Now Being Served Recipe - Bell's Palsy Update Day 4

I thought I'd share one of my favorite and simplest Dessert Recipes with you...

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cups.  They are made using Puff Pastry.

Here's the Recipe...

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE CUPS...12 2 1/2" Puffs

1pkg Puff Pastry (2 sheets)

1 egg, beaten

1-3 ½oz chocolate instant pudding mix 

1c milk

2T seedless raspberry jam

1 ½c thawed frozen whipped topping 

Fresh raspberries

Confectioners' sugar 

Thaw pastry sheets at room temperature 30 min. Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease 24 (2 1/2") muffin cups.  Unfold 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll into 9"x12" rectangle. Cut into 12 (3") squares. Press squares into prepared muffin cups. Brush edges with egg. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet.  Bake 10 minutes (less for mini) or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 min. Remove from pan and cool on wire racks.  

Combine pudding mix and milk. Stir until thickened and smooth. Stir in raspberry jam. Fold in whipped topping.  Spoon about 1T  pudding mixture into each pastry. Chill 10 min. Top with raspberries. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.  

TIP To make 12 larger pastries:   Substitute 2 pkg. Pepperidge Farm® Frozen Puff Pastry Shells for puff pastry sheets. Bake pastry shells according to pkg. directions. Let cool. Remove and discard pastry tops. Spoon about 2 1/2 tbsp. pudding mixture into each pastry shell. Top with raspberries. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Makes 12 pastries.

From Pepperidge Farms

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Update on My 4th Day of Bell's Palsy

I continue to try and be upbeat and energetic, but today I am really tired, drained, down and have no energy to do anything.  But, I did want to share the recipe above.

I have my Lymphatic Drainage Treatment yesterday and was told that I may have to take today just to recover.  But we got things moving through my system!!  Yeah!!  Debbie, who did my treatment described the treatment as an oil change for our body.  Cars don't run well when they aren't taken care of and neither do our bodies.  And, besides, if I do have a virus in my body that helped to bring on the Bell's Palsy, we'll be getting rid of it now!!

I think I mentioned the other day that I can now move my jaw, something I couldn't do after this came on me.  I can now open my mouth into a normal O position.  Which means it isn't crooked.  I can't lift my eyebrow, crinkle my forehead (the only nice thing about that is - I only have 1/2 a forehead that has any wrinkles!), can't blink my right eye, can't totally close that eye either, can't scrunch my nose...can't smile - it's only a crooked smile (makes me wanna sing Barry Manilow's song, I Can't Smile Without You!)  

So, there are no further pictures - which I'll share as I see progress.

Feel free to click on the button at the top of my side column (of my photo) to read any of the posts on Living With Bell's Palsy.

Have a Blessed Day and thanks for the Visit.  Please leave a Comment for me, I love to read them.

  

DAY 3 - Living with Bell's Palsy

This is the beginning of the Third Day since I woke up on Memorial Day, with the right half of my face paralyzed and diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.  To read any of the Posts I've written about Bell's Palsy, click on this Link:

http://allwaysdesigning.blogspot.com/search/label/Bells%20Palsy

As I told you yesterday, I was going to see my regular Massage Therapist, Heidi (information below) for a specialized massage to alleviate swelling in the 7th Cranial Nerve and pain I was experiencing.  She also did manual lymphatic drainage, to assist in alleviating the swelling in that nerve.

When I arrived at her office, my right eye was not blinking or moving at all....neither was anything on the affected side of my face.  I was stressed more than I thought I was - I noticed that when I finally started breathing during the treatment.  I was periodically holding my breath and my muscles were tense prior to that time.  I was under Heidi's care for only an hour, but what a difference that hour made!  It didn't make a HUGE difference in the paralysis, but it made a HUGE difference in how I felt inside!  On the outside, it was noticeable that my right eye would attempt to blink with my left eye...and that my mouth wasn't as crooked as it had been upon my arrival.

Since yesterday, my right eye continues to try to blink, but I can open my mouth straight, because my jaw moves!!!  I can make a HUGE "O"!!! - instead of the crooked small "o"!!!

