It kinda hits you...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Today, we had planned a small family outing. Dad, boys and canoe. Weather forecast just perfect: sun and twenty-something C (around seventies F) temps. When I manage to pull my teenage son out of his bunk and into the bathroom, he tells me he can’t close one of his eyes properly. Also, his cheek is kinda numb. I check him out. Pinch his chin. “No, dad, can’t feel much”. His face is sorta lopsided. Not much, but definitely noticeable.

Shit. My mind starts racing. Can’t be. He’s a teenager, for fuck’s sake. My wife is out of town, there’s no-one to discuss with. I make a quick decision: screw the trip, we’re going to the ER. I use to joke that if you have boys, you’d better get a discount arrangement at the ER, but this is beyond the jokes. I’m worried. Seriously worried. I know that statistically, it’s probably benign, but I’m a father. Also, I don’t want any of my sons (neither the one who’s not in shape, nor the younger one) to worry unduly, so I’m keeping a stiff upper lip. “It’s OK, boys, I just want to have this stuff checked out”

We get to the ER. He’s a big boy, high school sophomore, I don’t think he wants dad to hold his hand during examination. I make sure he’s OK and that he’s nearly at the front of the queue, and I go home. Last message: text me an update as soon as you learn something, and if you want me here, tell me!

Six hours and a dozen sms updates later, I go downtown to pick him up. CT scan checks out OK, samples are pending analysis. He’s released for the night, they’re gonna run another bunch of tests tomorrow, including an MR scan. No, son, we don’t have to pay anything. The cash I gave you for the deductible was only needed if it was a simple consultation. Anything bigger is free.

I’m into my second whisky right now. I’m happy my son isn’t seriously ill. I’m happy the doctors just ran the test they deemed necessary, without checking whether I had the coverage. I’m happy I don’t have to worry whether or not my health insurance covers all the tests and treatment my son needs. I’m happy to live in a country with socialized healthcare, but most of all, I’m happy my son probably isn’t seriously ill.

But I’m still close to crying.

2

Oh no!!!

I hope he is ok!

Praying for you!

3

Oh my. I’m sending y’all some Slack; I have more than I need at the moment. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for y’all too.

4

Of course you are worried-- it would be impossible not to be. And I don’t know anything about your sitch… however, lack of knowledge has never stopped anyone from posting here. It could be the benign Bell’s Palsy:

My mother had this and it just goes away by itself, although it looks disturbing and scary until it does go away. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious.

5

Yes, while I’m sure you’re worried about a stroke, Bell’s Palsy was my first thought too.

Good luck to both of you. Keep us updated.

6

I dated a girl who had had bell’s Palsy, so that was my first thought also. She turned out fine.

7

I was thinking Bell’s Palsy too. I knew a girl who had it and it went away after about a year and a half. She’s totally fine now.

8

Hoping it’s no big deal in the end - and I’m glad there’s a bit brighter side of things for you here.

9

I thought about Bell’s Palsy first too. Scary though! Good luck to you all!

10

A year and a half! I had it, and it was gone in a week!

I too panicked and thought I had had a stroke. Just one shot of prednisone and a couple of days looking like I had been anesthetized at the dentist, and I was done.

11

Bell called, he wants his palsy back.
mmm

12

Joining the chorus of Bell’s Palsy. A friend of mine had it…lasted a few months, then went back to normal. I hope whatever your son has, it goes away quickly.
FWIW, you did the right thing. You went to the ER before posting on SDMB. :slight_smile:

13

Best wishes. Scary stuff :o

14

Yikes! Sorry your day took such a turn. Congrats on being so composed if only on the exterior, well done. Enjoy your drink, maybe try some serious deep breathing, it really can calm your spirit.

Will be thinking of you and yours and awaiting an update! Fingers crossed!.

15

Fingers crossed that all turns out well.

One question: Can a minor consent to medical treatment? Doesn’t a parent have to be there for that purpose?

(Please don’t think I’m second-guessing you; I’m sure you know what you’re doing. I’m just curious how this works).

16

There’s the concept of the “mature minor” - that even though the patient is a minor, they are mature enough to consent to their treatment themselves. It’s a variable test, which takes in the seriousness of the test or procedure, and the minor’s personal level of maturity.

17

To the OP - joining the Bell’s Palsy suggestion; hope it all works out well.

18

Queen Bruin had this a couple of years ago, and it was Bell’s Palsy. They gave her a short course of steroids and prescription-strength ibuprofen, IIRC. She drove herself to the ER. No lasting effects.

19

Thanks for the sympathy, folks. I knew that statistically, the risk that it was something really serious was rather small. And when I heard that the CT scan didn’t uncover anything malign, I wasn’t that worried anymore. Still, it sort of hits you in the gut when one of your children shows symptoms that should be taken seriously.

Yup, looks like it. The doctor didn’t use that term, but the page you’re linking to describes quite a few of the things they said they were considering.

Yes, but he’s not a minor anymore. At least in the legal sense. Around here, kids turn 18 during the second term of their high school sophomore year or the first term of their junior year. Now, we can’t get his medical details without his consent.

20

Ahh, I know that sense of panic. Just a few weeks ago my father in law pulled a Ball’s Palsy on us, too. Fortunately it seems to have cleared up already. Hour all goes well for your boy!