Sometimes...life throws us a curve. It happens to all of us at one time or another. How we deal with it is what really makes the difference. Over my life time, I've been thrown my share of curve balls, and yesterday's was no different. Well, a little different. Oh OK, a lot different. Yesterday, I had a health scare that I didn't see coming. In the past, I've dealt with disappointments, accidents, and losses of infinite variety. But I could always say, "at least I have my health."
A week ago, I had what I thought was an earache, but over time, it kept moving. Ear hurt, teeth hurt, ear hurt again, where I used to have tonsils hurt, scalp hurt, but I couldn't pinpoint exactly what I was feeling and where it hurt. Yesterday, I woke up with a major headache, and it was no longer moving. The pain was intense, pulsating, and settled in right behind my left ear. I would get zapped with what felt like an electronic pulse at an interval of about every 20 seconds. With pain like that, it doesn't take long to get your attention.
During my last two conversations with my arthritis doctor, she had mentioned to be on the look out for a change in my medical condition which might include a horrific headache that is unusual in its length and intensity. What we didn't talk about was where that type of headache might appear, temple, sinus, back of head, back of neck, etc. Well, this headache yesterday fit the bill of unusual, not going away, and really intense. I called the doctor's office, and was advised to go on over to the local emergency room. So, with hubby driving, we went the 4 miles to the local hospital emergency room, checked in and sat...for about four hours. In between time, I went through various stages of checking in, and managed to upset each person I talked with, because I was being zapped behind my left ear at 20 second intervals.
Eventually, I was given a catscan and they verified that I have a brain, and nothing extra, like tumors, or an aneurysm, or evidence of a stroke. Basically, physically looking at my face, they were able to diagnose Bell's Palsey. OK, well, that wasn't in my plan for the day. In the grand scheme of things if you have to be diagnosed with something in an emergency room Bell's Palsey isn't all that bad. They don't know what causes it, but suspect that it's caused by a virus. It generally doesn't last too long, a day, maybe a week, but normally goes away in less than a month. Yep - this is something that goes away, eventually. That's a very good thing.
In the mean time, I was beginning to suspect I was going to have to miss a very special Boy Scout troop meeting. There was so much to do. Parent meeting, interpreter strip qualifications, and early induction of cub scouts into our color guard. As time wore on, I was getting more fatigued from waiting and still getting zapped every 20 seconds. I knew I was going to have to spend the evening resting. Fortunately, cub scouts, boy scouts, and ventures are raised by really cool parents. I had lots and lots of help to make sure all the activities and events I had planned to be a part of, come off without a hitch. I am so thankful to everyone who stepped up and made the events great for the scouts. Our parents are absolutely the best.
Meanwhile, back at home...they gave me pain pills that have generally taken care of the electric pulses behind my left ear. I take these every six hours, and they do manage the pain, for about 5.5 hours. That last half hour is still an adventure. My facial changes are somewhat subtle to look at, but functionally this too is an adventure. Normal activities I didn't think about day before yesterday, are eventful today. Special challenges include: sipping coffee - half of my lips don't work like the other half; blinking - right eye blinks, left eye, not so much; winking - I can wink my right eye, no winking with the left; smile is a bit off; never thought I would raise one eye brow and not the other. Finally, I can close my left eye, but I have to close my right eye first - this comes in handy at night going to sleep.
So...yes...I was thrown a curve yesterday, one I cannot say "but I have good health," If I look on the bright side (with my one good eye), I can still see, I can still move, eat, laugh, read, type, and sleep. I wake up on the correct side of the grass in the morning, I have a loving family, great friends, and I know I can still make a difference.
It's a good day.
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