Author Topic: the 1 - 6 facial scale  (Read 4983 times)

Keri

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the 1 - 6 facial scale
« on: March 24, 2009, 11:56:49 am »
Hello,
I'm almost 8 weeks post op translab. My facial weakness / paralysis was very pronounced at first, but has improved.

I went to a follow up appt with my ENT today. He said I was a '4' on a scale of 1 - 6. I can't rememeber if 1 is the best or 6 is the best! I guess I'm almost in the middle. I can smile a bit on my weak side (closed mouth). My eye doesn't close all the way. Sometimes I think I'm blinking but I'm not. My eye just sits there wide eyed and open all the time. I have more forehead movement now. My wrinkles on the AN side are starting to come back! I know it will be slow and I am improving. Just can't remember if I want to be heading for a 1 or a 6!

Thank you,
Keri
1.5 left side; hearing loss; translab scheduled for 1/29/09 at Univ of MD at Baltimore
My head feels weird!!

saralynn143

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2009, 12:37:12 pm »
You want to be a 1. As in "We're number one!"

Sara
MVD for hemifacial spasm 6/2/08
left side facial paresis
 12/100 facial function - 7/29/08
 46 - 11/25/08
 53 - 05/12/09
left side SSD approx. 4 weeks
 low-frequency hearing loss; 85% speech recognition 7/28/08
1.8 gram thin profile platinum eyelid weight 8/12/08
Fitted for scleral lens 5/9/13

lori67

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2009, 12:49:53 pm »
Head for the 1!!

Wrinkles coming back and movement in the forehead is a good sign.  Who would have thought anyone would be happy to get wrinkles back?  Don't people usually pay to get rid of them?   :D

Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

JulieE

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2009, 01:12:13 pm »
So, I remember not even knowing about that scale and which way is improving.  Then I saw my surgeon B4 a postop apt. at a nearby restaraunt, and he announced "you look great - I'ld say almost a 4!"  I remember thinking, "Gee, I've always put myself about a 7..."  Here's to learning the right way to go on the scale and continuing improvement until getting there.
Best, Julie

Keri

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2009, 07:38:25 pm »
thanks for your helpful and funny answers. i'll asprire to be a 1, not a 6! ;)
1.5 left side; hearing loss; translab scheduled for 1/29/09 at Univ of MD at Baltimore
My head feels weird!!

Kaybo

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2009, 07:43:44 pm »
I never even knew about a scale until I got on here...I'd say I was definitely a 6 or 12! ;)

K
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

OTO

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2009, 07:47:24 pm »
House-Brackmann Scale
I - Normal
VI - No movement

We strive to be No. 1... yeah team

lori67

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2009, 08:45:46 am »
Kay, you overachiever!
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

Kaybo

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2009, 09:32:57 am »
Well..what can I say??  I just want to be the best at everything I do...but let's not ANYONE try to achieve the same stature of facial paralysis as ME!! ;D

K ;)
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

Jim Scott

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #9 on: March 27, 2009, 03:11:49 pm »
Hi, Keri ~

Well, on that House-Brackman scale, you're almost half-way to 'normal'.  Not too shabby for only 8 weeks post-op.   I think you're going to do very well.  :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Keri

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2009, 08:23:40 pm »
i'm halfway normal??? oh, you meant my facial recovery!
1.5 left side; hearing loss; translab scheduled for 1/29/09 at Univ of MD at Baltimore
My head feels weird!!

jazzfunkanne

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2009, 09:17:36 am »
i was a six now i would say i was a two, still healing
over 4.5cm AN removed dec 06

saralynn143

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Re: the 1 - 6 facial scale
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2009, 10:42:31 am »
This site has good descriptions of the House-Brackman scale:
http://www.entusa.com/bells_palsy.htm

I see Dr. Neely of the Neely-Chung grading scale mentioned on the same page.

Sara
MVD for hemifacial spasm 6/2/08
left side facial paresis
 12/100 facial function - 7/29/08
 46 - 11/25/08
 53 - 05/12/09
left side SSD approx. 4 weeks
 low-frequency hearing loss; 85% speech recognition 7/28/08
1.8 gram thin profile platinum eyelid weight 8/12/08
Fitted for scleral lens 5/9/13