ANA Discussion Forum
Archive => Archives => Topic started by: cinnamon on September 15, 2006, 01:05:33 pm
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Hey everyone,
I seen my neurosurgeon today for the first time since being out of the hospital. It has been 2 mnths now since my surgery. I feel like my incision is healing good and my hair is growing back well. I am somewhat discouraged and I knew the doctor was going to tell me it would be awhile. He said for me to give it 6 mnths for the paralysis to go away and that I should consider a gold weight for my eye instead of this hideaous patch. I like many others i am sure am struggling with the way i look. My confidence level is really low. I am having a hard time even going to the grocery store. The good news I did get released to start driving- well with someone first and then slowly increasing to the highway. Anyways, I feel that I was a good looking, well dressed woman with a great smile and now that I can't even move my left side is really hard. I am supposed to go back to work in about 6 weeks and I just don't think there will be any change. My question is for those of you who have returned to work. I mean, I work in a dental office and it is so important to smile. How can you just go on with everyday life and not be self- conscience about the way you look?For instance, Taylor I see you attend school. You are so brave. I know that Gennysmom has went back to work. Life is so much about vanity. I have been talking to a life coach and will continue to see her over the coming weeks. I was just trying to get some answers from those of you dealing with this personally. I am going to do some research on the gold weight. I know Maren has one and I will email her with more questions. For me, I have always been so confident that this is really hard for me. I feel like I want to hibernate for the next 6 mnths but I want so badly to go to work because I am not a home body. I really have to do things on my own time but I would appreciate some support from others. I don't like feeling this way. I have even started having anger. I feel I have done my best being patient and that patience is running on thin ice. Thanks for listening.
Lisa
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Hi Cinnamon,
I think I know exactly how you feel. Did you have the paralysis from the Very beginning?? That sometimes can help with predicting how long your face will be paralyzed.
This is the hardest thing to live with for me. There are so many feelings that go with this, too. It's probably good to go ahead and feel them. The emotions are hard to go through, but when I get in touch with how I am REALLY feeling, I do better.
You are only 2 months out, so there is lots of time for improvement. Try and think of that most of the time. Please let me know how you are doing. This is very hard,I know.....
I really wanted to share with you also that about a week ago my lip(on the bad side) started moving. Now it is even Better!!! And my eye is blinking!! I am 9 months out and all this JUST started. There is lots of hope for you. And lots of prayers, too.
Pattibobatti
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I wish I could fix it and know I don't really have any idea what you are going through. My guess is you look a whole lot better than you think. You are a woman after all and we tend to see our faults, not our beauty. Remember when you were a teenager and if you had a pimple it was all you could see? Stay strong.
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Cinnamon - I have no idea what you are going though as I'm just on a w/w. I can tell you the old cliché that beauty is only skin deep but that doesn't really help when you are face to face with the world. Stay strong, lean on your family and friends, and always try to be thankful for the good in your life. Things will get better and I’m sure that everyone here will rally around you and send you support and prayer!
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Yes Pattibobatti my Face has been paralyzed from the beginning. My neurosurgeon led my family to blieve that it would only be a week or so. I am feeling angry with him. I have tone to my face and it is not drooping at all. I have been doing lots of mouth exercises trying to keep it from being tight.
I think I have done so well staying strong and now I am sinking fast. i just had to talk about this because I don't want to keep it bottled up. I am so excited that you've had movement. I just feel like I want to sleep the next six months and wake up just fine. I don't even like to sleep that much. Anyways, thanks for the encouragement.
Lisa
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Cinnamon,
Well, that's good that your face isn't drooping. Mine did. And you have tone, too. Very good.
You might want to spend some time at the Bells palsey Forum site. There is soooo much info about this. They suggest not doing any exercises early on.. because with exaggerated movements, the nerves that are trying to repair will possiblly grow back in the wrong areas. You and I could talk forever on this subject!
