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Days 22-26: Mug Shot Progress!

[Correction to my last post: my doctor corrected my thinking about this - most viruses only last 5-7 days, but the aftermath and damage they do to our bodies can stay for weeks. Our bodies shift vital energy to our immune systems and healing systems, leaving not enough energy to carry out daily activity.  I don't continue to have an infection that's still causing damage...it's just the lingering aftermath. My body considers healing this facial nerve to be more important than allocating resources elsewhere, and that's why I'm feeling so drained. And all the symptoms I still have - my body is just dealing with the aftermath of the infection still and that's taking longer to work its way out.]

So, each day I've been feeling a little better, and though I tire easily and am not fully recovered, I'm definitely on the mend! Glad the weekend is here and I can rest!
I took my weekly mug shots a few days ago and finally had a chance to put them together and compare. SO encouraging! I've put them below next to Day 9 because Day 9 is the closest I've got for the worst point. I think my face was most paralyzed somewhere between Day 3 and Day 9 when I took pictures, so I don't have documentation of it at its worst...but Day 9 is close. If you want to see all the weekly mug shots together, you can view the full image here.
Check out the wrinkles on my right forehead and eye (surprise face and grin)! I never thought I'd be excited to see my wrinkles appearing! And with my balloon face, I'm able to keep some of the air in without it all escaping through my un-purseable lips! When I concentrate real hard, I can make my eye close, and I can make a normal looking small smile!!
AND I've started sleeping without taping my eye! It seems to be okay...I just add drops and help it close all the way with my finger, right before going to sleep, and it seems to stay mostly shut all night...I think. Hard to tell, since I'm asleep, but it only feels a little bit dry when I wake and I'm SO glad to be done with that taping routine every night!
I had to get real mug shots taken this week, for my annual residency card application. When I realized I needed to do that, with my face the way it is, I wasn't too happy, especially if they happened to grant me a 5 year visa instead of just a 1 year, and this face would be on my card for 5 years! But thankfully you're not really supposed to smile for those pictures, and with my great progress so far, I was able to make a mostly symmetrical, pleasant look!


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