I have an appointment today and on Friday with Debbie, from the same Massage Center and I will let you know how that goes tomorrow and Monday.

Since there is little difference in the appearance of my resting, smiling and blinking pictures from my earlier post, I'm not going to update them yet.  As a reminder, here is how I looked prior to Bell's Palsy and how I will look again soon!

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There are a couple of other things I'm doing to aid my recovery from Bell's Palsy and I want to share them with you.  I will also let you know, over time, how each one has worked and what has worked the best on me:

    *I have begun taking 3000mg tablets (2 times daily) of Vitamin B12, which aids in mending (rejuvenating damaged nerves).

*I tape my right eye shut, when I go to bed, to prevent damage to the cornea from the eye remaining open and drying out.  I do it too, whenever it's convenient throughout the day.

*I use moisturizing eyedrops every hour in that eye.  At night I use Gel eyedrops, which seem to last longer in my eye. 

I wanted to share this information and a few links about the Massage Therapists I will be seeing and the treatments they will be using in helping me recover.  If you would like further information, please, let me know.

Heidi has been my Massage Therapist for the past 3 1/2 years and has made all the difference, with her varied massage techniques, in the way I feel.  Since I have been seeing her, I have not had an asthma attack...not in over 3 years!  Prior to seeing her regularly, I couldn't go a week without one.  Seeing her has been the only thing I've changed, outside of adding 3 dogs to our household!  Heidi uses her skills and intuition for the benefit of her clients and uses the techniques she feels will help them the most as she continues to work on them.  I wouldn't trade her for anything!!!

Heidi is a graduate of The Health Enrichment Center in 1996.  Specializing in Therapeutic, LaStone, Oncology Massage, Belavi' Facial and Energy Therapies.  You will find that Heidi's massage is unique and customized to each client, integrating multiple therapies throughout each session.  Heidi spent 5 years working with oncology patients while they received active chemotherapy treatment.  Her most recent work is with Spinal Chord Injury (SCI) clients.  Heidi also has experience billing for Auto Accident Injuries.  Heidi is also trained as a yoga instructor.

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And from the same Massage Center, I will begin to see Debbie, who is a Certified Lymphatic Therapist, using the Lymphstar Pro & Cygnus Aqua ~ Cleanse...and Reiki.

Debbie who through her fathers battle with esophageal cancer turned to holistic modalities to assist others in a variety of ways.  She is a certified lymphatic therapist with the Lymphstar Pro machine for over 5 years.  She is dual certified under Dr. Cory Carter, CND of Black Hawk, SD. and also Dr. Jennifer Johnson, ND of Trenton, GA.  Debbie is also Reiki certified by Mary Ann Davis, R.N., C.H.T.P., Reiki Master as well as Rev. Alliene Szabo, Reiki Master.  Debbie also holds additional certifications in NADA (5 point auricular acupuncture) by Virginia June, LMSW, ACSW, CAAC, ADS and also Cupping therapy by Herman Bryant C.M.C.E., LMBT.  Through her years of experience Debbie is able to blend treatments and assist in a variety of issues clients may have.

*Lymphstar Pro  http://www.arcturusstar.com/Lymphstar.php

*Cygnus Aqua ~ Cleanse  http://www.arcturusstar.com/Cygnus.php

*Reiki  http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html

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You may ask where Doctors, Medicine and my Faith fit into my treatment.

I have elected to go the Holistic way of treatment and not put toxic (at least to me) medicines in my body.  I've taken medicines over the years, that have done not-so-nice-things to me, such as damaging my eyesight and giving me hives and asthma attacks.  The 2 most prescribed things for Bell's Palsy as Steroids (which have hurt me in the past) and Anti-Viral Meds (which unless they can definitely say this was cause by a virus) I will not take.

I also trust that God knows my body and me and can heal me outright or over time...and I trust that HE will use the very people HE has brought into my life to do that very thing. 

I know some of you will think that's stupid, but that's my Choice and I feel it is a Smart Choice for ME!  I've lived in this body for over 62 years and am well intuned to it...and that is what I prefer to go by.