Hope tihis helps
Pattibobatti
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Hey Lisa,
I'm sorry that this aspect of what we have is getting to you. I'm just finishing up my first week back full time (3rd week back) and while I'm not concentrating on my face, I do think about it. I didn't lose tone either and I think that's what has helped me in dealing with it....I know it's really not that noticeable unless I smile...and when I smile, I just cover my mouth like when I yawn. I really think it's a mental attitude thing, and for some reason it's just not bugging me....I think for you to get past it you need to work it out for yourself mentally. I really hate when doctors give you a time frame, because for so many of us when that time frame passes, and we're not better, we seem to dwell on it more than others who did not get a time frame. My advice would be to sit down and do some thinking about the reasons why it's so important to you and how that fits into your life...obviously it's not working for you and you need to figure out how to make it work. Honestly, I've been out there and almost no one notices there's something wrong. And if they do, I figure I've had a major life altering event that I'm proud of surviving, and I will answer their questions as to what's the matter with my face. But other than friends and co-workers, no one has asked.
I'm home alone tonight, BF is working, so feel free to give me a call if you need a shoulder. I'll be home around 9 your time...shoot me a note if you don't have my # anymore.
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Thanks Kathleen,
I appreciate your support. I was wondering how you were getting along at work. I just am realy struggling right now. I was hoping i could see some improvement by now. I think it would help if i had a desk job in a small cubicle but no i have this job working with lots of patients everyday and new ones too. I have always been a smiling person that is very happy at work and to not smile is devastating to me. I wish I would have thought more about the recovery period. Perhaps I could have lined up another job while I was healing in a secluded spot. My husband is the only one getting paid right now so there will be a point when i will have no choice but to work and i am so afraid. I just didn't think things would be this way. I know I am lucky to be well and with no headaches. Boy, I just am having a hard time. The good thing to look forward to is practicing driving this weekend.
Lisa
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Yup, I feel very lucky not to have headaches either. It could be a lot worse than this facial issue and the balance (listing to one side) things. I know you're really self conscious, but really, the only one who thinks you look bad smiling is you. If you greet your clients with the same enthusiasm and cheer that you did before, I'm sure they'll barely even notice...because someone smiling is more than just what your lips are doing...it's your eyes, body language, and attitude. Practice it....that will help. Go out and eat at a restaurant, go shopping, see how people react to you...it's not as bad as you'd think.
Driving is coming real slow...I'm only on the back roads at 40 mph or less. It's going to be a while before I get that down. I don't have much confidence with it. Good luck with practice!!!!!!!
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cinnamon: When I returned to work 3 1/2 months after my orginal surgery I looked like I had stroked (in fact that is what most people thought), the left side of my face sagged and didn't move, my eye didn't blink much at all etc. I work as a nurse and so I know how you feel about being around people all the time.....I just bit the bullet and went forth. I don't really know what else to say but....it gets easier with time (to some extent). I am able to go around without thinking about how I look for the most part, actually when I take good look in the mirror I am shocked to see what's looking back as I don't think of myself that way. I have self esteem issue's but life goes on and I just try my best to carry on.
Kathleen
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So Kathleen Mc, when you went back to work and your eye did not blink what did you do? Any weight or just using drops constantly? My eye drys fast without this crazy patch. I am struggling trying to decide on this weight thing. See I am thinking I need to go back in about 3 1/2 mnths total which is still 6 weeks away and I have to get a hold of this feeling. I just want to stop life so to speak. I think my self esteem which show through and people will know I am not happy. I have worked with people for a long time and I know body language. I have always helped patients feel good about coming to the dentist and now I am just now thinking I am good for them. Again, my confidence is extremely low.
Oh, about my driving gennnysmom- I will be taking it slow too. I have to get on the expressway to go to work in Louisville, so I will try to start practicing I hope today. My husband is really concerned for me which is good because he is usually so carefree. I don't want to harm myself or others. My suv is my baby. I haven't even liked my husband driving it call me crazy.
