Anyone who knows Pam is at least a little familiar with the weird problems she’s plagued with. Such as in Clovis, she would get these migraine headaches. Only they just weren’t headaches, they would make half her body go numb. At one point, it scared me when I took her to the hospital for it because I thought she was having a stroke (it had gotten bad enough that she had started talking gibberish and not making sense). Anyway, another moment in Pam-history happened today.
I was in Macon (about 2 hours from Savannah) taking my last SOS-online test (which I passed, by the way – thank God that’s behind me and over with!), and on the way home I get a call from Pam saying she can’t close her left eye. She had been having neck pains the day prior; we just assumed she slept on it wrong. Now she’s telling me that she has absolutely no motor coordination on the left side of her face! “Oh shit, here we go again” I thought.
She took off early from work to go to the hospital. After a 3-hour stay in the emergency room, she was diagnosed with “Bell’s Palsy.” What the hell is that?!?! Upon a little research, here’s what I found out:
In no way is it related to migraines (phew!). It’s actually caused from trauma (swelling?) of a nerve, where it paralyzes half your face. Luckily it is not permanent, as it usually goes away after a week or two of medication. I say usually because sometimes it doesn’t, but more on that in a little bit. Apparently it only affects 0.02% of the population… way to go Pam! What a freakin’ weird disease… leave it to Pam to get it!
Above is a picture of Pam smiling when she came home today… note her left side (so that’s the right side of the picture) is pretty much unmoved compared to her right side (easily seen in the smile, the wrinkles in the forehead, and the orientation of the eyeballs). Hell, we went out to dinner tonight and it was weird because whenever she would blink, only her “good” eye would blink with the other eyelid unmoving. I guess on the positive side, she’s just winking at me.
So now to the ironic part: part of Pam’s job as a speech therapist is to work with patients that take longer to, or never fully, recover from this problem. I honestly think Pam’s out of the woods, because her case isn’t nearly as bad as the ones I looked up on the internet. But again, it’s ironic that she works with and treats people that suffer from this disease. On the bright side, at least Pam will be able to give therapy to herself!
Our thoughts go out to the both of you! Especially you Pam. You are now the 3rd person I know that has gone throught Bell’s Palsy. One was a person who was pregnant and the other was here in MS where a 3 year old girl got it – and it stemmed from Lyme’s disease. I am sure in all the research, Trav, you probably read about both those instances. We will be praying for you, and I think you’re right to be optimistic. Both people I knew have fully recovered from Bell’s Palsy. It is weird though, how there are so many different triggers/environmental factors. Hang in there, and keep on smiling!
Whoa! Hope it ends up OK. Is it caused by anything genetic or is it just a random deal?
Whoa- that’s crazy!!! And all this time I just thought Pam was a mental-case. (JK) Well I’m glad there is an answer to what’s going on cuz that would be scary wondering. Well Pamcakes- Rise above and kick this thing!
I think it’s just kinda random from what I remember reading.
Is it wrong that I just laughed my ass off? Yes, it is and I feel bad. Sorry. But seriously… leave it to you to get this affliction!
My sister got this right after the birth of her 2nd baby.
Leave it to Pam….
Have the other side botoxed an your face will look normal
Hang in there Pam. At least it’s cool to be in the 99th percentile for something!
Other than looks, I mean.
Wow… Keep optimistic. Deac and I will be praying for you guys. Keep us updated on it, and let me know if there is anything we can do. God bless!
Angie
Thanks all for your best prayers and jeers (Susannah!) I’m highly irritated having this considering it’s day 5 and not much better (the doctor said it should be gone in 10) However, I can almost close my eye all the way… progress I guess! I’m running out of bandaids to keep it closed at night.
I’m just glad only 3 days until break or all my kids will soon be talking like Sylvester Stallone!
“Ay Yo, Pam!”
Only you, Pam! Only you. Hang in there.
Pam isn’t fooling us, we know she got botox and chickened out half way through ;)
Seriously though, I blame Clovis for all these ailments…