You have Bell's Palsy...

March 23, 2013

I decided to start a blog to document my experience with Bell's Palsy. I figure since I Facebook, Tweet, and post about everything else going on in my life... why not this? Maybe sharing my story will inspire others dealing with this condition to do the same.

I woke up Thursday morning at 1:30 for work and noticed the right side of my face was droopy. I realized I couldn't smile, rub my lips together or blink my right eye. In a panic, I called my parents thinking the worst -- a stroke.

I drove to the television station where I work to check in with my executive producer Judy... seeing the right side of my face frozen, she quickly suggested I get to the doctors.

The first doctor sent me off to the ER for a cat scan. Within hours I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, a condition in which the muscles on one side of the face cannot move (paralysis). It is most often thought to be brought on by a virus... though most of the time the cause is unknown.

I was terrified thinking I had lost my face forever. It suddenly hit me when I looked in the mirror that I may not be able to return to work as television reporter... I thought, what if I'm permanently disfigured? What if I never recover?

But doctors say that's unlikely ---

Recovery can take weeks to months. Most people improve within 3 weeks of when the symptoms began. The condition is temporary and strikes when the seventh cranial nerve, the tiny nerve controlling the face, gets inflamed or damaged. They prescribed me anti-viral and steroid medications. I have to wear an eye patch at night and use eye drops to make sure my cornea doesn't get dried out or damaged. 

There are a few symptoms that are considered red flags of a Bell's Palsy attack... and looking back on the days before my diagnosis, I now recall signs I had dismissed. My right eye had been twitching all day Wednesday. I had a slight pain in the back of my neck and my tongue was numb, as if I had burnt it on something. I couldn't taste my dinner the evening before and I was having a hard time formulating my sentences on air. My photographer jokingly called me "stumbelina." All signs of an attack, yet at the time I didn't think much of it.

Today marks day 3 of living with Bell's. I am home with my family and am doing well. I haven't noticed any signs of improvement yet, but I'm confident they'll come. I have a follow up appointment back in Las Vegas on Monday, I may have to do some facial physical therapy this week and possibly take anxiety medications to make sure this doesn't happen again since the condition is stress induced.

I will do my best to post here often with photos and updates... for now I'll leave you with a quote I found that lifted my spirits, hopefully it does the same for you!
 "Life can change in an instant -- for good and bad. Some changes we control, some we don't... so look for reasons to be grateful, hold your loved ones close and remember that even grief is important sometimes."

This photo was taken Tuesday, two days before my attack. The next ones were taken Thursday and Friday.