Bell’s Palsy Survivor

When I wake up, I go to the mirror and see my face, it’s been  a habit .  I look mirror just  to be sure.

I don’t know the reason why I am upset so much today? When I got up from the bed, I tried to recall what exactly happened that day? The day was a black day in my life, really it was unbelievable, unexpected and painful for me; I cried the whole morning the day when i had bells palsy.

 It was really painful . 

When I wake up I go to the mirror and see my face, it’s been like a habit , I look at the mirror just to be sure.

It was the  last day of my exam . I was all excited to have some refreshment .  So i went a long drive with friend . 

The next day, I had really bitter experience in my life, while I woke up and went to the restroom to brush my teeth, I felt, somethibg is paralized . I found myself different,my left eye was too weak . it wasn’t blinking, I couldn’t close my eyelid, my tongue couldn’t tast the food, found difficulty in facial expressions, couldn’t blow my mouth, the left side of my body was sleeping for a week.

Then I went Patan hospital, I admitted an emergency ward, hoping that when I reach the hospital I would be cured, my problems would be  solved as like magic but it wasn’t like that, things went vein cause I waited almost 1 hour for my turn, doctors were not responding me, I was crying a lot . I still remember that, one young doctor(may be a new one ) he just laughed at me and said, oh is that your problem, you see, it is difficult to be cured, it may takes too long time , also it is not sure that you will be fine or not, I was shocked by his reaction . I was sure about  I will stay in same problem  forever, then many things came in my mind, I was unable to stand  and speak .

In my point of view mental illness is worst then physical, I just felt that knowing about my problem from that irritating doctor, I felt more weaker after meeting him, I was keeping thinking so many things, it felt like my  mind was going to blast . Again, I looked at mirror, I saw that tear rolling down on my cheek from my eyes, I lost my faith to be cured, I lost strength for further life.I believe that beauty plays great role in life. 

After that, I went to Bir Hospital for further treatment, my aunt suggested me to join there because its better hospital for such problem, I joined physio therapy until a month. The therapist were familiar and nice to me, they treated me well. They tough me some exercise for the face, then started medicine as well.

Actually many people were there with me, I can’t forget their support and cooperation, I am always grateful to them. I have not mentioned many names here, but, they are in my heart,One of my senior friend from Italy named Sara Mary Maset was there , by profession she is a doctor, she was there for me the whole time, she suggested me what to do or what not to do .She told me to drink enough water, juice and soup, sleep enough, avoid stress, taking whole time rest, thinking positive. These were key instrument for remedy; I just followed her instruction.  

Day by day I felt much better.

Bell’s palsy can happen to anybody, but the important thing is that, it’s more curable in young people then older and children she said.

Why is that so? I mean why this problem appeared on me? Many people asked me, doctors said that it’s because of nerve, while the nerve doesn’t work properly our organ doesn’t work, so we need to do meditation, yoga, exercise and eat hygienic meal to be healthy, it happens in any one either, young or children .

I was regretting for not wearing make up

Things should be done in right time in right way.  Therefore, I was regretting for not wearing makeup, I supposed to wear make up nicely in right time, while my eyes looked good but now I see my eyes don’t look beautiful, It’s like Nepal proverb, Lagan pachiko pote ke kaam? But it was stupid idea, I met many people like me in hospital, all were expecting to be cure soon like me.

Being more ugly and finding physically not fit was not acceptable, but I tried to convince myself, I recall one of the beautiful women, education founder Angur Baba Joshi, I watched her interview, she proved as a supporting strength for me, because she doesn’t look good enough outside but by heart she is pretty, she has excellent thoughts, attitude and idea, Also, she has done good contribution in Nepal, she has a beautiful heart but she also has same problem like me .

It’s been years but still I am shocked, because I am afraid to get sick again. I want to be healthy and happy but sometimes I feel like, is something wrong happing with me? Questions arise in my mind then I used to think in positive way, I try to ignore my past.

I trust myself and I know that problems come with solutions, of course day comes after night, I want to be bold, energetic, confident and successful, but unknowingly, I stand in front of the mirror to watch my face ;(

Knowing Bell’s palsy

Bell's palsy is the paralysis or severe weakness of the nerve that controls the facial muscles on the side of the face - the facial nerve or seventh cranial nerve. Patients typically find they suddenly cannot control their facial muscles, usually on one side.
A person might have Bell's palsy first thing in the morning - they wake up and find that one side of the face does not move. If an eyelid is affected, blinking might be difficult.
Bell's palsy usually starts suddenly.

The facial nerves control blinking, opening and closing of the eyes, smiling, salivation, lacrimation (production of tears), and frowning. They also supply the stapes muscles with nerves. The stapes is a bone in the ear which is involved in our ability to hear. When the facial muscle malfunctions,

  

Symptoms of Bell's palsy:

·         Sudden paralysis/weakness in one side of the face.

·         It may be difficult or impossible to close one of the eyelids.

·         Irritation in the eye because it does not blink and becomes too dry. Changes in the amount of tears the eye produces.

·         Parts of the face may droop, such as one side of the mouth.

·         Drooling from one side of the mouth. The amount of saliva produced changes.

·         Difficulty with facial expressions.

·         Sense of taste may become altered.

·         An affected ear may lead to sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis). Sounds seem louder.

·         Pain in front or behind the ear on the affected side.

·         Headache.                                                                                                                                      

Nitu Ghale