Thanks you gals for boosting my confidence. I must get a handle on this. It is absolutely driving me insane.
Lisa
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Lisa, My surgery was 2 yrs 4 months ago and I remember well the feelings you are now experiencing. I was under the impression that I would wake up one day and my face would be fine again. The dr said it would move in 4 months. Little did I know he meant I would start seeing very tiny movements at 4 months.
I met new people about 4 months after surgery. My dh told them about my surgery and they had no idea that I was "different". I thought they were crazy. But then I started studying other people's faces. There are alot of people out there who have less than perfect faces. Their mouths are crooked when they talk, their eyes aren't even.....and I bet they don't have an explanation?! At least we have a real good reason.
Anger is one of the stages you will go through as you are healing. I was angry at myself, the docs, my family, everyone! I remember one appt with my doc about 6 months out when I really gave him hell for not telling me all that could happen and about facial paralysis.
As for your eye, mine didn't start blinking until last winter. I used Lacrilube day and night. Yes it's greasy, yes it blurs the vision but I figured out just the right amount to put in to not be as greasy and I adjusted to the blurred vision. The irony, people thought my eye was watering, not dry. I do not have a gold weight. My eye doc said I did a good job taking care of it and he said it might affect the way I look. My eye looked normal.
Good luck to you. This is a long and hard journey that you are on but it does get better....Stay strong.....
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This may sound strange but even having the anger is a good sign
Basically (for most of us) it is like having a 500 bit puzzel picked up
and then dropped - gradually, over time the bits are put back into place.
Ironically it was 6-8 weeks after surgery before I had the ability
to "loose it" - let alone the strength.
It will all return - it just takes time
Best regards
Tony
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Hi Lisa,
I had complete left side facial paralysis along with numbness after my surgery. Because of the numbness the doctors put in a gold weight before I even left the hospital. I never really had to think about it. Or got to for that matter. I am happy with it though. I also had the lower lift raised and had a stitch or two put in the outside corner of my eye just after six months. That was so have less of my eye showing so it wouldn't dry out so fast. I can't really tell a difference now. It looks normal.
I went back to work after 2 months...on Halloween. I thought that was an appropriate day since I felt like I was already wearing a mask. I teach elementary school. I remember really worrying about how my students would react to seeing me. I felt really ugly and weird looking. Like you, I was used to smiling all the time. I considered my smile my best feature. It was awful to lose it. But I needed the money and knew I couldn't stay home forever so I went.
My face did not show any movement at all until 3 months after surgery. Ever since then it has been coming back at a painfully slow rate. At my six month check up my doctor said it would not come back. I was devasted, to say the least. At my one year check up he seemed pleased with the progress. Just recently my cheek started to move (I would have to measure it in millimeters).
I'm still sad that I can't smile. It still makes me angry from time to time. But then I move on by thinking of all the things that I can still do. I have found that being able to vent on here with people who understand is helpful.
Good luck to you.
Jean
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Hi jean,
My daughter is a teacher for the first year! She teaches first grade. We had a blast fixing up her 'ladybug' themed class room. The kids are too much.... A little girl looked at me and said (real loud!), 'you smile crooked... I just love the way children are, they just say it!!
I'm one one those people that smile constantly,too. Since my face is starting to move I feel sooooo much better. Like I'm back in this thing....You did say you can move yours a little, right?????
Can't believe I can reallly blink, too. Can you?
Cinnamon, one day (very soon I hope) you will have all this to tallk about!!!!!
Smile everybody
Pattibobatti
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Patti,
Working with the little kids is fun. I was teaching kinders for the week before my surgery last year. I decided to switch to an open third grade right before my surgery. Didn't get to meet them until afterwards though. When I went back to visit my kinders, they wanted to feel my face. LOL They felt it and then went on. My favorite was when the Down's Syndrome child asked me why I didn't smile right. :-)
Yes, my face is moving a bit more each day. My eye still isn't blinking, but it closes fairly well when I want it to. I get a lot of twitching there so I'm still hopeful that it may blink again. Glad you can blink again. Gives me hope that I will too.
