Just a few days ago, we were having a serious technical discussion when suddenly my boss interrupted and inquired “hey ritesh..is everything fine with your marriage..I remember you had pink and plum cheeks when you got engaged..you have lost a considerable amount of weight now…everything ok”
I was taken aback with such a query amid a technical session and replied.. “Touchwood..everything is fine uptill now..but sorry I didn’t inform at that time, I was on steroids at that time so had gained a lot of weight..”
While coming home..I tried to recall everything that happened around 2 years ago (may be more..when I actually post this blog..) Yes this one is a true story..and I think my experience would help anyone who has got a sudden and strange attack of bell’s palsy...
29th September, 2008:
After having the dinner, I sensed some sort of palpitation in the left region of my face just above the upper lip. I thought that my facial muscles were a bit tired that day. Never did I realize that next morning there would be a surprise waiting for me.
30th September, 2008:
I had already planned mine to do list for this day in advance and was on leave from office as my elder sis was advised to have a C section delivery. While brushing I realized that I was not able to brush properly and my left eye was watery. I ignored all this as I had other important things lined up for the day. Around 10:30 am, my sis was blessed with a cute baby boy and everyone around was very happy. I got the baby up in arms and tried to blow a whistle for him..just to find I was not able to blow even a whistle…
While driving home, I sensed some numbness in my face and observed that my lips were drooping on the left side..and the eye had got more watery..at home I found the wrinkles on the left of my forehead were missing..
After dinner I disclosed everything which was happening since morning to my elder sis who happens to be a homeopath..she immediately suggested me to take leave from office and visit a doctor for facial palsy the very next day…
1st October, 2008:
I took an appointment with an ENT specialist, thinking that the problem was due to cold or something..
After examination, the doctor told that I was suffering from Bell’s Palsy..the treatment would consist some steroids and a multivitamin dose for next 2-3 weeks..
I came back and surfed internet about bell’s palsy and found that a lot of people had shared their experiences and a few unfortunate ones never recovered even after a treatment of six months.
In the evening, I managed to call up my girlfriend (now my wife :-) ) and disclosed the problem to her and also told that it may be possible that I never recover from it. She simply told… “come what may..I still see my future with you..” well, I was really moved to hear it from her. Amid all this, our families were planning to get us engaged soon.
2nd October, 2008:
The condition was really getting worse; my left eye was simply not blinking and was turning red probably due to dehydration. Anyway, since I had to join office next day, I bought an anti glare for my self.
3rd October, 2008:
I joined office, and to my surprise, no one in my office noticed my drooping left face, rather everyone was wondering that I have got spectacles.
4th October, 2008:
Since the condition was not seemingly getting any better, my sister advised me to visit Dr Aruna Sharma(A panch karma specialist), in patel nagar. Dr Aruna was already treating a few cases of bell’s palsy and paralysis at that time.
From day one, she started my treatment at her clinic. I was given mild current therapy for 10 minutes(it would feel as if a lots of ants were walking all over my head down to face) and a facial ayurvedic oil massage which was in turn followed by infra red treatment for 20 minutes. Sometimes, I was made to inhale medicated steam as well.
This treatment was really effective as on day one itself, I could feel that my left eye has started blinking…well not completely. I was advised not to go in open air after the treatment. Dr Aruna also gave me a large white towel to cover my face as I had to travel back home on metro which fortunately or unfortunately is AC coach. At the patel nagar metro station, security personal were looking at me with suspicion, I had to explain that I was undergoing a treatment for my face.
For the next two weeks, I would drop at Subhash Nagar metro station from office cab in the evening and take a metro for patel nagar. I got familiar with the security staff during first few days. The journey towards patel nagar used to be normal but while returning back, people would give me frosty looks..imagine a formally dressed male carrying a laptop bag and covering his face with a towel in the metro :-)
Well, the panch karma treatment was helpful to an extent that my eye had got better, but I still could not make a balloon of my mouth or even blow a whistle.
The ENT treatment was futile in my case. I also started taking homeopathic medicine as advised by my sister.
Dr Aruna advised me to consult a neurosurgeon for allopathic treatment as it could speed up recovery. I took an appointment from Dr. H.N Aggarwal at Sir Ganga Ram hospital. At first, he was reluctant to meet at SRGH..don’t know why..probably he had a really busy schedule. Anyway, I managed to reach SRGH as per his convenient time. He examined me for bell’s palsy and advised a treatment of steroids and multi vitamins.
He also told me to meet him at his Greater Kailash clinic after 2 hrs! Grrrrrr….why?
He wanted me to undergo some test which could be done at his clinic only :-( I was really taken aback..man…why did he gave me time to visit SRGH when I already had explained my history. Ahh..god forbid business minded doctors..Anyway, while returning home, I decided not to visit him again.
19th October, 2008:
My family had been really supportive during all these days, meanwhile my engagement date had also been finalized by now. My would be in-laws invited me for shopping at Karol Bagh. After shopping, we went for lunch at some local restaurant. Now, the most embarrassing moment, the cold drinks which we ordered, were served with a straw. Like everyone around I was also supposed to use a straw..I tried once, twice, but failed..when you can’t blow out a whistle..you probably can’t drink with a straw..
I suddenly noticed that my would be fiancée..was silently observing it and was probably feeling more embarrassed than me in front of her family. In the evening when I called her up, I just wanted to know weather she would like the relation to continue or not..hmm..difficult time..and as usual..she replied.. “At this point of time in our relation I don’t think that your face value counts..Ritesh”..
At that point of time, I really regretted my decision not to go for allopathic treatment at SRGH.
20th October, 2008:
My elder sister arranged an appointment with Dr Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon at Jaipur Golden Hospital. Dr Sanjay didn’t advise me to undergo any test, instead clearly told me that he would start an “aggressive” treatment with some “gluco” steroids and multivitamins and a few antibiotics. By aggressive, he meant that the treatment would continue for at least a month and I may notice some swelling on my face within a week itself, which according to him would be good… “Tu vaise he itna kamjor lagta hai..thoda mota lagega to achaa he hai na..” he joked. He also advised some facial exercises.
During the first week of treatment itself, I was able to partially blow out a whistle for my nephew!
I still remember following those facial exercises in the washroom (had I tried them at my desk in office, I don’t know in what sense, my colleagues would have taken it). I made it a point to visit washroom every 2-3 hours to follow those exercises in office.
25th November, 2008:
Dr Sanjay Gupta, after having me undergone for CT scans of brain, congratulated and declared me free of bell’s palsy.
Through this blog, I wish to thank my sisters (they were really proactive during my treatment, from arranging appointments with doctors, accompanying me to test labs), my parents (for being fully supportive), Dr Aruna Sharma and Dr Sanjay Gupta and last but not the least my girlfriend who now happens to be my companion for life.
If you happen to visit this blog after an attack of bell’s palsy, don’t panic. And believe me, its really curable. I have come across three more cases after my treatment and all of them have fully recovered.
I would advise you to not to delay your treatment, the earlier, the better, visit a neurosurgeon and if possible go for an ayurvedic panch karma treatment as well.
For some personal reasons, I have disabled comments in my blog, if you want to share something related or would like to get more information regarding my treatment, do feel free to drop me an email at ritesh_iic@yahoo.co.in
