Got Bell's? Questions to Ask and Things To Do Upon Diagnosis

 I have a lot to say about the medical profession--the good, the bad, and the ugly. In this post, I want to share all I did not know I did not know to ask about Bell's. My goal is to offer a  framework for people who are newly diagnosed to educate, and advocate for, themselves.

Questions to Ask Your General Practitioner and Other Medical Professionals

• How might this impact my ability to work and fulfill my daily work responsibilities? Should I request time off, or seek medical leave?   This is not necessarily a question that will seem immediately relevant, since it takes several days for Bell's to unfold.  But it's worth asking--and being proactive about getting a doctor's note, since it may be painful to discuss it a few days later.
• How might this influence my ability to eat and drink?  What should I anticipate? 
•  What should I think about re: nutrition and diet? 
• How might my dental care needs change? What will I need to do differently, or be more aware of?  
• How can I protect my eye, and make it more comfortable? How might my vision be effected by new eye care routines?
• What kind of treatments are available beyond steroids and anti-virals?  The answer? Many, including scraping/ASTYM and electrotherapy.  However, these are not methods that GPS and Western medicine are generally familiar with. 

Things to Do

• Call--and Visit--Your Eye Doctor. 
• Call--and Possibly Visit--Your Dentist.  
• Call, Visit, and/or Get and Use Someone Trained in Alternative Medicine--like a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist.  I cannot stress this enough, and will post more on this later.

Questions to Ask Of Yourself

A wise student recently told me "You only have one body."  That is true.  And that is the same for anyone reading this.  Rest and decreasing stress are important aspects of recovering from Bell's, but the world does not offer them freely.  We Bell's folks need to draw lines and advocate for ourselves--which means honest reflection and choices, of various degrees of difficulty.  

• What am I doing now out of a sense of duty, obligation, or guilt, that I can let go of to give myself time to rest and heal? 
• What have I committed to that I find unrewarding or burdensome?  Which can I (and should I) get out of?
• What am I involved in that I can adapt or approach differently, without stepping away or comprising quality?  
• What am I doing at 150%, with little return on investment? If I must keep doing it, how can I give less for more? 
• What brings me joy, and is fundamental to my emotional and mental health?  How can I keep doing it?  

This last question is as important as all the others.  We only have one body.  We know it, and ourselves, infinitely better than anyone else.  It is important to bring all of ourselves into the healing process--because Bell's is not just about the face. It's about the whole person, trying to live life joyfully, and with a big  (lopsided) genuine smile.