Another bout of Bell's Palsy
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December 23, 2013 |
By Mike Weland
To those who see me in the next few weeks, don't
worry if I'm a bit less expressive than usual,
if only one eye blinks or if I slur or drool a
little out the left side of my mouth. I've been
hit once again with Bell's Palsy, a condition
affecting the nerve that controls the muscles on
one side of the face.
I had it before in the early 90s, that time
affecting the right side. It's a nuisance ...
one side of the mouth doesn't work, leading to
drooling and smiles twisted awry, and all you
can give as far as facial expression from the
affected side is an extremely dull,
disinterested and altogether dumb looking stare.
It usually, though not always, clears up on its
own in a few weeks or months.
When I had my first bout with Bell's, I thought
for sure I'd had a stroke. Then, In 2011, I did
have a stroke, one that affected my left side.
The first thing I asked my wife after it hit,
"is my face drooping?"
Poor girl, I asked her the same question again
this morning, and her first thought was that I'd
had another one. She spent the day worried sick
and begging me to go to the hospital to get
checked out.
I didn't know it was Bell's, but I suspected.
Having experienced both, I didn't think it was a
stroke, so I put her off.
The sad fact is, I dislike going to the hospital
as a patient. I've always been averse. But even
more so since the stroke, which put me in the
hospital for the first time in my life, and
which forced me to take medical retirement, put
me on Social Security and cost Debbie and I the
health insurance that came with my job.
The stroke qualified me for Medicare, but only
after a two year wait from the date of the
stroke. In April, I'll be eligible.
While the wait doesn't sound like it makes much
sense, in the long run, I'm sure it saves the
federal government considerably.
Debbie did not want me to wait until April to
get this checked out, whatever it was. And to be
honest, I was a mite concerned, too, because
until you know, you can't be sure.
So, this evening, I gave in and let her take me
to the ER at Boundary Community Hospital, and
once again received the outstanding care those
who work there are famous for.
And was relieved when the diagnosis came out
favorable ... no sign of clots or bleeding, the
usual culprits in a stroke, and no indication of
further brain damage (which is a good thing, as
I didn't have much to start out with and can't
spare much more).
I don't have any idea how we'll pay, but Debbie
is relieved and we'll both rest a lot easier
tonight.
I'd like to send out a huge thank you to all
of you for your concern and prayers while Debbie
and I were at the hospital, and to the amazing
people at Boundary Community Hospital. You are
all a blessing. |
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