Previously a primary school teacher who played league badminton in her spare time, Chris’s life was completely transformed when she was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma.
It was Christmas 2003 when I started struggling to hear messages on the telephone so I made an appointment with my GP to have my ear checked out. He couldn’t find a reason for this sudden deafness in my left ear so I was immediately referred to hospital for an MRI scan. It was a complete shock to find out the diagnosis was in fact an acoustic neuroma, a brain tumour! This was to be the beginning of several procedures and operations over a seven year period.
Initially the acoustic neuroma was treated with Gamma Knife, this isn’t a knife in the conventional sense, but uses beams of gamma radiation to treat lesions within the brain. The aim of this treatment was to prevent tumour growth rather than remove it and also to preserve the hearing I had left. Unfortunately this didn’t work and I had to have surgery in February 2006 to have the tumour removed. When they cut the tumour out they also cut the facial nerve so as well as being left with no hearing in the left ear, I also now had facial palsy, affecting my ability to smile, close one eye and frown. My balance was also affected.
One of my latest surgeries was the Labbé technique, a surgery which was done to try and help with the facial palsy. It’s made me look more symmetrical and it doesn’t droop so much on the paralysed side of my face now, but it’s not a magic fix, I will never have the face I once had.
Ever since the acoustic neuroma was removed I hated having photos taken of me, although I did let someone take one of me after the Labbé surgery, but it was still a complete shock to see the picture. I tend to avoid looking in the mirror and the person I saw in that photo was not someone I recognised as being me.
At one hospital appointment I did have the opportunity to meet other people with facial palsy and that was really helpful, it made me realise that things could have been worse and at least I have only had this since the age of 50, it’s not been with me all my life. I think people with facial palsy can gain a lot of support from each other.
Due to the problems with my hearing, my career as a primary school teacher was now over, I couldn’t tell where sounds were coming from which made it very difficult to look after a class of enthusiastic and noisy young children. My daughter makes a joke saying she is worried about me crossing the road sometimes, in case I get myself run over, but it is true that I do need to take more care than someone with normal hearing.
I also used to play badminton at a high level, in the Northamptonshire League, something I really loved. Due to my problems with balance I am no longer able to go for the high shots because I fall over. I am trying to pursue other hobbies, I tried dancing (Ceroc) but found the moves too difficult, again due to problems with my balance. I have joined a choir which I enjoy but it’s difficult when the teacher asks us to make facial expressions to emphasise our performance, such as raising our eyebrows, because I cannot move my eyebrow on the paralysed side, but I do the best I can.
I am a positive person and for all the things I can no longer do, I do try to find other things that I can do. But in reality this condition has meant me giving up my career, inevitably affecting my financial situation too; I’ve had to give up recreational activities I once loved; and I no longer recognise the person I see in the mirror. It really helps to meet others with similar problems and I think it’s important that there is more support for people in this situation.
Disclaimer: Please note that views expressed are person’s own and should not be considered a recommendation of particular medical treatments, therapies or surgeries. We would always advise you seek advice from a health professional with experience in facial palsy who can assess your individual needs.