12th March 2005
On the third day, my husband and I set off early morning to go to the polyclinic. And what a wait it was! After seeing the GP, I got my referral letter and we went to the Medical Centre. My appointment was at 3.20pm at the Neuroscience Clinic. As we walked through the long corridor, I saw info-posters of "stroke", "epilepsy", etc... My husband, sensing my edginess, held my hands a little tighter...
Dr. Yap attended to me. First, he listened to what I have got to say. After writing some points in my folder, he began a series of tests. He had me raise my eyebrows (only the right one lifted), whistle (ok but slightly), blink both eyes (my left would not), raise my hands and spread my fingers (seemed ok) and so on. He also did touch tests on the whites of my eyes with a tiny piece of tissue to see if I had some sort of reaction.
I was informed of the fact that this disorder can clear up in a couple of weeks, a few months, or it never go away. Also I was told that no one really knows what causes it or if the treatments were effective. I was also told to take care of my eye because blinking was not working. I was also told that my condition was in the early stages and it may be a good thing that I came in so early and could start treatment.
He didn't arrange for an EMG test, however, he upped my Predisone dosage, gave Acyclovir for the virus that may have attacked my 7th facial nerve and ointment for my eye. I have to complete these drugs in 10 days. My next appointment is on March 23.
I slept OK during the night, and to help me sleep, I sealed my left eye with Micropore. I also realized that my lips seems to be more numb, like a feeling when novacaine set in. It was bloody tricky to eat and I was biting my lips on the left side as I couldn?t open my mouth fully. The eye was still watering and my tongue was still tasteless. I couldn't ?pucker-up? for a kiss and I couldn't hold in the air when I inflated my cheeks.
My face did not look very different from normal while at rest, but when I smiled it really was noticeable.
Dr. Yap attended to me. First, he listened to what I have got to say. After writing some points in my folder, he began a series of tests. He had me raise my eyebrows (only the right one lifted), whistle (ok but slightly), blink both eyes (my left would not), raise my hands and spread my fingers (seemed ok) and so on. He also did touch tests on the whites of my eyes with a tiny piece of tissue to see if I had some sort of reaction.
I was informed of the fact that this disorder can clear up in a couple of weeks, a few months, or it never go away. Also I was told that no one really knows what causes it or if the treatments were effective. I was also told to take care of my eye because blinking was not working. I was also told that my condition was in the early stages and it may be a good thing that I came in so early and could start treatment.
He didn't arrange for an EMG test, however, he upped my Predisone dosage, gave Acyclovir for the virus that may have attacked my 7th facial nerve and ointment for my eye. I have to complete these drugs in 10 days. My next appointment is on March 23.
I slept OK during the night, and to help me sleep, I sealed my left eye with Micropore. I also realized that my lips seems to be more numb, like a feeling when novacaine set in. It was bloody tricky to eat and I was biting my lips on the left side as I couldn?t open my mouth fully. The eye was still watering and my tongue was still tasteless. I couldn't ?pucker-up? for a kiss and I couldn't hold in the air when I inflated my cheeks.
My face did not look very different from normal while at rest, but when I smiled it really was noticeable.