The ENT I saw yesterday was not from my surgery group at Emory! I will be seeing the Emory doctors in September.
Hi Allison,
A big welcome, you have gotten a great response!
So the ENT that you saw, was he like a fill in? You mentioned he is not on the same team as your surgery team. I CANNOT believe that he would say:
since I've had no movement on the right side of my face that I could end up looking like a concentration camp victim from the atrophying (sp?) muscles. After telling him that I was interested in the neurofacial retraining therapy, he said not to waste my time. Other than the weighted eyelid, the only procedure he encouraged me to have done was the permanent reanimation surgery.I'm appalled that a professional medical doctor would say that.
Your neurotologist appt in Sept is right around the corner, so hold your questions for him!
As far as the facial paralysis, I have 4 years experience in that field. I can totally empathize.
Since my nerve was cut, I have had different approaches to "reboot the system", and just recently had "facial reanimation" surgery.
My facial nerve was "reanastomosed" during the
original brain surgery, and should have "come back to life" but it didn't. Then I had the procedure that Lori had, and waited.......nerve still stubborn....Hence my newest surgery which is showing some results. I'm feeling OPTIMISTIC for you that you will start to get movement. Was your nerve cut or stretched? That makes all the difference.
Be patient, I know that is SO HARD, especially with your work coming up. I think the BAHA would be the best idea as you go back to work, and people
will see that you are the same teacher.( Also things always look worse for you because you have to see yourself in the mirror every day.)
I would suggest continuing the facial exercises, and stare at yourself in the mirror every morning when you do them. I too tried the electrical stimulation sometime after the 6th month point before I read that you are not supposed to do that! But it helped my droop from the atrophy, but I really don't think I looked like a concentration camp victim
![Shocked :o](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/shocked.gif)
(I still can't believe he said that).
Most docs say wait 6-12 months before doing anything drastic, because the nerve DOES need time to just heal on its own.
Anyway, welcome again, hang in there, just keep truckn! Let us know how things progress for you.
Maureen