Another Day - Another Doctor

First of all, I feel better. But I'm not out of the woods yet.  Today I went to a new doctor, this one is a neurologist.  The purpose of going to this doctor is to make sure my family doctor didn't miss anything on his diagnosis.

So far, I've been to an emergency room a couple of weeks ago, with an absolutely horrific headache. It was like being zapped every 20 seconds behind my left ear with a Luke Skywalker light saber.  While there, I was given a catscan, diagnosed with Bell's Palsey, given some meds, told to follow up with my primary care physician.  The ER trip was 5/8.

The first available appointment with my family physician was 5/12.  That was ok, but there are a lot of 20 second zaps between Monday and Friday.  So family physician diagnosed Bell's Palsey caused by shingles in my left ear.  Also continue with antiviral medication, and another medicine for nerve pain, and continue with extra strength Tylenol which seemed the only thing to help with the 20 second zaps.  I was also referred to a neurologist to make sure we didn't miss anything. Prudent.  The first available appointment with the specialist was 5/24.  While that seemed a long time, I was able to hold it together by taking the prescribed meds.

So today, the neurologist diagnosed a case of Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. I will be scheduled for an MRI within a week, to take a peek and make sure no permanent nerve damage is sitting there. Here is what I got out of this, that the ER was correct, I did have Bell's Palsey.  The family doctor was correct that the Bell's Palsey was caused by the shingles virus.  The neurologist was also correct, in that Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is the umbrella name for what I have.  It's caused by the same virus as chickenpox, and shingles.  My antiviral medication ended last Sunday, but I will get a new one tomorrow.  The shingles rash that was in my left ear is gone, but has moved to the ganglion nerve in my face, causing the Bell's Palsey and pain.

The doctor today kept saying this condition is very painful - he didn't get an argument from me on that.  Oh yes, then there is my left eye.  I can't blink or wink with the left side of my face not cooperating, so the left eye is under strain because it can't keep itself moist.  Fair enough, I knew I was having trouble reading, especially when I was really tired.  So the other thing I have to do is keep eye drops handy and every 2 to 3 hours use them, and at night put the drops in, then cover it shut.

I'm trying to keep a stiff upper lip with this, and that is only easy on one side of my face.  I'm much too young to be this old.  Hopefully, this will go away in a month or so.  Time will tell.

On the other hand, this will go away.  - So all in all, it was a good day.