So … I went to the hospital yesterday.
On Tuesday the left side of my face decided to go numb and began drooping while the left eye was turned into a very irritated red runny mess.
I decided to ignore it thinking that would make it go away. Come Wednesday morning things had deteriorated enough to merit greater concern. So I phoned my niece who politely advised I was a fool for not calling 911 fearing the symptoms indicated a stroke.
And so I did. And here I am at home.
Drum Roll … I got the Bell’s Palsy. Not a stroke as feared.
I am feeling ok today after a pretty good, minimally cat-bothered, sleep. Cat either gets that I’m under the weather or he just doesn’t want to catch what I have so he’s being very well behaved.
The left side of my face is drooping a bit. I can’t close my left eye and it remains irritated. Speech is moderately slurred and a sense of taste on the left side is MIA. Eating is an exercise in caution lest I bite off a piece of my upper left lip. No arched eyebrow, no baring of teeth, and a lopsided cryptic smile I do not wish to keep. Perversely shaving the right side of my upper lip is now more difficult than the left.
I was prescribed a short course of prednisone. One a day 5 x 50g pills and given a temporary eye patch to use while sleeping.
I hope that as in most cases symptoms disappear in a few weeks and I surrender my role as Pirate King.
The doctor recommended I rest the left eye as much as possible for a bit and frankly it is a little gruesome looking even after a night’s rest.
So I am taking today off and probably Friday too as even typing this short piece fatigues the eye.
Please thank Sarcasticat for covering in my absence.
