So I was posting in the thread about ethnicity and I looked at a couple of pictures of myself in Photobooth. I started to notice that recently it appears the right side (my right) of my face is started to display significantly less expression that the left. I may be imagining it, but I probed the two sides with my fingers, and it seems I have less feeling on the right as well.
This is actually starting to scare me, as I look at more recent pictures, especially over the last week, I appear a bit disformed. Smiling into a mirror, I can see my left cheek rising much higher than the right, and my lips moving up much more to the left as well. I think my expressions have always been a little lopsided, but my vision is also better on the left ( I close my right eye on occasion when reading).
So is this something that should concern me? I had my wisdom teeth out nearly four years ago, and I've heard that can cause some nerve damage, but this seems like something much more resent. I feel like if I asked a doctor about this, I would just sound obsessive and weird. Thus, hatrack!
Edit: Also in a relaxed state, my right eyebrow comes down farther than the left. .
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posted
It is not obsessive and weird. I'd think a neurologist would be the one to see for facial weakening and loss of sensation.
There are a few things that can cause this, and you need to have your head examined to determine for sure what it is.
For unilateral facial paralysis, I usually think of Bell's Palsy, but that usually comes on rather suddenly. This gradual creeping up onset could mean that there is something gradually impinging on the facial nerve. Like, G'd forbid, a tumor.
Call your primary doctor in the morning for an appointment, and referral to a neurologist.
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posted
I'm with Tante-- one side of his face weakening was one of the first signs of my uncle's ALS. Facial weakening can be something serious. Please go see a neurologist. Soon.
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posted
Tante- I don't have a primary right now because I've been living in England, and my parents canceled my school insurance. I still have medical insurance through my parents but I don't know who I should call about an appointment, or if I should still go through the campus health system, which I think I am covered for (I am still in the university).
I'll email my mom and see what I should do.
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posted
The campus health system is certainly a good place to start. You can get evaluated by the clinic and they can refer you to specialists and/or diagnostic tests.
Of course, emailing (or phoning) your mom is always appropriate.
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posted
Since I've been thinking about this, I've noticed that I recently have also had a habit of sort of opening my eyes widely and rubbing at my right eye to get it to open all the way. Otherwise the drooping lid annoys me and impedes on my peripheral vision. As I was thinking about it, after the last time I did it, I realized I don't do it on the left side. That alone is worrying.
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posted
Orincoro: I always get a little nervous when I see people jump to the most extreme conclusions based on some symptoms. While I agree (based on the description) that this condition shouldn't be treated lightly, I'd like to point out that everybody's face is not symmetrical, and that people generally smile more on one side of the face than the other. That's what it means when actors say "get my good side."
Likewise, actors use their "bad side" when they want to present a sinister persona.
For anyone that's interested, try this: Find either a very thin mirror, or the blade of a polished knife, and any face-on photo of yourself. Use the knife to make a split image of your face by placing it perpendicular to the photograph, bisecting your face, and look at the combined image of the reflection and the photograph. Do this for both sides and note the difference in expression.
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posted
Glenn, I smile more on one side. But I have the same amount of sensation on both sides, and neither of my eyelids droops, nor has it gotten progressively worse... It could be nothing but it COULD be serious. That's why we all want him to go see a doctor.
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posted
Glen, most of the people suggesting seeing a doctor are in the medical field, just in case you were not aware of it. No one is making a diagnosis, just expressing concern. (as are you)
I hav e done that symmetry test with a photo before and it is really cool.
Ask Liz.....Hatrack's suggestion to see a doctor in a situation very similar to this may have saved her life at one time. She is lucky to still be with us.
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posted
Thanks, guys. (shudder of memory) Orincoro, you have been posting on other threads, but please check in here.
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posted
My mom has this thing where she lost much use of the muscles on the left side of her face. It isn't always noticable but you can definitely tell when she smiles.
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posted
I have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon- didn't want to post until I went, but I can see people are concerned.
I talked to the advice nurse about it- and she had no clue what it might be, if anything at all. She seemed to think it might have just been a virus messing with my nerves.
But I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't anything terrible. I'm thinking if anything the doctor will suggest I get psychiatric help, but actually I have no idea what they'll think.
I haven't been sleeping well, going over 24 hours without being able to sleep, then sleeping 14 hours and not being able to wake up when I do sleep- and I think it was last week that I woke up in sheer panic with the image of someone's face nearly touching mine while I was asleep, and I had this horrible feeling that someone had just been in the room (this was on a night where I probably got 4 hours of sleep). Add that to irrationally irritable- which I've demonstrated to Elizabeth already. Thanks so much for caring even though I'm being difficult at the moment.
