It is scary how there are so many different medical conditions out there. We probably have not heard of many like Bell’s Palsy. Bell’s Palsy is basically a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on just ONE side of your face!
It is apparently caused by damaged nerves on one side of your face and this causes the affected side to droop. This paralysis even affects your sense of taste and the production of tears and saliva.
Sounds horrible right? Well, imagine if you were this poor girl suffered Bell’s Palsy throughout 2016.
source: liza semion’s facebook
Liza Semion shared the suffering she went through last year on 31st December and her amazing journey with this face paralysis on her Facebook.
She wrote,
“In the many things that happened throughout 2016, suffering with Bell’s Palsy had the most impact.”
“The right side of my face couldn’t move and function at all which is why one side of the face seemed droopy.”
“My face hurt because it was stiff and couldn’t move, my forehead which got Bell’s Palsy couldn’t cringe, below my ear was swollen in throbbing pain, my eye was swollen due to being unable to blink.”
“Every night I had to put cotton over my eyes and tape my eyelids so they can close. My mouth was crooked to one side. If I drank using a glass the water will ooze, so I have to use a straw and I must suck real hard because my mouth muscles are weak.”
“I lost my sense of taste. Whatever I ate had no taste. I felt so sad then, because one side of my face was different and even my speech wasn’t clear.”
“Not only was I ashamed, I lost all self-confidence. When I go out of the house, I wear a mask to cover.”
liza and her father during the 1st day of raya. Source: liza semion’s facebook
Liza explained that it first occurred during the Raya celebration.
“I suffered it during Hari Raya. I was completely down, locked myself in the room and ignored all my friends (sorry, everyone).”
One the 2nd day of Raya, Liza finally went to the emergency room. She was immediately moved to the critical zone!
“Even the doctor said it is rare for someone to be 100% cured.”
“And so I persistantly visisted the doctor and did facial physiotherapy. I do daily face massages and ‘Electrical Stimulation Treatment’ (electricute my face).”
“Meanwhile, I also took kampung medication. I even braced myself to try acupuncture.”
source: liza semion’s facebook
“I even practised to read and do various tongue exercises daily. Quite miserable. That time I really hated all cameras and mirrors. Which was why for a long time there were no pictures, especially selfies.”
“Thankfully after months, I was finally cured.”
After her post went viral, many netizens asked how do you tell the symptoms and causes. Liza diligently explained in detail.
She wrote,
“There aren’t many initial symptoms for Bell’s Palsy, just that I two days prior (to noticing it), I lost all sense of taste. After that, I had terrible headaches for 2-3 days.”
“The night before the incident during my flight between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, I suffered an extraordinary headache. I felt like my head was about to break.”
source: liza semion’s facebook
“My tears kept flowing but I let it be thinking it was sinus. My eye started to droop bit by bit but I didn’t notice. When I looked back at my photos only did I see the difference.”
“There are multiple causes for Bell’s Palsy. Some of them are ear infection, viral fever from before that are still in the body, stress, and air-conditioning.”
“But for more accurate and elaborate information, it is best to ask the experts.”
“Bell’s Palsy can attack just about anyone regardless of age, and it can happen suddenly and repeatedly.”
“If your close ones are affected, please immediately bring them to the doctor. Ensure that they receive the appropriate treatment. If severe Bell’s Palsy goes untreated, the effects may be permanent.”
liza after being cured. Source: liza semion’s facebook
So we’ve learned more about this disease. Just because someone looks different, it is best that we don’t judge them and make fun of them.
They may be suffering from an illness that we don’t know much about. Instead of being ignorant, let us all be more loving, accepting, and kind towards others.