Lisa, I know it doesn't seem like it but this time goes by quickly and you will be healing too. Hopefully your face will improve. Life goes on whether we like how we look or not. When I was two months post-op my father-in-law died after having Parkinsons for over 20 years. It gave me a different perspective.
Jean
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Hi Lisa,I am just a couple of months ahead of you and have been back to work now for about 4 weeks.I know exactly what you are going through...I manage a busy toy store and am dealing constantly with parents,kids,sales reps and delivery people.Many new strangers every day.It was really hard at first as working in such a fun place I used to smile all the time! Now I find myself walking around with a neutral expression so as not to distort my face.I get asked almost every day what has happened.I am straightforward with people and tell a quick story,I try to inject some humour as well as it often helps to soften things.
I still feel like myself and though it's been said thousands of times,I am just grateful to be alive.As we get older,have kids things start to change,sag and stiifen anyway so I feel I have just started a little earlier. ;)  I think dealing with these challenges just helps to strengthen us more.You will have bad days so it's easier to let them come,acknowledge your feelings and let them pass.Little by little every day gets a bit easier.Hope tomorrow is a "good day" for you.
p.s.I have a gold weight and while my eye still doesn't close all the way it has helped with the dryness.Lacrilube at night is all I need now and have given up the saran wrap patches.
                                               Tracey
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Tracey,
What exactly do you say to those who ask. That is one of my concerns. Patients know that I have been on medical leave. I know they will ask. I can't just not tell them. So, tell me how you word it. I am so friendly I have to say something. I love to smile too. I feel I don't want to make any expression as to let others see that my face is so blank on the left side. I am really just hoping I can see some improvement in the next six weeks, until I go talk to my doctor more about the eye weight. I have been doing really well with my energy level and no balance issues so I just have to do my best to keep positive. My doctor just got me facing reality and I don't like it! I am stubborn. At least I can tell the truth.
Thank you everyone for trying to help me. Again it would be so much easier working in a little cubicle. The good thing is I am trying and that is what counts right? I am working on the driving thing, putting on some makeup and taking baby steps revisiting the world outside.
Lisa
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Hi Cinnamon,
Stubborn is good. I think I am too. This is such a life change and I am constantly reminding myself that. It's hard to make sense of all this but I keep trying.
Would you like to talk on the phone?
Paattibobatti
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Here is my two cents, although some of you may not want to hear it! Move right on if you don't. I think you all are VERY lucky to be able to go back to work at all! A busy toy store? I can't even go into a busy toy store and I'm almost 4 years out. That much stimulation makes my head feel like it's going to explode. Maybe with a heavy dose of painkiller can I go into a store like that, or even a large mall. I go with my daughter-in-law who always has a stroller that I can hang onto.
At 2 years post-op, my headaches had me in bed 5 to 7 days a week. Only now and thousands of $ in medical bills later, am I able to work and it is about 1/8the speed and I pay dearly for it the next day usually.
I am a self-employed artist, disability? yeah, right--the self-employed usually can't collect that unless they are comatose. It's a pittance anyway and barely would cover my health insurance, which I pay for out of my own pocket and it is lousy and it is expensive.
Pre-AN I was being "courted" by a nationally-know art gallery. To get in there would have meant a HUGE jump in sales and income. At their invitation I had one review, got turned down and told to get in touch in a year or so so they could see new work. My brother is in this gallery (Oprah bought 3 of his pieces there) and he said that they turn everyone down first, but to continue to progress and I would surely get in next year. I got an AN instead. Last year I sold work out of my private collection, work I was saving to leave to my grand kids, to pay my medical bills. My husband has ad to not only put off his retirement by several years, but also has taken a second career as a landlord and spends all weekend, every weekend, doing remodelling on a house we bought to re-sell. Our dreams of buying a big sailboat and sailing off into the sunset have sailed away by themselves.
