(no subject)

[vicarz]

So I found this embarrassing and nearly didn't post it, but since I'm all about the public crap...I have to be consistent, I think.

So a week ago it felt like I burnt my mouth, though I didn't remember burning it, but I was numb on half my tongue and couldn't taste much.
Monday my face felt...funny. I scrunched up my eyes a lot as they felt dry, and it felt like he left side was weaker than the right. I checked in with a nurse, who confirmed I was too young and healthy for a stroke, and said when I smiled it was symmetrical. Unlikely tumor. Ok.
That night I worked out, did squats at 275 baby, and was otherwise ok. Went home, ate, worked, read, chill time, and when I brushed my teeth...and squirted stuff out...it came out to the left. Huh?
I spent 10 minutes acting like a child spitting squirt-mouth-gun action in the bathroom sink. I realized when I pursed my lips they were lopsided and I couldn't "squirt" straight (say it).

Called the nurse, was told to call 911 (!?) Said no, split. Called my friend the nurse, she said call 911, or if I wasn't going to do that don't drive but get to the emergency room.
Took cab to the damn hospital feeling stupid.
They got me in the emergency room quickly, stabbed me, and wired me up.
Janna came down from B'more coz she's awesome and wouldn't listen to me assuring everything was fine.
I was kinda hoping I had a tumor or a stroke or something...I could totally milk that disability thing if I was fucked up! I mean it would suck I'd lose half my brain...but if I didn't have to work? Imagine the trade-off!

Doc came in and unworried me - could see the "subtle" asymmetry. She said my symptoms were textbook for Bell's Palsy.
wtf is that? It seems for no reason, sometimes the nerve that CONTROLS YOUR FACE flares up in the socket and stops doing it's job. The name only fits a series of symptoms - there are treatments, but they don't know if they work because nobody actually knows the cause of it.
Most people recover on their own.
Most people get it all at once with sudden onset, not a 7 day leadup to a weird experience.
Many stop tearing and salivating properly, and may need to use eye drops and best of all, tape their eye shut at night to keep from scratching it.
So I'm on medicine I may not need that makes me unable to sleep (insomnia yay) and hoping my face gets back to normal soon,
I grabbed the doc's arm and said "Tell me I'll taste chocolate again, doc!"
but counting my luck that for having this weird thing happen that I got a mild missable version. Most lose half their face, some permanently.
If my taste doesn't come back I will easily ditch my gut without choco-love.

So there's my thing. Weird. And Janna's awesome.
But wait'll you see my new Joker imitation...

I have split some serious money in my stock accounts - equal in FOOLx and ScotTrade. I figure this next year I can race and see if I do better than the mutual fund from Alexandria.
I sold my URBN stock today for over 100% profit in a year. It just overcomes my losses in RIMM! Hooray for overall flatlines?
I'll be scouting out charities and stocks for the next year shortly.

Comments

[drmathochist.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

Probably a better Two-Face than a Joker.

Okay I get geek-trolled on that one.

[coronalrain.livejournal.com]

You are the 3rd person in the last two years I know who has gotten bells. Hope you recover quickly

[mai-neh.livejournal.com]

wow ... I hope it gets better soon

[likethewatch.livejournal.com]

That's really scary. Does it affect your ability to work or lift?

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Nope - almost unnoticeable. Just weird.

[have-inner-lady.livejournal.com]

I'm glad for that. I hope, however faint it is, that it goes away soon.

[turbogrrl.livejournal.com]

bells palsy can be a result of/associated with shingles, which is a uncommon flareup of the dormant hepes zoster virus (chicken pox), and can affect the nerves in the face.

everyone i've known to get it (three people, i think, all men) have had it clear up within a few weeks, but its definitely unsettling when it happens.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Yup, they did say it could be associated with shingles/pox. I don't have any pox/shingley symptoms though I had chicken pox pretty late in life (20s). It's just so odd! I mean given my choice - I think I'd rather a poxy flare-up just so it was more understandable. I gotta say, fucking with nerves isn't cool.

[freja999.livejournal.com]

Whoa!

[peregrin8.livejournal.com]

That is so weird. (And i too seem to have known more people recently who've had it... is it increasing in incidence?)

Hope you feel/work better SOON! (((hugs)))

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I feel fine, it's just weird!

[vicar.livejournal.com]

A pox on you all! It's coming true!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_blackjack_/]

I'm glad it's nodda toomah.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I am but...still... disability check isn't all bad either!

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

Weird and scary! Hope it goes away soon.

[colinmac.livejournal.com]

Crap! Good luck! Sorry it happened too late to go as Sylvester Stallone for Halloween. ;)

[vicar.livejournal.com]

With any luck, there will be a next year!

[fsfitz.livejournal.com]

whoa! I am glad you are facing this with the best of attitudes and hope you recover soon.
And this is the best time of the year with all the chocolate sales, you can't miss out.

[jennytheonly.livejournal.com]

My brother has Bell's Palsy. I won't tell you for how long, or you'll just get depressed. But if your symptoms get worse, he said that the only thing that seems to have much effect is acupuncture.

[anarcha.livejournal.com]

Wow. Nerve stuff is always freaky. I am glad it ain't a tooomah

[vicar.livejournal.com]

What, you want to deny me disability pay!?

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

That's scary! I hope yours clears up quickly.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Heh...I was looking at the statement that Social Security sends out and thought, "Oh wow...I could live on that disability check." It would have to be a pretty simple life but I could pull it off I think. Oh and it probably wouldn't cover expenses if the disability incurred any extra bills.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

You're looking at your current life. Many move to low tax areas and states, trailers even. Then the drama starts! Me, I'm already living far beneath my means so I think I could do it here if my income is based on what I make now (I can disability retire from work).

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Nice to know you have that safety net :)

[cobwellac.livejournal.com]

My aunt had facial paralysis many years ago, which never completely went away, but you have to look hard to tell. I wonder if it's the same thing as Bell's. You should be fine, but I'm sending you good vibes in hopes that yours goes away sooner rather than later.

[kuanyin00.livejournal.com]

hahahaha, sorry. My sister's husband developed that. I thought it was a weird-ass virus? They were sitting at the table and he was smiling lopsided so she said, "P, for fuck's sake, stand for me." He stood and she realized it was just the virus.

Did you get to wear an eye patch???

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! I could totally pirate!

[kuanyin00.livejournal.com]

hahahaha, sorry. My sister's husband developed that. I thought it was a weird-ass virus? They were sitting at the table and he was smiling lopsided so she said, "P, for fuck's sake, stand for me." He stood and she realized it was just temp paralysis. I don't mean to be flip or anything, but she works in the NICU and at a hospital. She didn't seem terribly concerned and it went away on its own.