I've never liked making a big deal about my birthday. I generally can't remember my own age. I have actually forgotten it was my birthday until as late as 5:30 pm that day (I think that was the year I turned 20. I think.) Some birthdays were WORTH forgetting, such as the four-years-in-a-row tradition of getting sick. Or the one in 8th grade when I puked in Social Studies class. Fun times, fun times. I'm not saying I dislike my birthday, or that they are usually bad! Usually they are quite nice. The last couple ones have been fun, now that my kids are getting excited FOR me, and I get to pretend to not notice all of the little things they do to "surprise" me. Cute.
But now I've got a birthday story that tops all the other strange birthday stories. This year, I got Bells Palsy for my birthday. Or maybe Lyme disease. Cool, huh? ;o)
Okay, there are more exciting birthday stories out there, and certainly worse ones. But still- waking up and having the left side of my face not functional was rather interesting!!
Typical me; I pulled out a college textbook, diagnosed myself, tried to convince myself and others that it was not such a big deal and decided to wait it out. After all, I'd had a killer headache all week on that side of my head, and the facial nerve that was causing the problems runs right through the area I'd had the worst pain, so I theorized that some swollen muscle was just slightly pinching the nerve and that once the inflammation or irritation went down (and the pain really was finally subsiding), the nerve would start working again! Great theory, right? Plus, I'd spent all day Friday getting a dental x-ray and doctor appointment to check my teeth and ear, and both of them had declared that I was perfectly fine and just needed to rest my "tension" headache.
That was before I couldn't close my eye and mouth properly. And the numbness. And all of that.
Well, that evening I set aside my pride (and did a little more research) and decided "you really don't mess around with cranial nerves, Michelle" and drove myself (yes, I still had to be stubborn in some way) on over to the ER, half-expecting to be told to stop self-diagnosing. But I was RIGHT! Come on, there is some kind of twisted victory in that! Right?
Actually, I don't have a real diagnosis yet. Lab work takes time. But, I got treated, and am now wandering around with my eye patched shut and dribbling water down my chin. Yea! Hannah asked why I had a bandage on my eye, and I told her it was bugging me and needed to rest. She waited five minutes and then asked, "Is it better NOW?" ;o) Alas, the bandaid doesn't fix ALL boo-boos right away. But I should be better in a week or so. I do have a little more sensation today. And another "crazy story from the life of Michelle" to tell. I'd been running low on those!