The tough thing about it is that I was such a different person when I was living in England- it's like I came back and I'm minus all the maturity I felt, with a sense of doom mounting in my view of the world. Plus things were grim at home, my parents unhappy with each other, my Dad losing his driver's license because of his diabetes, and I can ignore all that when I'm far away out of reach. So I'm imagining the cause of any perceived problem is probably all that mental effect on the body- but I don't know, I'll tell the doctor about it tomorrow.
I really hate talking about this because I also know that fixating on your feelings can make them worse.
posted
This sounds a little like Bell's Palsy. I had a student a few years ago that had this, and it went away in a couple of months. I hope your doctor's visit goes well tomorrow.
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posted
Be sure to mention your trouble sleeping to the doctor, as well. Sleep habits like the ones you describe can be detrimental to your health.
I used to think insomnia was crazy - after all, who couldn't sleep when they wanted to? Then, I was put on a medication for which sleep trouble was a side effect and I learned what it really means to NOT be able to sleep no matter how badly you want to. It's a horrible situation. Fortunately, there are some really good meds on the market which have low risks of dependency if used correctly. Be sure to talk to your doctor, and hopefully he/she can get you sleeping well again. No matter what is going on in your life, a good night's sleep is bound to make it easier to cope with.
posted
I have a friend with Bell's palsy who also has trouble sleeping. When he gets a bad bout, one eye won't close at all so he has to sleep with it into the pillow which leads to infections and many bad nights.
But he says it is sometimes even worse sleeping when he gets lesser bouts. His eye mostly closes but he keeps waking up with bad dreams and realizing that his eye opened when he was asleep.
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posted
I think he does sometimes wear a patch (I dunno about rigid) but if I recall, still uses the pillow for some reason. I'll see him today sometime and ask.
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posted
Bell's Palsy typically has an abrupt onset. What Orincoro describes is a gradual onset. That points to other causes. Bell's Palsy is a pretty benign condition. As palsies go, it's definitely my first choice. Not everything that causes facial paralysis as described by Orincoro is so benign, hence my concern.
I'd love to be all wrong, and it just turns out to be a normal variation in facial symmetry. But that's not a safe assumption to make without seeking medical attention and testing to determine what's going on.
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posted
I would like to underscore and point repeatedly at everything Tante Shvester has said in this thread.
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Edited:
There are many signs and symptoms that are non-specific; i.e., they can point to any number of things. The set of things described here is one of them.
There are certain signs and symptoms at which medical professionals are trained to prick up their ears; i.e., specific or not, these are things that must be pursued in a timely manner. This is one of them.
It may well be nothing serious, and that would be just great. Until it gets checked out, though, it does present an example of an excellent test question for medical and nursing students -- one of those questions that says a lot about whether the person answering the question knows enough to recognize the clanging bells and flashing lights of a potentially serious condition.
(it is the combination of unilateral sensory and motor symptoms of gradual onset that rings loud bells for me)
posted
I had an appointment today. The doctor didn't seem to think it was a big deal. I described all the symptoms, she did some basic tests of my nerve response, and everything seemed to be pretty normal.
She suggested I take ambien for my problem sleeping and adjusting back to the pacific time zone. I passed on that for now because those drugs are addictive, and I've had a pretty long history of sleep problems. She told me I could call to change my mind though.
She also suggested cognitive behavioral therapy to help me with my focus problem, I'll be making an appointment to do intake with a phycologist asap.
The doctor concluded that as long as things aren't getting worse, it's possible that it was some random virus, or a milder form of Bell's palsy, but that sometimes that resolves on its own without having had much of an impact. She also seemed to think that the generalized numbness could be a result of some pretty screwed up sleep cycles in combination with a virus that might not have had such an effect otherwise. Considering that I did travel extensively over the last eight months, it's entirely possible that this was the case- and I'm just noticing an effect now that I'm in the same place for an extended period.
She said if it got any worse, to come back, but that it didn't seem to be a big problem at the moment.
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: The doctor didn't seem to think it was a big deal. I described all the symptoms, she did some basic tests of my nerve response, and everything seemed to be pretty normal.
That's why it's not a big deal. It all hinges on the physical exam -- no positive neuro signs, no problem. But if there had been neuro signs, then things would have had to be done about it.
Great! I'm very happy for you.
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My father in law is dealing with a degenerative neural disorder that is progressively getting worse. They keep changing the diagnosis, but right now his whole body feels wooden and he is loosing functionality.
Recently he has started falling and that is getting progressively worse. They have started looking at wheelchairs.
He is Japanese and has been on lots of different meds. He does have a professional team of doctors working with him. Thank goodness for good insurance.
Anyway, when I read your first post I got really worried for you. I am glad it is likely nothing.
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