ANA Discussion Forum

Archive => Archives => Topic started by: Brendalu on September 03, 2006, 05:57:47 pm

Title: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 03, 2006, 05:57:47 pm
I was out this morning with my husband and daughter.  Very suddenly I felt  the right side of my face go numb  and it felt like my face dropped on the right side.  I asked my daughter if I looked different and with tears in her eyes she said that the right side of my face was quite a bit lower than the other side.  My AN was on the right side.  I felt my face with both hands and it felt lower on side than the other.  I looked in a mirror and it was very noticible.  Has anyone had this happen?  I have had virtually no feeling on the right side of my head since my surgery 14 months ago, but this is totally different!  Anyone out there with this "new" problem?
Thanks,
BrendaO
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Raydean on September 03, 2006, 06:37:30 pm
Brenda

I can't offer any insight, but I think this is something that you need to discuss with your Doctor.
Any change, especially a noticeable one such as you described needs to be brought to your Doctor's attention.  Please consider calling him/her.  Holiday or not, the answering service should be able to contact your treating Doctor.

Please keep us posted.

Thinking of you
Raydean
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 03, 2006, 06:46:31 pm
I put a call into my PCP.  I trust her far more than the others I see.  I'm waiting for a call back, I was just hoping someone else had experienced this and it wasn't a bog deal.  Just another part of the "story".  Thank you for your post.
Hugs,
Brenda
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: amymeri on September 04, 2006, 07:28:24 am
Can you move your face?  Blink your eyes and smile?  If not you could have Bells Palsy.  It sounds like your 7th nerve is affected but why or how I can't say.  Was there any residual tumor that could be affecting the nerve?

Please keep us updated!

 ???
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: ppearl214 on September 04, 2006, 07:44:38 am
Hi Brenda.  I cannot state as I have not had this occurance but am in agreement with Raydean.  My hope is that you got the call back from your PCP and please keep us updated. It may just be a temporary after affect and keeping fingers crossed that is the case.

Will look for your updates... and hang in there.

Phyl
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: pattibobatti on September 04, 2006, 07:55:08 am
Hi Brenda,

Sorry this has happened to you.  I'm sure this is scary.  Let us know and I'm sending you my best wishes!!

Paittibobatti

Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 04, 2006, 08:06:30 am
There is only eye movement on the right side of my face (thank you God for at least that).  I am seeing both doctors tomorrow.  I don't want to sit in the waiting room at the hospital for ten hours today.  I'm just going to rest today and was told to not take any meds today.  That should be fun!  That you for all of your replies and best wishes.  They help more than anything.  My bottom lip is twitching like crazy.  I am a sight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs,
BrendaO
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: shoegirl on September 04, 2006, 09:50:09 am
Brenda,

I am so sorry this is happening and as Phyl said hope that it is only temporary.  Please let us know what happens tomorrow.  I will be thinking of you and wishing you well.

Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Obita on September 04, 2006, 10:07:59 am
Brenda:

I don't know a whole lot about Bells Palsy but the two people I know that had it said it came on sudden.  Both of them were symptom free within a week or 10 days.  I do hope you find answers tomorrow.  Keep us posted.

Thinking of you,  Kathy
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Battyp on September 05, 2006, 10:21:42 am
My sister had bells palsy.  Started out of the blue and left out of the blue so lets hope yours will do the same!
Please keep us posted on what the doctor says!
Sening big hugs and lots of prayers your way!
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 05, 2006, 03:18:34 pm
Two doctors both think I had a TI.  I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow.......I hate them.........big dose of Valium first, then a couple of other things that I'm not sure why.  I will let you know.  Also, my right pupil is huge and the left one is tiny and my lip is still twitiching.  Very weird!!!  My shrink noticed the twitch and the pupil.  I'll inform you all as soon as I know more.
Hugs,
BrendaO
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: pattibobatti on September 05, 2006, 03:40:57 pm
Hang in there Brenda!

I remember that you said ou hated the MRI.  You will get through it with the valium!!!