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Please continue to keep me in your prayers and sending me healing thoughts.  They continue to be a blessing to me.  :)    (every time I do that smiley face, it reminds me of how mine was on Sunday and how it will be again) 

Have a Great Day!

Bell's Palsy Day 2

Just a short update on this, the 2nd day of my bout of Bell's Palsy.  The original post from Memorial Day, can be seen Here.

BEFORE

NOW

There is little change since my post yesterday, although the right half of my face is drooping a bit more and my jaw and the area around my ear and ear are quite sore.  Food and beverage has less taste than yesterday.

I have a 3:30pm appointment with my massage therapist this afternoon.  She has worked with other people who have had bell's palsy and thinks she can help me, especially since this just happened yesterday.  I'm so glad that she was able to fit me in to her schedule today.

Since this happened yesterday and throughout the day...all it seems I've been doing is resting - sleeping and taking it easy.  I feel worn out.  I'll update again tomorrow.

They Say Things Come In THREEs!

Well...where do I start?  (Well is a BIG subject today!)

It seems I've been dealing with a few things going on in my body and now I find out that they may all be connected.  GREAT!  Remember a while ago, I mentioned I'd been diagnosed with contact dermatitis?  I still have some of it - it has never completely gone away and I have never been able to come up with a reason why it started - most likely an allergic reaction to something I was using.  Really? I say now.  Hmmmmm.

2 Weeks ago, while on vacation, I had a swelled up lip with bumpy blisters on it...hurt like he-double-hockey-sticks!  I also had a huge sore on my tongue.

Now Memorial Day morning...after a quick trip to the ER...I find I have Bell's Palsy.  Here is information about it.   Bell's palsy causes sudden weakness in your facial muscles. This makes half of your face appear to droop. Your smile is one-sided, and your eye on that side resists closing.  Bell's palsy, also known as facial palsy, can occur at any age. The exact cause is unknown, but it's believed to be the result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of your face. It may be a reaction that occurs after a viral infection. For most people, Bell's palsy is temporary. Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months. A small number of people continue to have some Bell's palsy symptoms for life. Rarely, Bell's palsy can recur. 

In other words, the right side of my face is partially paralyzed.  My eye droops and doesn't blink or close without alot of work...and I only have half a smile.  I have a headache, eye twitching, sore jaw, sore ear and noises like the dogs barking hurt my right ear immensely.  My eye is getting sore, irritated by the loss of being able to blink, so I dropped some gel eyedrops in it and will soon be covering it with gauze and an eyepatch.


Here are 3 photos of how I look on this, the First Day of Bell's Palsy.  Excuse the lack of make-up, I just didn't feel like doing that.  My hair is really alot darker that how it appears here - because I'm standing under our bathroom skylight filled with sun, looking into the mirror!!  I took these photos of myself IN A MIRROR - so what you see is a reflection - the right side of my face as you're looking at the photos...is what would normally be my left side.  (remember - reflection)  The first is with a straight face.  You may notice a slight droop and very heavy eyelid on my right eye (which is the eye on the RIGHT of the photo - not the left).  The next photo is of my very crooked smile.  The third is me trying to blink my right eye...you can see it is still open.  And in that picture there is a lump under the outside corner of my eye...don't know when I got that, didn't have it yesterday and I don't know if it was there earlier this morning or not.

(I added a photo taken of me a few weeks ago, before I was hit with Bell's Palsy - complete with make-up.  LOL!)

I'm just NOT feeling very good right now.  I've been hurting with this dermatitis stuff and all the junk during our vacation (it started the 2nd day of vacation and lasted until just about 5 days ago)...and now this.  Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper.  I hate to use the word depressed...because I just don't know if I know what that truly feels like...and I have a high tolerance for pain and discomfort...so let's just say I am very unhappy right now and maybe even feeling a bit sorry for myself, too.  I'll update my progress as I see a difference, other than that, I may only be around browsing your blogs.

Please, keep me in your prayers.

:)