3 ms·
About ten years ago I had the right side of my face go limp. I was under the most stress of my life, in a management position I was not built for. After a CT sc
by donatj 5y ago
About ten years ago I had the right side of my face go limp. I was under the most stress of my life, in a management position I was not built for. After a CT scan, ER told me it wasn’t a stroke rather stress induced trigeminal neuralgia. I’m not convinced that’s what it was.
They gave me some anti-inflammatories for my nerves and sent me on my way, and everything seem to get better. I quit that job within about a week, and I’ve never experienced that kind of stress since.
It took me a long time to notice but my face still kind of droops on that side, and I don’t think I ever went back to feeling … normal. I genuinely feel like my personality changed, but maybe that was just the stress’s effect on my life, I don’t know.
The point of my story is who we are is just so much more malleable than one would think in our day-to-day lives.
- adsteel_ 5y agoThis sounds like Bells Palsy, not neuralgia. I had it and have seen one other person have it. The cause is unknown but it clears up on its own over months. That side of my face is still a touch droopy but it gives me character.
- pcthrowaway 5y agoI had Bells Palsy also, brought on by Lyme disease. It's kind of a divisive topic, but may be worth looking into if you or GP have had other symptoms which are common with Lyme disease
- sizzle 5y agoLyme disease from ticks?
- pcthrowaway 5y agoPresumably, yes. I don't remember actually seeing the tick but I felt it when I scratched it off thinking it was a scab, and later developed the typical bullseye rash
- sizzle 5y agoThis is terrifying and I love hiking, might have to give up this hobby for fear of tick bites.
- donatj 5y agoWas there facial pain as well? I had what I described as buzzing lightning bolts across the right size of my face at the time.
- adsteel_ 5y agoI had some pain behind that ear beforehand, but it was numb. No pain or lightning for me. I think Bell's Palsy often comes with some kind of pain, but I'm not sure about your kind.