Whoops, Looks Like Your Smile's Broken!

It's been 10 months. I still get the occasional thumping and muscle spams on the right side of my face, which reminds me that it's about time I blog about my little brush with a certain something called 'Bell's Palsy'!

First things first, here are some facts you might want to know about this facial paralysis.

1. It's a pretty common condition (we're talking about 1 out of 70 here!) but it may still come as a shock to those who get it.
2. It's not fatal! In fact, the prognosis for the condition is pretty good, even without treatment. So it's really nothing to worry about.
3. If you HAVE to worry about something, it'd be 'synkinesis' - the dreaded miswiring of nerves after trauma. So yes, #FACIALEXERCISESEVERYDAYORDIE.
4. The recovery period varies for different people. Some recover in a matter of days, some take years (usually the older folks). It took me a little more than a month - just enough for me to melodramatise things a bit!
5. No one knows the exact cause of Bell's Palsy, so uh... preventing it from happening can be kind of tricky! Oh, and it happens overnight.
6. It's kind of funny. It can be funny. Heck, your friends will find it funny anyway.

So yeah, here it goes. I really hope it doesn't happen to you or a friend - but it's best that you know what it's like anyway!

It was a Thursday, and I can still recall how my lips felt a little odd that morning. They felt stiff and swollen each time I pursed them, but looked completely normal in the mirror. My right eye, on the other hand, felt extremely dry. I went to work anyway, not knowing that they were telltale signs of an impending facial paralysis till a colleague pointed out how my right eye was blinking much slower than the left over lunch.

Upon their insistence, I went to see a doctor immediately.

Day 1: Not worried just yet.

He told me that it was no biggie - nothing a little medication can't cure. It was, however, some form of infection in the brain (LIKE HOW IS THAT NOT A BIGGIE?!?!) and that I should see a neurologist ASAP.

Puzzled, I headed straight off for Pantai Hospital.
And that was where the neurologist dropped the bomb on Bell's Palsy.

"No, it's not Bell's Palsy! The doctor told me it's some small infection in the brain!"
"Ah, he probably didn't want to scare you."
"Like how is THAT not scaring me now???"

Truth be told, the only thing I knew about Bell's Palsy back then was that Alexis Denisof (and other actors such as Katie Holmes and George Clooney) had it too. So if they can still act - it's nothing to worry about!

He then explained that Bell's Palsy is a form of facial paralysis that is caused by an infection to the cranial nerve VII (read as "seventh cranial nerve", but also known as the facial nerve). Symptoms include problems controlling the facial muscles and closing the eye on the affected side of the face. It's almost like a mini stroke - but you can't move your forehead at all.

And the line to rule it all?

"Since it's only your first day - expect it to get much worse."

Great.

That sure got me contemplating about living life as Two Face Number Two (Three?), but in all seriousness - I had to start treatment immediately or risk having half my face droop lower and lower with time.

"Holyfuckitydoodle. What do you mean that I might stay like this forever?"

I was given a 6-day leave, as well as a week's dose of steroid pills and nerve vitamins. Prolonging of the condition will only weaken the muscles even more, resulting in a longer recovery period - which I absolutely CANNOT afford. I was also told to return for a check-up should I see no improvements at all.

And as the heavens would have it - I SAW NONE.

This is how bad it got on Day 5

I had problems eating, drinking and gargling as I was unable to seal the right side of my mouth tight, or open it wide enough to fit a spoon into it! My inability to close my right eye was also fast becoming a nuisance, what with the eye patch I have to keep on at all times to protect it from dust and dirt.

Finding the whole situation less funny by the minute (the effortless one-eyebrow raised aside, I can only embrace such a whimsical face for THAT long - and it's really weird having random kids pointing at my eye patch), I rushed back to the hospital and with a zim zam alakazam, I was checked in for three days worth of intensive treatments. Here's what they put me through.

Steroid Injections
For this, they inserted an IV tube into my wrist, which hurt less than I expected. I was more worried about yanking the tube out by accident during my entire stay. I also learned that taking a shower with one hand is NOT easy. The side-effects of steroids, however, are a bitch. I got SO FAT after my stay, and I'm still paying the price to get my face moving again!

Brain Scan
No biggie. It was actually kind of cool putting your head through some fancy-looking hoop!

Nerve Diagnostics
Highly unpleasant. It's like having your face stapled multiple times. And I felt like I was given the most impossible task in the world when the doctor told me to "relax" and keep my eyes open WHILE bracing for another shock of pain. I've had my eyebrow pierced before, and THAT hurt so much less.

Electric Stimulation Therapy
Who knew that shocking your face with electric currents can be that enjoyable? These sessions were also followed up with an ice massage to further stimulate the muscles. I still do this at home.

