This past week was a weird one. I hurt my back shoveling snow last Saturday, and in the days afterward I began to develop symptoms of what I believe is Bell’s Palsy. The left half of my face has become paralyzed, more or less.
Normally I don’t discuss medical stuff. But this is my face, and it can’t be hidden. So I guess I’m just giving everyone a heads-up — if you run into me, I will probably look even weirder than usual.
I have a very expressive face and like to make big facial gestures. Those don’t work anymore.
I’m also a great whistler. Can’t do that anymore.
Like Ted Striker, I now have a small “drinking problem.” Eating problems, too.
My sense of taste is altered and things don’t taste right. I have trouble blinking/closing my left eye. Can’t spit properly. I’m having trouble with more words, especially those with “F” sounds.
Anyway, I have gotten some medical treatment, but it’s pretty much a waiting game. The facial nerve will likely take weeks or months to resume functioning normally. In the meantime, I’m learning to live with it.