Who needs a real doctor, right? Just type your symptoms into Healthline, or click on body parts at WebMD. These tools are pretty cool, but I don’t think anyone expects them to replace the good ol’ Doc. You wouldn’t hire the neighbor kid to make your website, right? Right?
Those who know me personally probably know I had a bit of a tough January. I had Bell’s Palsy, which is the only one of four possibilities from this Healthline search that isn’t a medical emergency.
If I had seen that list, I would probably have gone to the doctor anyway. When two possibilities include the word “stroke” and another involves a bloody brain, one takes precautions.
I probably would not have ever seen that list. “Facial paralysis” is what I put in a month after. My symptoms at the time were numbness around my mouth and neck pain I thought was unrelated. On WebMD I found Bell’s Palsy because I clicked on “facial drooping.” A lot of people get a droop, but I never had a droop. Neither tool would not have helped me figure out what was wrong with my face.
It comes down to terminology and a willingness to be a little fuzzy with translation. A human, like a doctor or web professional, does a good job of being forgiving, a computer does not. When a non-techy says, “my box thingy is gone from the Internet,” we hear that the location bar is hidden. When I said to the chest-hair-flaunting E.R. doc, “my face is all numb,” he asked the questions to figure out what I really meant.
While it isn’t very difficult to argue against computer diagnosis, I’m really pointing out where it could get smarter. As search engines have become pretty forgiving about speeling, these tools could work to add in symptom synonyms. Even though numbness and paralysis are very different, they can feel the same. And with most interface issues, what the user thinks means more than how things really are.
These health tools are still useful for some things, of course. Just don’t skip your check-up because a web site said your diseases are 404 (geek joke–you don’t have to laugh). At the very least, use Healthline to play a little Disease Jeopardy.
On Monday I felt my face numb. The next day went to the doctor and started the treatment against Bell’s Palsy with the medication. I have gained some movement but is very frustrating, and I was wondering how long does it take to gain full controlof the face?
I have to go to a check up in 8 days, but I was just wondering from someone who actually had it and got well.
Thanks
Willman
Willman–and any other newly-diagnosed:
I’m terribly sorry to hear about your Bell’s Palsy. It’s definitely a tough thing to go through. I wish you luck.
One of the hardest things is not having any definite answers. I’m afraid I can’t give you any, either, but I can tell you my experience. The first week was the hardest. It sounds like you just made it through that. Do you notice that the symptoms aren’t getting worse? It’s probably too early to notice improvements, but it’s a good sign if things are holding steady.
If you haven’t already, really take it easy. Sleep a lot. This can be tough with work, but your co-workers will understand. One of the expected triggers of BP is stress.
The Bell’s Palsy forums are very helpful:
http://forum.bellspalsy.ws/
There you’ll see you aren’t alone. And when you notice something strange, you can look at previous postings or ask questions and see if others have experienced the same. For example, about three weeks into my ordeal, my face felt badly bruised. I thought I had been too vigorous with my facial massaging. I hopped on the forums and several people noted they had this feeling as their symptoms improved. Sure enough, I had my best improvements around weeks three and four.
I would also encourage you to share your experience with whomever you can. It will make you feel better to be around people who care about you. Oh, and take pictures. You’ll be glad to have them afterwards, plus it helps you track your progress.
Best of luck.
hey my sisiters got bells palsy shes only 14 wat cn i do do to stop it from being pemenant.
hey im 14 too and i have bells palsy. my doctor said it shouldnt be permanent and that it should go away soon. but because im so young he said that i need to get an MRI.i was wondering if anyone else knows anyone who had to do that because im kinda scared. my face doesnt droop either. ive had it for about 2 weeks now and i actually think its starting to get better but who knows i could just be seeing wat i want to see. well im glad to see that this happens to other people and the same things too.
-Ashley =)
I had bell’s palsy. Took be about two days for it to peak. (Almost total paralysis on the left side of my face – I can still close my eye) Then i had intense pains on that side of my face at night. My face started to gain some movement about day 7 from initial onset. Now, about 3 weeks after, I can say I am 90% normal. Good luck!
wow you guys were lucky. i got bell’s palsy at the end of 2004, its now 2009 and it still bothers me every single day.
i couldn’t close my eye and it watered all the time, even if i just bent over. that finally stopped 5 months later, but now i have a noticeably crooked smile and my eye nearly closes.
if i’m going to be brutally honest, i wish i had never got bell’s palsy and i now am rarely in front of a camera anymore.
sorry to be such a downer, but i just think that lots of these comments are all “it happened to me and i recovered fine” but that isn’t the case for everyone. wanted a balance of the two sides (pun not intended).
as for treatment, i’ve heard that acupuncture can help, so i’m going to give that a try…
hi im a filipina,,, i dont know yet if i have bells palssy
You all need to be checked for Lyme disease. Bells Paulsy is a symptom of Lyme. There is a blood test to see if your body has fought it. It’s not perfect, but better than wondering.
im nick and im 19 i was just diagnosed with bells palsy monday i have heard many things about it 80% of people who get it it tend to have a full recovery within 4 to 6 weeks however it can be permanent i know people wo have had it for a long time alcohol can cause it to be permanent as well your best bet is to actually see a doctor because there are several causes and should your bells palsy last more than 6 months to a year there are several routes to take there is a nerve graft that makes your face better but however does not fix the inability to taste on the affected side but i think personally i would rather have my face than taste that wont come back anyway lol there are also several types of therapy but facial massage is told to bring it back a little faster i wish anybody with this condition the very best of luck and it can only get better from here 🙂