Day 31: Almost There

Yep, I'm almost there. Once I get my eye to close all the way and get that smile back, you won't be able to tell me NOTHING, lol. Its been a slow, relaxing day, which I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Saturday. This week has been heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeectic. If stress was the cause of Bells Palsy I should have it all up and down my face. And not even that I was stressed but just that it took a toll on me this week. From sleep deprivation to taking meds, I struggled all week. But next week is going to be different. I'm catching up on my sleep this weekend, especially since time goes forward tomorrow. Right now, I'm good!

I've been looking forward to taking some time off and I figured I'd just drive off into the sunset. But after today I'm a little leery on how well I can see. I've never noticed it before, and maybe it's because my right eye is somewhat impaired that I'm seeing the defects of my left eye. Hmmm, but the eye doctor didn't seem to see anything wrong. So I don't know. Instead of driving, I'll find somewhere to fly to. *snicker*

So yeah, my ear has been ok today. I've felt a few aches here or there but I'm still using the ear drops, taking the Claritin D and taking the Advil to help with the inflammation. I don't know what's going on in that thing, my ear that is. Anyhoo, I'm still percolating right on.

Day 30: Two steps forward

Not a day goes by that people aren't looking at my face, checking for more signs that I'm back to my old self, analyzing the features just to see a little more. As I mentioned, I can't see it. I can feel it but what I felt isn't always what's really happening. Anyhoo, there's definitely progress. I know I keep saying that but there's not much more to say other than, I'm coming along. And everyone around me speak so highly of my progress. "You'll be back to your old self in no time" C.T.

So I picked up the Rx, some name I can't pronounce. I actually read through the information on it because it seems like something that's not prescribed often. So, for 7 - 10 days, every six hours, I'll apply four drops to an upward ear. I have to maintain tat position for five minutes, which basically means lay down. It's uncomfortable any other way. It's acidic so I can kinda hear some sizzling in there. spooky, lol. So what to do now? Let's see how this helps.

Day 29: Achy Ear

Man, that ear ache thing did not feel good. I did make it to the doctor who looked in my hear, nose, throat, checked for any other discomfort and sent me on my way, lol... She said I had a sinus drip and fluid in both ears so she wondered why there was only pain in one ear. Must be the inflammation of the Bells Palsy that's causing the pain. She gave me a Rx for some ear drops and told me to get some Claritin D. Who knew Claritin costs so much? LOL After leaving the doctor I went to the drug store to get the Claritin so that I could take something that 'might' help. I knew the RX wasn't ready so I'd pick that up later.

Later came and I called CVS to check to see if it was ready. Of course not but at least they'd called it in this time. The Pharmacy said they didn't have it in stock so it had to be ordered but wouldn't be in until the next day. I asked what did he suggest in the interim. He had nothing! Said he'd never had this medicine before so he didn't know what to prescribe in the interim. So I continued with the Ibu...Advil until the next day.

Day 28: Thunder Rolls

It makes no sense how much thunder and lightning there was outside last night. We were under a Tornado watch until 8:00am this morning. I know all of this is irrelevant but it's relevant to me because the crackling of the sky woke me up last night. I didn't open my eyes though. I could SEE the lightning through my eye lid. It was just that bright. haha, but I couldn't see through the eye patch. So what did I do? I rolled over so that the uncovered eye was in the pillow. hahaaa clever me. I must have been very tired because the lightning, thunder, rain, and car alarms did not keep me awake too long. UNTIL IT TRIED TO BEAT MY WINDOW IN not much later.

So yeah, I'm taking to my coworker today and in the middle of the conversation he says, "your face is looking better". I'm like yeah, thanks. I have to look in the mirror to see it/remind myself. I had a thought today though, like how much have I really progressed? I was dyyyying laughing at something today and my entire left side was soaked with tears. My right side, nothing. I mean not one drop formed as I laughed. I guess those tear ducts haven't come back to life yet.

Oh yeah, I finally made that doctor appointment for my ear. ONLY because my ear has been aching all day. And not constantly but sporadic pains, throbs that last only a few seconds. I can't figure out what it is but I'm going to find out. I went to the pharmacy today with the suggestions of (1)banging my head against the wall really hard (2) olive oil (3) sweet oil) and (4) ear drops. He suggested Ibuprofen for the inflammation. he mentioned ear drops but said get the Ibuprofen until I go to the doctor. I wonder though. How does a doctor determine that one has an ear or sinus infection? Like just looking in my ear or nose they can say, "Yes, that's it?!" I'm just wondering.

Tonight I played beach volleyball. I was hopeful no sand got into my eye and I was successful! Tomorrow.... is Thursday, lol!

Day 27: Don't Forget Your Eye Patch

Thanks Fayon for the reminder to wear my eye patch to sleep. Only problem, I was already asleep, lol, AND I didn't see your message until this morning. I asked myself, as I lay in bed, "I wonder if I can get a good night of sleep without the eye patch?" Somehow between thinking about getting up to get the patch and closing my eyes I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning I realized I'd actually slept through the night. I don't think I opened my eyes one time during the night. That's impressive, given the last few weeks of mid-night-wakings. What was odd about the whole thing is that my left eye (unaffected) was red this morning. So I couldn't really tell if I got a good night of sleep or not. I'm going to go out on a limb and say NOT considering I'm still SO tired right now.

Anyhoo, TODAY IS MARDI GRAS (the last day)!! yay?! I went to therapy this morning and we went through the exercises and e-stim. She measured how much my eye is closing again. It's down to about a two but there's still a sliver of an eye opening when I close it. I have to squeeze to get it to close all the way, but it does. WHOOT! One other thing that's weird to me is when I smile or open my mouth, my lower jaw/cheek area feels tight. Almost as if it's swollen. She just told me if it feels like that, take my fingers and stretch it out. One catch, my cheek, as fleshy as it is, hurts when I apply too much pressure. That area right there, whew. Even my cheek bone hurts when I touch it too hard.

Ok so, to make sure I get a better night of sleep I'm going to wear my patch tonight.

Day 26: Your face is looking better...

I think I giggle to myself every time someone says that. My coworkers, considering they see me everyday are monitoring my recovery. So when they see a little more motion in my face they get excited. Me on the other hand, can't see it!

My Speech Therapy session was 45 minutes later than normal this morning so I was able to go to work and 'use' my eye some before going. I'm starting to think a later session would really track my progress. In the mornings my eye is well rested and moves somewhat with ease. By the end of the day I'm sure it's pretty tired. (Like me right now, lol)

Day 25: We'll say 60%

I actually can't gauge what percentage I've really recovered. Anyway, it's been a few days since I wrote anything in here so here goes. It's Mardi Gras weekend so I've been enjoying myself this week/end. I was talking to KJo on Friday night about my Bells Palsy and she was like, "Had you not said anything I wouldn't have known - I just thought you had a lazy eye!" *snicker*

I've been doing my exercises and going to therapy. There's some more movement in my face and eye but everything is definitely not all there. But it's coming along. There is surely something going on with my ear. Last night at the concert, when I yelled it was muffled. I don't know if it has something to do with the Bells or if there's some form of infection. Ear infections hurt though don't they? Either way, I must make an appointment for the doctor - remind me! LOL BUT I did not need to use the ointment last night and I thought I would have, having been out in the element.

This morning I had to use it a couple times but still things were going well. I took the drops with me to the Krewe of Bacchus parade in New Orleans this afternoon and felt some 'dryness' but nothing a rub of the eyelid didn't cure. By the end time we were on our way back home I think I was just tired. I DO feel like I'm progressing but I know there are areas that are still not moving as much as they were or should. I'm working on it though.