ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Facial Issues => Topic started by: Lyssa on July 20, 2009, 09:01:28 am
-
OK so it isn't much, but last night while I was waiting for my husband to finish brushing is teeth, I was staring at myself in the mirror. I covered up the "good" side of my mouth and tried to smile. I try this pretty much every day, but every other day nothing happens. But last night I got the faintest movement in the corner of my mouth on the paralyzed side!! It's barely noticeable, but it's there and as you all know that is immensely encouraging when one side of my face has had zero movement for 5.5 months! Now all I want to do is sit in front of the mirror and practice smiling... my whole way to work this morning, at every red light I flipped down the mirror in the visor and watched my "bad" side moving!
Yessss I finally feel like I'm getting back on track, what an awesome Monday morning!
-
That's great news, Lyssa. Here's to more movement!
Sara
-
Hurray for you, Lyssa!!! There is a small group of people in this world that know how significicant such a small movement is and we are in that group! Here's to continued movement.
Jean
-
Yay! I remember that moment. :-D
V
-
congrats Lyssa!! I hope it keeps progressing for you. I watch mine on a daily basis also. I also cover up the good side and actually hold it in place to make sure it's not helping out the weak side :-\. The progress is hard to see watching it on a daily basis, but I check it anyway. Hope your "bad" side turns to "good"!! :)
Joe
-
Lyssa ~
Splendid news! This kind of not-so-small victory can bring much joy. Please accept both my congratulations and hope that you'll have many more such 'small victories' in the weeks to come. :)
Jim
-
Lyssa -
Wonderful news!! And, yes, I remember, like it was yesterday, that first little movement. Mine was the little muscle just under the eye and I was so proud of it! It took another month or so before I got a little movement at the corner of my mouth - and now, I've got a whole smile (albeit it slightly lopsided!)
Celebrate the movement and share your next victory with us, okay?
Debbi, smiling at you from NJ
-
Yeah Lysaa,
That is sooooooo great, I know the feeling well. It is so awesome for you, keep us posted.
I too had my surgery in Toronto.
Michelle ;D
-
it is monday and we are all having monday blues.....except for you!!! woohooo!!! congrats!!!
-
ME TOO!!!!! I had surgery on 6/15 and this last Monday I woke up with a tiny tiny movement in my upper lip!!!!
So Happy. Not only that, I had a dr appoinment yesterday so when he saw it, it said that this was just the beginning. He said that is should go a little faster now. YES! I can not stop looking in the mirror to make sure it is still there.
-
MaryBeth ~
Although this may technically be termed a thread hijack, I just have to offer congratulations to you, too! What a great week for facial paralysis patients regaining some movement. May it continue, full speed ahead! :)
Jim
-
Congrats....i'm still waiting...somewaht patiently. i'm 5 weeks out from surgery and hoping for something to happen soon. I'm just concerned about my eye. I just want to be able to close it tightly so it doesn't get injured in a wipeout surfing.... ;)...Hehe...just noticed the smiley face I chose can't close its left eye either.
-
I can not stop looking in the mirror to make sure it is still there.
I know what you mean! I've had so many recurring dreams of my face being back to "normal" or at least moving, that I almost couldn't believe it when I actually say a little movement :D
-
I remember those dreams -- I would wake up so excited and then be so dejected when I realized it was only a dream. I don't know whether time or recovery is behind it -- maybe both -- but I haven't had one in quite a while.
Sara
-
Congrats!!! Isn't it a great feeling. Mine just started about a month ago. I now have not only a little smile but also my old laugh lines are coming back. I hever thought I would be so happy to see laugh lines!! It's slow but it's happening for a lot of us lately! So exciting, at least to us. And to my family. I didn't say anything to them when I first noticed it. My daughter in law has been out of town so I haven't seen her for a few weeks. She came over this week and got so excited when she looked at me and saw it. It probably sounds dumb to others but it sure makes you feel good when someone else notices. I guess it just makes it more real.
-
It sure does help when others notice an improvement. And it is great for the self esteem!
We see the same face in the mirror day after day and don't notice the long term stuff.
I live away from family and they have said there is more movement in my face since the 12/7 and that my face "looks better."
Good to know!
I never got that movement on the upper lip area, so some surgical intervention will be in the works hopefully within the next few months.
That's another post.
And those dreams????- I've had countless dreams, each one a little different on how I get my face to turn up in a smile, but it happens!
I can actually FEEL the face smile in the dream. Is that possible?
Maybe it's a sign of things to come :)
Maureen :-\
-
I think all of our sense can be incorporated into a dream. I know that I have smelled breakfast cooking, only to wake up confused that nobody was actually up baking me cinnamon rolls!
Sara
-
I am so happy for all that are getting movement back, even if you're dealing with synkenesis...
I believe it can be controlled/abated with the right facial exercises.
always good thoughts, Nancy
-
Congrats. It feels great............I'm drinking a cosmopolitan right now to celebrate for you.
Angie
-
Hey Angie, I'm with Riesling wine, it gives (my 1/2 paralyzed mouth) a good taste !
along with the fried chicken I'm enjoying !
Always good thoughts, Nancy
-
congratulations on a BIG tiny movement ;)
Mine started about a month and a half ago and I still fail to tire at smiling in the mirror!!
Samantha