Amy was living life in the fast lane, but a shock diagnosis changed everything…
Sitting in the salon chair, I looked in the mirror and froze.
Something doesn’t feel right, I thought.
I’d felt unwell for a week,
with agonising headaches,
but put it down to being exhausted working 60-hour weeks in recruitment.
Next morning, my face tingled and drooped, while
my eyes gaped wide open.
I woke with a broken face,
I messaged my family, along with a selfie.
I tried to make light of it,
but they were worried – as
was my GP.
‘I think you have Bell’s palsy,’ he said, explaining it was a type of facial paralysis that resulted in an inability to control the muscles on the affected side.
He sent me off with steroids.Thinking I’d take the tablets and be fine, I told my mum Josie that I was going back
to work.
‘Are you sure?’ she asked.
Only, as the day went on,
I got worse.
I started slurring my speech and more of my face became paralysed, meaning I couldn’t close my left eye.
My manager took me to A&E.
When I got there,
I was whisked off for
a CAT scan.
Luckily, they ruled out a stroke.
They advised me to look after my eye, which was in danger of drying out because I couldn’t close it, and said I’d need to drink through
a straw.
I was told to come back in a few weeks.
But when I returned, the consultant just discharged me.
‘There’s nothing else we can do, it’s just a matter of time,’ he said.
I was a positive person, but after my diagnosis, I went through a tough time.
Struggling to eat or drink,
I was exhausted and in constant pain.
But one day, I decided the condition wouldn’t stop me living my life. I made big changes to my lifestyle and outlook, and allowed myself
to relax.
Although Bell’s palsy has
no known cause, stress was supposed to be a factor.
I couldn’t close my eyelid
for five months, but now,
after seven years, I’m almost fully recovered.
My friends and family, and the charity Facial Palsy UK, have been
a huge support.
I was pleased to see singer Tulisa talk about her experience with Bell’s palsy on I’m a Celebrity recently too.
I want to raise awareness of my condition and promote the need for people
to look after themselves both mentally and emotionally. Life is
for living!
By Amy Green, 42, Leeds, West Yorkshire
● For more information, visit facialpalsy.org.uk