Onset of Massive Headaches

As many of you guys already know I've been suffering from Bell's for quite a while now.  I've experienced the facial pain, the pain behind the ear and eye pain sporatically throughout my recovery.  I've noticed a new symptom as of late and that is massive headaches.  Note the adjective massive.  I've had headaches before, but I've never been one to get migraines or debilitating headaches.  The headaches I've been experiencing the past few weeks have been awfully painful.  Ironically, they only affect the right side of my face as if a line were literally drawn down the center.  Pretty sure this is Hell's Bell's rearing her ugly little head.

Luckily, I know the attributing factors:

1. Someone turned on the fan and left it on while I was taking a rare nap.  I normally sleep with the affected side of my face towards the pillow.  The pressure and warmth seem to sooth any discomfort I experience.  This time, however, I was being overly brave and left the affected side of my face exposed.  I paid the price via massive headache.  Thank you someone.  I forgive you.  
2. I was subjected to the bitter, cold wind outside.  I was a genius.  I forgot my hat.  Again, I paid the price.  Arkansas weather is too unpredictable to forget proper Bell's "protection".  Yes, it gets cold down here and, yes, I wear shoes.

So, I'm willing to offer free advice derived from the lessons I paid for dearly: 

1. Place tape over your fan switches as a reminder to others that turning it on is a huge no-no!  
2. Don't take chances...stick with what you know.  Healing is everything and we can't afford set backs.  Be the person with the beanie cap on a 100 degree day.   What's the big deal?  We wear our sunglasses inside; why not add another fashion faux paux to the list.   

That is all for now.  I wish you all a complete and speedy recovery.  Chin up, keep warm!

-Belle

Pimple Schmimple....

Am I really concerned about this painful pimple smack dab between my eyes?!?  I feel as if I should be able to see into the future with this mondo third eye of mine.  Perhaps this new found claryvoyance will unveil how much longer I'll have to deal with "Hell's" Bell's.  Yes, two apostrophes.

Bell's palsy brings new meaning to insecurities.  Why was I ever concerned about a pimple?  If you think everyone is staring at your pimple - imagine what it's like when you have Bell's palsy.  One of three things happens:

1) People won't make eye contact with you.  In fact, they don't want to look at you at all.  They don't know what to look at.  They know they will be "busted" looking.  They don't want to make you uncomfortable.  You're already uncomfortable.  They're already uncomfortable and wondering if it's contagious.  You're wondering if you should explain it's not contagious.  Or terminal.  You don't want to talk.  The usual obligatory visual non-verbal communication has become null and void casting manners in general aside.  Conversations end abruptly leaving you questioning whether there was ever a conversation at all.  Confusing, indeed.

2) People make eye contact.  Unrelenting eye contact.  They stare.  They move their face so closely towards yours that they quite possibly could be sucking the breath from your lungs as they inhale.  They state, "You look Greeeaaat!", not once, but twice.  Efforts mainly to convince themselves. Surely they realize you know you haven't moved a nanometer.  You'd notice a nanometer of movement. You would have seen it in the mirror when you were obsessively staring at your reflection for three hours straight.  Oh, how time flies when you want to see movement.  If I can see your nose hair through the gel lubrication in my "bad eye"you are standing too close.

3) There really is no third thing that happens.  There wasn't for me any how.  It's either one or the other in the early moments of Bell's. Or so it seemed.

Again, pimple schmimple, I say...you don't know "aesthetic" discomfort until you know Bell's.

Bell's Palsy - Month 9

I'm officially nine months into my Bell's recovery.  I've never been so commited to something in my life.  I mean this whole Bell's thing has outlasted many of my relationships.  Ha, horrible joke...I know.  An inability to make light of this situation would make things much worse.  Trust me.   I find myself poking fun of my condition at times; although not nearly as much as I once did.  No, not in a self deprecating kind of way.  It seems to put others at ease.    

I have learned many important lessons along the way.  One of the most significant being appreciating the little things.  Our area was recently without electricity for several days.  We were one of the few that retained our power.  A blessing in itself as I could not imagine being without having a 7 month old baby.  Finally, my luck is moving in a better direction.  Whew!  Anyhow...many of those affected by the outage were making mention of the fact that you don't really appreciate the small things such as electricity, hot water, the ability to cook a warm meal and readily accessible entertainment until it has been taken away.

I can certainly appreciate their noting of this; however, I challenge them to further consider the smaller things.  You know the things you really don't think about, the subconcious things, such as blinking your eyes, squinting, salivation, lacrimation and breathing.  Yep...

Not that I didn't care for everyone dealing with the issue, but my heart truly went out to the elderly, those with small children and those with absolutely no means to seek warmer shelter.  I'm glad that power is now on for everyone.

I know...I've gone off on a completely random topic.  Is it really so random?  We are talking about power afterall.  We may not always have control of external powers like I mentioned above, but we do have the power to try to see the bright side in even the darkest of situations.  I didn't always exercise this power while dealing with Bell's...in fact, I still have times that I don't.  When I do though it seems my recovery is much greater.  Perhaps it's a figment of my imagination.  It sure does make me feel better about things.  Conclusion:  power is pretty darn awesome.