On Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, I went to work on getting better. I began research the day before on some of the results and causes of BP, but today was about execution. I visited an Acupuncturist that took my insurance, had a decent amount of quality Yelp reviews, and was located nearby. My first session was as much as information sharing as it was about receiving the pins. Didn’t hurt, and just taking a few moments to shut down – felt relaxing. Kiersten, my acupuncturist, suggested three times a week for the next two weeks. I booked the first week. She suggests to stay out of the wind. Many cultures, not just Chinese, contend that the Wind can help to bring on this facial paralysis. I go the next four weeks, three times a week. I’m not sure if it’s helped. It doesn’t seem to have hurt. I certainly appreciate the quiet time of reflection and trying to use my mind to either relax, or to actively try to get better. All the while I have a bunch of needles sticking out of my face.
By evening time, my mouth is now effected. The nerves have conked out on the left side. The nerve damage has been making its way down my face. It started with a dull headache on the left side, and a pinched feeling behind my left ear as if my glasses are too tight. Now, my left eyebrow and forehead don’t even move. Gotta say, the absence of wrinkles on the left side of my forehead makes a pretty good case for Botox.
A good friend had invited me to a movie premiere tonight — in a film he’s got a small part. I don’t want to bail, and I don’t want my life to end just because of Bell’s Palsy, so I bundle up and meet him in Hollywood. It’s still pretty windy here in L.A., as it has been the last couple weeks. Unseasonably cold, too. But everyone from the urgent care doc to the acupuncturist has been telling me how great it is that I noticed my BP so early. Surely, hopping on this so quickly will certainly help. And, catching up with an old friend is always a good thing. We meet for burgers and beers. Since I’m meds for the next several days, no beer for me. Since I can’t properly open my mouth to chew, no burger for me. One good thing about this new situation is I will be forced to eat more slowly — whatever it is I can eat. Hummus and pita is the only thing on the menu that I could handle at Jameson’s. I’ll survive.