However last Friday I contracted an ailment called Bell's Palsy, which I have to say I had not heard of before.
It has the effect of diminishing the power of the muscles in the left side of the face, from working properly.
In essence you look like someone who has had a minor stroke.
On Friday night, Manuela (my lady), noticed that I couldn't smile properly and insisted we visit the local casualty department.
After many tests it was decided that I had contracted this condition.
What it means is that the nerves on the left side of the face have stopped providing information to the local muscles.
The result is that your left eye tear duct, eyebrow and the left side of your mouth refuse to function in the normal way.
You still retain feeling so it isn't a stroke!
Being an avid reader, the only part of this condition that bothers me, is the discomfort I feel, through the lack of moisture to my left eye.
It seems more distressful to my children than it does to me, I suppose because of the visual effects of the ailment.
Doctors do not know what causes it, but suspect it is viral.
In most cases it just disappears in two weeks, but can take six months and in odd cases, stays with you forever.
The drug treatment is unpleasant, involving steroids, anti-virals,ointments and eye drops, but I have a full belly, clean water, a nice home and loving children, so not alot to worry about!
At 56 I have become a dribbler, which means that I can be even more outrageous than I was before!
The reason for this post is more to do with who we are.
We live many lives on our way to closeness with the great architect of the universe, and as spirit beings this is nothing more than a modest trial.
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I know exactly where you're coming from because I too have Bell's. I contracted it September of last year and it hasn't gone away entirely. It's a little different for everyone so I guess I'm one of those cases where it lingers.
ReplyDeleteI had excruciating pain on the right side of my face for about two months. No pain killer worked. But the pain went away virtually overnight.
I too had dry eyes but sometimes, I had a film on my eyeball and I had to keep wiping that away. This impaired my vision a little. I was also sensitive to sunlight. When I went outside, my eye closed automatically.
Everything tasted like poison to me whether food or drink.
Anyway, it's been a little over a year now and I am able to speak with words that begin with P or B, but I don't have full control over the right side of my lips. Some words are still hard to say for me. I am able to eat and drink now without things falling out of my mouth.
The doctors told me the same thing, that not much is known about Bells'. But right before, I had mono which I got from people coughing around me at work. Then that turned into Bells immediately. The doctors also told me not to chew gum. (don't know why)
You should know that sometimes the facial nerves don't heal properly meaning that if you do one function with your face, it affects something else in your face. This has happened to me. If I wink my right eye, the right side of my mouth goes up. So something went wrong in my healing process. Anyway, you can't tell from looking at me that I still have Bell's (those with an untrained eye anyway) but I still have signs of it. I am resigned to the fact that it probably won't go away but that's alright. The flesh will pass away some day and I've got the Lord Jesus to comfort me.
I hope you heal up 100%. It's very rare that this disease lingers on as it did with me so don't worry.
One more thing, the older you are, the longer it will take to heal so be prepared.
Blessings,
carol
Thanks Carol, take care,Simon
ReplyDeletehello having a loving family is blessing of god .i hope and pray that god may bring your health back take care
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize with you. I too have had Bell's as a result of a borreliosis bacterial infection - aka Lyme Disease. Make sure the doctors give you a Lyme titer test. If you have contracted Lyme disease the Bell's will be the least of your problems if you don't get on a strict course of antibiotics immediately. If you live in a wooded area then the chances are high you could have Lyme. It presents with a bullseye-like rash but not always and sometimes the rash may be in an area of your body that you can't see. Left untreated the Lyme symptoms will disappear but the Lyme will still be in your bloodstream and spinal fluid and it can cause severe nerve damage amongst other things. Doctors don't know much about Lyme and it's often overlooked at first, as it was in my case. Please make sure, it can be devastating. It can and will make you feel miserable. As far as the Bell's, the steroids may help but usually the only treatment is time and facial massage. It's important that you continue to practice making normal facial movements with the affected side of your face even though you won't see any movement. It can make the recovery process easier and sometimes if you don't use the muscles in your face for a while there can be some pain when you get movement back. If you practice your facial movements this won't happen. Also, you must protect your eye. This is the biggest problem with Bell's. Your eye can be damaged because the lid can't protect it properly. Make sure you use liquid tears at least 4-6 times a day and cover the eye with gauze or a patch when you go to sleep. Remember, your body's natural ability to protect that eye is useless at this time so you need to take that job over until you get better. Lastly, don't get depressed ot too self conscious about the way you look. It's only temporary and the percentage of people that make a full recovery is over 90%. Hang in there and you'll be okay.
ReplyDeleteHi guys and thankyou for the advice.Obviously I have to go through the process.Chris I know I haven't lymes disease.In the UK that is usually contracted walking through ferns that have been used as feeding grounds for sheep.Nevertheless thankyou for your kind words.A minor problem when you look at what poorer people in the world have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray that you fully recover soon and may you always be blessed with good health and happiness.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how you must be feeling. My ex-wife had this condition about a year after we were married. It took about two weeks for it to disappear. They never figured out what caused it. I pray that your condition improves quickly and I hope you feel better soon. Take care and God Bless.
ReplyDeleteI truly hope you are feeling better. Strange the things that afflict us. It is noteworthy of your good character that you take it in stride a positive perspective. Please, take care....
ReplyDeleteHi Simon
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that you are not into taking any meds. Most likely they would make you feel worse than better, and there is no point of messing around one's balance in the body if there is no life threatening situation.
What I have learned thus far, is that every ailment has a deeper root in our being. Yes, there are viruses and bacteria and all the rest, and even though I was trained as a biologist, today I know there is so much more to this than meets the eye.
What I would recommend is to read Bruce Lipton's book "The Biology of Belief" which can help you bring about your own healing. He is an amazing man and I greatly value his work and spread it around to people who I feel could really benefit from his work - pity they did not teach us this in school.
All the best!
Hmm nice post, keep posting
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Hi Simon, hope that you are getting better.
ReplyDelete'A minor problem when you look at what poorer people in the world have to suffer'
Only a person with a great heart could say this.
Ness,
www.inbetweenbreaks.blogspot.com