24/09/2023
My Journey with Facial Paralysis: Let's Learn Together!
Hey there, everyone! I want to tell you about something that happened to me recently, I’ve just been to hospital . It was a referral to a consultant for facial paralysis
Let me explain
It was a beautiful day, and my hubby suggested we get some fish and chips and eat them by the harbour. I thought it was a great idea!
I got ready to go out, put on my coat, and even added a touch of lipstick. Yeah, I know, Vain!. But then, when I looked in the mirror, something strange happened. The right side of my mouth didn't move, and my smile was all lopsided. I was so confused and worried about what was going on.
I called the doctor, and they gave me an appointment for a few days later because I had to come back from my trip to Wales. During those days, my right eye and eyebrow started to droop too. I thought it might be something called "Bell's Palsy," but it turned out to be a bit different.
It turned out that I had shingles in my inner ear. This infection Compressed the nerves in my face and affected my hearing, taste, and balance. Its called "Ramsay Hunt Syndrome."
Now, here's the important part: There's no cure for this, only ways to make the symptoms better. And we're not always sure if everything will go back to normal.
During this tough time, I found a lot of help and support from a website called Facial Palsy UK. They told me about massages and relaxation techniques, and they introduced me to some helpful people.
Facial paralysis is a big deal because our faces help us show our feelings and connect with others. Smiling is one of the best ways to make friends and be part of a group. Imagine not being able to do that!
Here's something that might surprise you: There isn't enough money to help people with facial paralysis. In the UK, there are only five special centres to treat it. My doctor asked me to tell people about this problem, so here I am!
To keep a group called "Facial Support" going strong and to raise money for research, you can be part of the Unique Smiles Lottery. It's like a fun game, and you can find it here: https://hubs.li/Q023bNKS0.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please share it with your friends and family so they know about facial paralysis and how we can help
Together, we can make a big difference and bring back lots of smiles to people's faces! 😊
Every ticket bought brings us one step closer to our vision, a society where facial palsy is widely recognised and every person in the UK affected can access the information, treatment and support they need.