I’m not sure exactly when I noticed it. Was it when I was drinking my first cup of coffee and couldn’t quite focus on my phone? Was it when I laughed at something on Threads and felt my face numb like an overactive shot of novacaine?
Like I said, I really don’t know, but at some point around 6:30 - 7am on Friday I realized my the left side of my face was frozen. I couldn’t close my left eye–such a simple thing. I couldn’t blink I couldn’t smile. My face drooped.
“Stay calm, stay calm…”
Two parallel trains of thought:
- Was this a stroke?
- What should I do about seeking treatment?
There was–for the briefest moment–a “this is nothing” thought, maybe ignore it and go away. I typed the set of symptoms and onset into claude and it was fairly clear: “GET TO AN ER!”
Was it a Stroke
I’m certainly not a doctor, but I did the evals I’d seen on shows like ‘Grays Anatomy’:
- Check pupil reactivity -> Fine
- do the smile test –> Well, shit. 1 for 2
- left arm weakness –> Nothing noticeable. Full range of motion. Grip strength intact
- mobility of left leg: Fine
I preliminarily ruled out a stroke, but still yet, given the sudden onset it was entirely possible that it was in progress and hadn’t progressed. Given my knowledge of “clot busting” meds, time was of the essence. That’s when I got stupid.
Getting to Treatment
Three options presented themselves
- Call 911
- Wake up my wife and have her drive me to the ER
- Just jump in the car and drive myself.
I didn’t choose the smart 2 options. I drove myself.
The nearest ER is 20+ minutes away. In traffic. If things had gone another way, I’d have crashed and maybe taken out someone else.
Diagnosis
So, I got to a standalone ER (that’s a thing here in Texas), and they took me back. Immediately. All I had to do was “smile” at the triage nurse.
From there, it was anticlimactic–they quickly ruled out a stroke, using the same evaluation techniques I’d used at home. the doc (Dr. Rosen) was an incredible, calming presence–she could see I was really freaked out, and she was almost meditative.
“this is not a stroke, it’s a nerve issue that’s running up through your jaw.”
Next steps
So now, I’m on Steroids and antivirals. I don’t have a 100% chance of recovery, but > 85%. I’m looking at weeks to months if indeed a full recovery happens.
I’m frustrated that my speech is now slurred like an inbred Hapsburg, by left jaw aches and I can’t smile. Ordering at restaurants is just weird.
“Look on the bright side, if this doesn’t clear up, you’ll have a killer Two Face costume, Dad!”
It’s definitely not pretty