The docs seem to think I have some kind of nerve disorder in my head and, short of an autopsy, likely they would never be able to really figure out what "mishealed" in my head.
However, my face is perfect! No dry eye, paralysis, droop, no nothing. It crosses my mind to think, "why me?" sometimes, and feel like I would gladly trade places with some people here to have facial paralysis and NO headache or pain. At least I would have my life back to "relative "normal. I have a great husband and family who would love me no matter what I looked like, and a career where I don't have to deal with the public at all.
I'm sorry if anyone feelings are hurt by me saying this, but this vent is truly needed as I missed the call last night due to a headache because I actually tried to paint a few hours yesterday. AAAARGH! (that is the Lucy frustration yell, not the Pirate one.)
You all know that I'm usually pretty cheerful and upbeat on this site, but I'm only human.
Capt Deb 8)
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Wow Captn Deb,
    I am sorry your headaches are that severe. My doctor scared the bejesus out of me telling me I would have horrible headaches, but I have had only 1 that was pretty bad. I think that someone always has things worse than you and it is hard to look at the postives. I have just been trying to be so strong that I finally broke. Yes we are only human. I think this an has changed all of our lives and we just have to move on but for some it is really hard. I have always had a pretty easy life and this was at the top of the mountain for me. Eventually I have to move on but until then I really appreciate all the support I can get. As it has been said, only those of us that have went through this understand. Our family can only try to feel what we feel. Thank you for sharing your feelings. I only hope that things get better for you.
Oh, pattibobatti, thank you for listening. I may want to call you by I am okay right now. Thank you for caring. I am feeling pretty good since I got to drive around town some today. I will keep you in mind though.
Lisa
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I know it's hard when ANs cause changes in our lives that we weren't expecting. Today I am thankful that all I have are face problems. This afternoon I heard that the guy who fixes our cars after we hit deer and do other damage to them died. (Being in a small town, everyone knows everyone else.) He was not much older than me and has a son the same age as mine. He was four-wheeling and was hit by a car from what I've heard. The question came to my mind, "Why wasn't that me?" I could just as easily have been hit by a car. We never know when our time is up so we should be thankful for what we have. Kind of like Oprah's gratitude journal.
Just had to share my thoughts at the moment. I'm still kind of in shock. He was such a nice man.
Jean
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I am sorry to hear he died. My family is quick to remind me that you never know when it is your time. It is hard when it is someone you know that passes. Well, even when you don't know them. I have been emotionally upset that Steve Irwin passed. I think about his wife and 2 children. It is a reminder that life is unexpected.
I am finding it hard when I look at magazines and famous people on tv. I think how can they look so good. They don't know what life is. Then again they could be hiding it. I am trying to just get a grip with things. It is slow for me.
Lisa
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Lisa
I have right sided paralysis and numbness. I went back to work at 3 months and back full time seeing patients last month. Most look but don't ask, and some ask. I prefer when they ask and then I tell them the truth. I just say "I had a brain tumor and the surgery to take it out caused the right side of my face to be paralyzed and it might take a year or so to get better". Some leave it at that and some have questions. But I prefer them to know WHY I look like this.
My job is hard because the paralysis makes some of my speech (M, B) hard to understand, and as the movement has returned I developed some hypertonus in my cheek so I have a mean sneer on my face all the time and can't close my mouth. My eye closure is at 80% but no blink yet. The dryness is better.
My paralysis didn't start until 2 days post op which is supposed to have quicker healing, but I am 5 months out and have this hypertonus contractions that make movement harder (the muscle is contracted all the time in my cheek).
Lisa: Its hard, but it does get better. Now it is mostly a huge drag and hard on my self esteem, but when I think back to how lousy I felt at 2 mos out and how good I feel now there is no comparison. I agree with Cap'n Deb...being able to go to work, ride my horse, work in the yard and have some fun is better than pain and balance problems. Its a crappy trade off, but I guess I will take it.
