mouth won't pucker up. I can't hold air pressure in my mouth since it leaks out the left side. These guys convinced me I was crazy for sitting there, and one guy told me I had Bell's Palsy (thanks Joe) and needed to "get my butt" to the doctor.
These symptoms get more pronounced for the next few hours while I sit in the emergency room since my doctor works 3.5 days a week and my sick days are not his work days. They ask my current pain on the pain scale of 1-10. I say 0, so chances are that I will never make it to the doctor in the ER. Now my ear feels pressure, most likely from further swelling of that side of my face. My eye is very tired and watery, and I have to concentrate to blink it occasionally. I can blink, but under full force my left eye still lets light through. I can't wrinkle half my forehead, and my left side eyebrow and nose can't move. I can still feel everything, so I know my muscles aren't responding correctly.
At 3:30, my wife gets me into the on-call doctor and I drive over there after cussing at the person in front of me in the parking deck. They couldn't figure out how to pay and liked yelling at me at the same time. This person was having a very bad day, but the right side of my face was well behaved the whole time. I can't speak for my left side.
The on-call doctor agreed with the prognosis without any prodding by me. He gave me a shot of Cortisone, and a prescription for steroids and Acyclovir for an antiviral. I don't have shingles or genital herpes but he thought the medicine could help since some believe Bell's Palsy is related to the Herpes virus. He mentioned the only negatives are potential eye damage since my blinking is greatly reduced, and also that this could be permanent (but highly doubtful).
Now I'm awake for my 3rd night in a row. This time it's due to the Barry Bonds steroid dosage. I thought this blog would be a good idea after reading this: http://home.hccnet.nl/rde.bruin/diary.htm
I took lunch at 12:00 and ate in the break room. Someone asked if I had dental work done today because the left side of my face was swollen. I said no, and mentioned that although it isn't numb or tingly, it does have significant reduced muscle control. I know it isn't working right when I smile. The left side of my mouth won't pucker up. I can't hold air pressure in my mouth since it leaks out the left side. These guys convinced me I was crazy for sitting there, and one guy told me I had Bell's Palsy (thanks Joe) and needed to "get my butt" to the doctor.
These symptoms get more pronounced for the next few hours while I sit in the emergency room since my doctor works 3.5 days a week and my sick days are not his work days. They ask my current pain on the pain scale of 1-10. I say 0, so chances are that I will never make it to the doctor in the ER. Now my ear feels pressure, most likely from further swelling of that side of my face. My eye is very tired and watery, and I have to concentrate to blink it occasionally. I can blink, but under full force my left eye still lets light through. I can't wrinkle half my forehead, and my left side eyebrow and nose can't move. I can still feel everything, so I know my muscles aren't responding correctly.
At 3:30, my wife gets me into the on-call doctor and I drive over there after cussing at the person in front of me in the parking deck. They couldn't figure out how to pay and liked yelling at me at the same time. This person was having a very bad day, but the right side of my face was well behaved the whole time. I can't speak for my left side.
The on-call doctor agreed with the prognosis without any prodding by me. He gave me a shot of Cortisone, and a prescription for steroids and Acyclovir for an antiviral. I don't have shingles or genital herpes but he thought the medicine could help since some believe Bell's Palsy is related to the Herpes virus. He mentioned the only negatives are potential eye damage since my blinking is greatly reduced, and also that this could be permanent (but highly doubtful).
Now I'm awake for my 3rd night in a row. This time it's due to the Barry Bonds steroid dosage. I thought this blog would be a good idea after reading this: http://home.hccnet.nl/rde.bruin/diary.htm
Here's a picture of today's smile.
2 comments:
I'm glad you went to the doctor. I know how much you hate those places.
Hey, if you ever need someone to give you a shot between your toes (like they did when you had rabies), count me in!
You could play the Phantom of the Opera and not have to wear a mask.
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