Physiotherapy
VERY depressing. Imagine looking into a mirror, and willing your face to move, again and again... only to no avail. A very slight tremble, at most. I was also given a facial exercise sheet that included pouts, frowns, lifting of the eyebrows, grins and smiles - most of which, I could not do. Oh, and those repeated chants of "A E I O U" which I ALSO couldn't execute perfectly.

Day 29 : Almost there!

It took about 26 days for me to regain full mobility of my right eyelid; and 40 days to reach an almost back-to-normal smile.

I also sought out acupuncture once every two days. (Yes, I had about 15 needles shoved into my face per sitting). I can't tell you exactly if it worked. It could have sped up the entire process as there was a sudden spike on my recovery curve, but I can't be sure as I was already getting better naturally.

The journey may not seem that long - but it sure felt like it as there were days when nothing seemed to be progressing; and days I'd see a little lift in my smile but wasn't too sure if I was fooling myself into seeing it - or that it's really happening.

Day 33 : Spotted another slight lift in my smile!

That said, I learned that the key to geting through it is patience. It's hard to stay positive all the time when people can't help but feel sorry for you - that when you want to smile, your face just betrays you, but you just got to.

Remember, it's a temporary thing and it won't last! Thank your lucky stars that it's nothing more serious and joke about it with your friends if you like! You'll come out of it beaming like you never did before!

PS, I will be posting up the photos I took to keep track of my recovery curve soon. :)

Five Six Lemonades!

Sometimes, you've got to make an effort to restore a little zest back into life.
Sometimes, you chance upon it. And you grab it right by the collar and say,

"Let's do this."



Here's the back story to my silly introduction.
And I hope you can learn something from it.

I had put aside quite a lot of my usual pastimes when I started working. I got lazier day by day; less motivated, even. I would rather spend whatever time I had on my hands shopping, stuffing my mouth with pork, watching reruns of Glee - or well, just sleep.

And it wasn't healthy.

Pastimes such as art, football and dance were integral parts of my life. They made me happy (and less fat too, I might add). But other things became more important. I tried to revisit them time and again, but to no avail. I was stuck in a vicious cycle (probably self-inflicted) that seemed determined to not let me get my life back together again. I couldn't give myself the license to commit to anything else.

Then, it was as if my body got really mad at me and decided to take matters into its own hands. It shut down. And I was bloody well diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.

Ironically, the day after I attended my first dance class in a long, long time.

That incident felt like a horrible setback, but it gave me time forced me to rethink my life. To take a breather, and just see what I've been doing wrong the past year and a half. (Being immobilised for two hours in bed weekly with a face full of needles makes you do just that. Oh, and friends - you can not forget the friends!)


Spending Friday nights as a pincushion.

I decided that I absolutely have to start living life again. I have to be healthy. Not just physically- but mentally. I have to get a move on. JUST DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME HAPPY, DAMN IT, and it better not be just another quick fix of retail therapy. It was something right out of a chick-flick movie, like when Rebecca Bloomwood kicked her...

Well, the point is - I did.

Upon recovery two months later, I returned to DanceFit. It wasn't as rigorous as the old Sunday morning Jazz, but it was a step in the right direction. But that wasn't enough. There was something else I missed - and I couldn't quite put a finger on what it was exactly. It wasn't competition, because I didn't feel up for it. I've always lacked the self-discipline, and it wasn't really my thing...

Till Lionel approached me with the idea of gathering a group of swing dancers to perform a California Routine at Outcast Studio's 2nd Dance Recital. And I immediately said yes.

The group was made of Lionel, JoJo, Chih Ian, Grace, Shawn, Vivian, no.4, and I.

Most of us had to learn the routine from scratch, but here's the thing about performing as a group. It can be REALLY fun. You support each other, you help each other improve and most importantly - you feed off each others' energy.

And this group was more than just that. They were AWESOME.


Another late night practice at Studio Akarkarya.

The group made such incredible progress in such short period of time (a month!), that a handful of practice sessions later - we were officially ready for the stage.


Marking our spots during the full-dress rehearsal.


Swing out in the spotlights!

That 2 minutes 33 seconds on the stage was just incredible. Everyone gave their all. I remember walking off the stage feeling my throat burning real badly (Lino's water bottle pulled a Houdini on me), and I knew that we had set the stage on fire.

The sight of people you don't know whipping out their cameras to film you dance, the sound of their applause, and the smile on their faces - it's just magical.

That's when I realised that I've chanced upon something that might just bring some light back into my life.

And as the saying goes,

When life throws you lemons, make lemonades.

It was Five Six Lemonades.

UPDATE: And here's a video of the performance! :)



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Pic credits : Stanley Tiang, Jeff Lee, Nabihan and Lionel Tan

Taking on an Urban Retreat

I love spas. Massages, especially! Given the chance, I'd review them as a full-time job. (Yeah, fat chance.) Spas grow like mushrooms in the city, but not many actually knock on your door, and play the proactive role of reaching out to those who could really use a good massage or two.