The recovery of your facial function will be slow and in stages and requires more patience than you think you have. But you will get through it. Just hang in there.
Amy
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Thanks Amy,
I have to try to talk clearly because I feel like I slur. Do you have an eye weight? That is something I have to consider. I just wish I could wear a mask. Sorry this is really hard for me. I am trying to talk it out and make sense of things. I think if I wasn't so animated it would help. I like to show expression and this is a time when I don't want to show any. I just keep thinking I should have prepared for this more. Maybe I could have saved or planned to work from home. I am really weak with this type of problem. Well actually I am always hard on myself when things don't go right. I just keep telling myself things will get better. If only I worked in a place with no one around. You are brave. I only hope if I have to go back like this I will be strong like you. I am so bored being at home. My craziness of being at home will getto me I just know it. If only my doctors would have prepared me more. I know they didn't know what to expect especially with the tumor being all over the facial nerve. Sorry, I always beat myself up thinking about things. Thanks for caring. I wish I could fast forward time. I hope things are better for us all one day.
Lisa
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Lisa,
The hardest part of going back to work with facial problems is during the weeks before you actually go. I had the same thoughts before I went back to work. I was really nervous. Once I actually got there it was much better than I thought. Looking back on it, I wonder why I was so worried. Even though you can't use half of your face the other half still can express emotions. They just look a little different. I learned that with my students. I could tell by looking at them that they could tell the emotion I was expressing. Kids are great because they don't make up what they are feeling. Even the adults treated me well. It amazed me when I was having a conversation with another adult and they treated me just like they did before my surgery.
I can certainly understand that this is a difficult time. Try to enjoy the time you have left at home. Do things that make you happy. Don't be afraid to leave the house. The more you get out the easier it will be.
I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the best.
Jean
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Lisa,I agree with Jean and that once you are back in the swing of things at work it definitely gets easier.As far as what I say to people,it's different every time depending on how it has come up.One person said "you look like you had dental surgery" and I said "brain surgery actually" when he saw that I was comfortable talking about it he asked me a few questions which I answered.Others say may I ask what has happened to you? I usually say that I had a brain tumor and surgery to remove it.It either goes further with people asking more questions or they then say something to exit the conversation.I think it helps my self confidence the more I talk about it as I know I was feeling quite insecure the first week or so back at work.I was afraid I would scare the kids in the store but they have been the least curious about my face and the most accepting.I also feel that being back at work has helped my energy level and am able to do alot more than I could even a month ago.
We all deal with things differently and I know as situations arise you will just know the right thing to say.
Tracey
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Hi Lisa
I don't have the eye weight although have considered it. I have a good Bell's reflex (where my eye rolls up when I try to close the lid) which offers good protection and I am very good about lubricating it. But when I was about 2-3 months out I wanted the weight because I felt like I spent all day lubricating. I mean, I would hear about people lubricating 4-5x a day and freak out because I could hardly go 15 minutes on a good day! But right at the 3 mos mark I had my first hint (and I mean hint) of movement and my neuro-phthalmologist said he thought I should wait because I might have more blink at 6 months. At that time I was ready to get the weight and didn't want to wait (despite dreading any procedures) but now I have days where I lubricate only a few times (more as the day goes on, evenings are the worst) and I only patch/tape at night.
So, if there is a good chance your nerve will come back (and I think your good tone is a great sign) then you might want to wait. I used a temporary, external weight for a couple weeks until I lost it! It helped a bit. (look up Blinkeze online. Cost me $70).
I found that for quality of life the blink/dry eye thing is the worst. For self image the sneer is just awful...EXCEPT that since I can't eat without making a mess, and food doesn't taste all that great I HAVE LOST 20#. Now granted, I would rather be chubby and smiling rathing than thin and sneering....but it is one tiny bright spot.
I went to a conference today...all strangers...and felt very, very self conscious. And people did look (no one asked). But I just keep on going.
