Another bout of Bell's Palsy
December 23, 2013
By Mike Weland

To those who see me in the next few weeks, don't worry if I'm a bit less expressive than usual, if only one eye blinks or if I slur or drool a little out the left side of my mouth. I've been hit once again with Bell's Palsy, a condition affecting the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face.

I had it before in the early 90s, that time affecting the right side. It's a nuisance ... one side of the mouth doesn't work, leading to drooling and smiles twisted awry, and all you can give as far as facial expression from the affected side is an extremely dull, disinterested and altogether dumb looking stare.

It usually, though not always, clears up on its own in a few weeks or months.

When I had my first bout with Bell's, I thought for sure I'd had a stroke. Then, In 2011, I did have a stroke, one that affected my left side. The first thing I asked my wife after it hit, "is my face drooping?"

Poor girl, I asked her the same question again this morning, and her first thought was that I'd had another one. She spent the day worried sick and begging me to go to the hospital to get checked out.

I didn't know it was Bell's, but I suspected. Having experienced both, I didn't think it was a stroke, so I put her off.

The sad fact is, I dislike going to the hospital as a patient. I've always been averse. But even more so since the stroke, which put me in the hospital for the first time in my life, and which forced me to take medical retirement, put me on Social Security and cost Debbie and I the health insurance that came with my job.

The stroke qualified me for Medicare, but only after a two year wait from the date of the stroke. In April, I'll be eligible.

While the wait doesn't sound like it makes much sense, in the long run, I'm sure it saves the federal government considerably.

Debbie did not want me to wait until April to get this checked out, whatever it was. And to be honest, I was a mite concerned, too, because until you know, you can't be sure.

So, this evening, I gave in and let her take me to the ER at Boundary Community Hospital, and once again received the outstanding care those who work there are famous for.

And was relieved when the diagnosis came out favorable ... no sign of clots or bleeding, the usual culprits in a stroke, and no indication of further brain damage (which is a good thing, as I didn't have much to start out with and can't spare much more).

I don't have any idea how we'll pay, but Debbie is relieved and we'll both rest a lot easier tonight.

I'd like to send out a huge thank you to all of you for your concern and prayers while Debbie and I were at the hospital, and to the amazing people at Boundary Community Hospital. You are all a blessing.