Well, trust me when I say that Urban Retreat Spa is different. The folks at Urban Retreat actually set out to engage their customers through social media, inviting them to experience their services first-hand. Nothing new, but unlike most brands who try - Urban Retreat Spa's efforts come highly commended.

And just two weeks ago, I got myself a surprise invitation via Twitter. (Follow them at @urbanretreatmy!) It couldn't have been any more timely, what with my return to work after recovering from Bell's Palsy.

So, the date was set, and I was more than ready to take on the Pampering Renewal Treatment.



Upon arrival at Urban Retreat Spa, The Curve, I was greeted by a friendly therapist who treated me to a delightful footsoak in a tub of rose-scented water. With the hypnotic aroma of ginger and lemongrass wafting through the premises - I couldn't help but feel a tremendous sense of ease working its way up my body. It's just one of those simple gestures that would calm even the most strung-up of individuals, you know?

Once rinsed clean and patted dry, I was led to a gently lit room where my treatment would take place.

Customary to most full-body treatments, I was required to disrobe into a paper thong and towel. (Thank goodness for experience.) The room was air-conditioned, which got me worried, but to my surprise - the bed was actually heated! How cool is that? You may think that it's nothing to get excited about, but I found this gesture to be absolutely wonderful because hey, the thought of patrons freezing naked, mid-therapy has never occurred to the previous spas I've visited before this! What a welcoming change indeed.

So, as I lay comfortably on my warm and toasty bed, my masseuse proceeded to start the treatment with a gentle full-body massage. Nothing painful, just something general and weight-oriented to stretch out the limbs. This was shortly followed by a full-body scrub which utilises the magical purifying properties of Balinese Coffee. I must point out that this was the most thorough scrub I've ever experienced - so much so that it felt like a good massage on its own. Each part of the body was given its fair share of attention - no hastiness, no rush. None at all.

Nice.



After a good rinse in the shower, I was gestured back to the bed for my favourite means of relaxation, ever. A massage!

And allow me to say this - my masseuse had thumbs that can kill! As I was lying face down, I imagined that she would look somewhat like Horst (of course she didn't, but it was an amusing thought anyway). What I appreciated most was the fact that it wasn't a choreographed routine. She took the effort to identify my many stress knots, and made very sure that not a single one of them was spared. Very painful, but so damn good.

After it was all over, I was escorted out to the waiting area, where a cup of steaming hot ginger tea came my way. Always a pleasant way to cap off a massage, that beverage. :) This gave me the chance to look through the list of treatments available at Urban Retreat Spa - and guess what? They even categorised some by how hard the massages are! (Sports, being the most painful one it seems).

All in all, a rejuvenating experience. Glad I could share it with all of you. Thanks, Urban Retreat Spa!


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Urban Retreat Spa
The Curve Shopping Mall : 03 - 7710 3239
1 Mont Kiara Mall : 012- 617 9509

For more information, catch them at www.urbanretreat-spa.com or Facebook.

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Bottles & Jars of Heaven

I admit. I am a total sucker when it comes to beauty products. Specifically, those that look pretty - and smell even better. I may dress like a total sleazebag, but I really want to smell good. (No this is NOT an issue! Pfft!) And perfumes just don't do it for me. I find that they smell awfully artificial.

Which is why I am such a big fan of Burt's Bees. They've got a wide range of body lotions and body butter that can make you smell like anything from butterscotch to honey. Mmm, food for the skin. Yummy! For something more floral, I'd go for L'Occitane.

See that stash of perfume samples? Suki's mum collects them.

Also, I recently came across a range of skincare products by ACCA KAPPA. Lovely brand, I must say. I am a big fan of their Cleansing Milk. Gentle and unassuming, this cleanser will do a fine job. But if there's one product you ought to try - it's their Exfoliating Facial Scrub. It's an absolute god-sent! The fine grains in this scrub makes for a very thorough exfoliation - all without being too abrasive on the skin. Perfect for those seeking for a more natural alternative from the lather-based, highly-scented scrubs.

And then, there's my new favourite - Aēsop's Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream. What I love about this moisturiser is it's unusually matte finish, as compared to other cream-based solutions. It also smells like heaven. Trust me, this baby here will make you WANT to wash your face even more often, so you can smell nice and fresh.

But when it comes to heavy-duty, full-body moisturising abilities - there's only one brand, and one specific product I turn to. Good ol' Rosken Dry Skin Cream. No other brand locks in moisture like my buddy here.

Highly recommended if you suffer from dry skin conditions such as ichthyosis. I've been using it since I was 13, and it has dramatically improved my ichthyosis, transforming what once were raw and bloody cracks into fine lines. Handy tip: Apply it RIGHT after toweling dry from shower. It'll keep your skin supple and smooth for hours!

Currently in search of a good sunscreen. Any recommendations?