Amy
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Hi Lisa - I feel and know your pain. I agree with Jean, the hardest part are the days before you return to work. Constant worry and questions running through your mind, but trust me, once you are back, the focus wiill lessen. At first I stayed around the house and very hesitant to go out in public, but the best thing I did was to go out everyday and learn to become comfortable with myself. It helped prep me for going back to work. I co-owned a restaruant and worked very closely with the public, I was more aware of my facial paralysis than they were. No one judged me but myself. If asked, I told the truth, some were more interested than others.
What this whole AN journey has taught me, is patience. And I thought raising two boys would have taught me that, but oh no!
Keeping you in my prayers!
hugs,
Cheryl
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Hey Amy, I am trying to find an eye doctor here that can offer me the blinkeze. I just called a couple of doctors today and no one knows what I am talking about. I believe I need the eye doctor to measure me for what size. I really don't want to have surgery but I have to wear this hideous eye patch all the time. I can't even go 15 minutes without wearing it. My eye does flinch a tiny bit like it wants to blink but it doesn't. I know I don't want to wear this patch to work. I am hating it at home even. Your eye just stays more moist than it used to? I am thinking that there is no sense doing a surgery if you have to take it back out. I just want to do something and the blinkeze sounds great.
I attended a brain tumor support group this evening so I had to stop calling offices but I will contiue tomorrow. I would like to hear more about it from you though if you don't mind.
I hope you are doing okay and thank you for sharing your information with me.
Lisa
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If you haven't been seeing a neuro-ophthalmologist then I would seek a referral ASAP. That is who would generally do the gold weight surgery and who would evaluate your eyes in a case like this. If you live near a major medical center or med school then there should be one on staff.
Anyways, my neuro=ophthalmologist had never ordered the eye weights before but was willing to order them for me. Basically, I went in and he tried the weights (mine was 1.2). They are the same weights used when they determine which one to put in during surgery. The he called in a script (or fax it) to the Blnkeze folksMailing Address:
FCI Ophthalmics
P.O. Box 465
Marshfield Hills, MA 02051 FCI Ophthalmics
20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
Tel: 800-932-4202
Tel: 781-826-9060
Fax: 781-826-9062
I called them as well because I wanted them billed to my credit card and shipped directly to my house. It cost $70. The weights were in my mailbox in 2-3 days!
Don't bother calling around, because no one will know what you are talking about and so they will blow you off. This stuff is so rare that regular docs just don't know. Make an appointment with whoever is managing your eyes (even if its the NS) and print out all the information and ask for their help. Since it is something that can't hurt you, I think most providers are happy to help even if they don't know much about the weights. If your current docs won't help, get the referral to the ophthalmologist.
I found the weight slipped if I got hot or sweaty, and it took awhile to get it "right" and it was kind of noticable. But it did allow me to mostly close my eye and keep it moister.
In my case the dryness got a lot better between 3-4 months and now I lubricate several times a day but not constantly. I avoid fans and breezes, wear wrap around sunglasses outside (wearing glasses would help too) and patch at night.
Check out www.bellspalsy.ws for more eye care ideas.
Amy
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Chris had the gold weight put in while still in the hospital. Glad we did. It only took a week to heal and now you can't tell a thing. We use Lacrilube every night and he never wears any kind of patch. His eye is fine. Go for it !
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I go back to my eye doctor next month. I will be sure to take some information with me. He would be doing the surgery for the eye weight so i guess he is an ophthalmologist. I just am thinking of ways around surgery. I was planning to call blinkeze and see if they have any doctors who use it around here. Thanks for your help. I'll let you know what I find out.
Lisa
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Cinnamon/Lisa: I just went back through the postings here and saw your question to me about drops etc. when I first went back to work....yes I used my drops frequently when I first returned to work (the hospital can be a very dry environment) but over time I found I used them less and less (too busy to stop and put them in). I really don't take good care of my eye though and keep getting told off by my eye doctor.
KathleenMc