Just take care and keep us updated.  My prayer is that you will get better very soon.

Pattibobatti
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: amymeri on September 05, 2006, 04:29:45 pm
Sorry to seem dense but what is a TI?  I hope nothing serious?
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Obita on September 05, 2006, 05:23:02 pm
Brendalu50:

Is that a mini stroke?  TIA's they call them?  That is not fair at all.  Please let us know how it goes.  I am praying for you too. 

Kathy

ps:  you must not like the MRI's I take it?
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: matti on September 05, 2006, 06:37:43 pm
I'm praying for you Brenda

hugs,
Cheryl
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 05, 2006, 06:42:56 pm
Thank you for explaining that one for me.  No I do not like MRI's.  I have had the worst technicians do mine.  I have had seven so far in sixteen months.  My veins have collapsed and blown out on the contrast ones and I am very claustraphobic, so I get very nauseated.  The one I had right after my surgery, the idiot tried to tape my head down so that I wouldn't move it.  I practically punched him out and then he asked where the hole in my forehead came from!  I think that before the techs are allowed to do an MRI, they should know a little something about the suspected reason for the MRI.  My whatever it is, is lasting a little longer than it is supposed to, but my lip is quivering like Elvis'.  Maybe I can make some money with it.
BrendaO
Thank you all for the prayers.
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Captain Deb on September 05, 2006, 09:55:28 pm
Brendalu-
Whenever I get "stuck" (I.V.'d) I warn them in advance that my veins are fragile and demand the best sticker they've got. Even if they have to go get an ER nurse (they are the best.) My first trip to the hospital with a severe migraine following my hearing test (which is when my AN was diagnosed) it took 8 tries before they got an IV in me. The first person was a student nurse, she missed twice. Lesson learned.
Capt Deb
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 06, 2006, 05:28:42 am
Capt Deb
They use a butterfly on my and unfortunately my veins are deep and roll and not in good shape.  One tech actually asked me if I was a drug user!  I asked for another tech.  I don't get to have my MRI's at the hospital.  We have many, many stand alone MRI facilities.  The last one I had on my lumber was in a stand-up MRI, but I got to sit down.  It wasn't much better, but they sure think of everything.  Maybe when they see that my arms are already bruised and battered (I fell again) they will take it easy on me! ::)BrendaLu
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: amymeri on September 06, 2006, 06:06:53 am
So are we talking TIA or something else "TI"...or does the TI stand for transiet ischemia?  Because I have had many patients with TIAs but their symptoms always spontaneously resolve in a brief time (hence the "transiet") and don't persist so long.  I guess the MRI will tell.

They use a pediatric needle on me for the IV constrast because my normally good veins disappear on MRI day!

I hope this turns out to be a good MRI...good experience and good results!!!

Capt Deb!  LOLOLOLO  WHO asks an MRI patient if they are a drug abuser...that's WILDLY inappropriate!  Isn't it amazing what we have to put up with?  Once I had a patient getting a MRI for something else and the tech called in to ask if she was ever diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She said "No, why?" and he answered "oh nothing".  She freaked out of course.  But the report came back clean and we never knew WHY he asked that....nearly causing her to panic!

Oh, the patience of Job...that's all we need to get throught this ::)
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: Brendalu on September 06, 2006, 06:54:01 am
TIA.........but it also could be something else.  Only all of the tests will tell.  My doctor did say that they won't keep me hanging on this one...I will have the results no later than tomorrow.
Techs, or rather some of them, don't think before they speak. 
Gotta go get ready for the short bus!
BrendaO
Title: Re: Face Drooped
Post by: ratthebrat on September 06, 2006, 07:12:37 am
hey there i also had this problem after my surgery. But this happen in the hopital just hours out of surgery. i did work hard on my such as massaging it all the time and working on smiling. it did all of the sudden come right back just as fast as it was gone it was back again. Every one may be different but that is my side of my story. i know what you are going through hang in there you are not alone. I am three years out and i am still having aftermath from the tumor!!!