Posts by Michael Perez4
16 posts shown.
The venue itself is freaking incredible, and I honestly don't get why they don't use it more often for stuff like this... it doesn't even have to be full-on concerts😁 just set up a few bars, blast some tunes, and you'll see massive crowds showing up😉 since they've turned everything else into tacky country bars or stuffy art galleries😠
The Atmosphere was killer both Friday and Saturday. Saturday was a bit of a grind, but not because of the lineup (Discipline and Turbonegro were awesome!)—it was just pure sleep deprivation🤣 still, I made it through, stayed out a little less than Friday, but the vibes were top-tier. 👍
Honestly, bummer for anyone who missed out.
Joseph Ward16 said:Can someone please tell me what the early warning signs of facial nerve inflammation are? Like, how does it actually start?
For me, the first sign was losing all taste on the left side of my tongue a few days before everything hit.😲 Then, just a couple of days later, I woke up with the left side of my face completely numb.
Alright, wrapping this thread up here. Maybe I can give someone some peace of mind by sharing my experience, just in case anyone else ends up hunting for info on this later.🙄
Therapy is officially done! Thirteen days of treatment—honestly, it wasn't even that bad. Obviously, everything is subjective, like we've been debating here, and everyone reacts differently, but I’m actually glad I was the last one to start (since there were three of us dealing with the same issue) and the first one out the door.😁
A ton of exercise (yeah, I was grinding through reps for both guys and girls just to get it over with😂), plus singing, laughing, and talking... and boom, there are the results🙂 without ever having to lie around doing nothing.😛
I definitely need to be careful and play it safe for a bit, but I'm getting back to my usual routine: skating, drinking, hitting the clubs (haha), and getting my scooter out of retirement after it's been sitting under a layer of dust.... so if I don't pop back into this thread, just know I turned out fine.🤣
Huge thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and advice; it really helps when you're actually going through it.😉
BIG SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR FOR EVERYONE!👍
I'm skipping the acupuncture thing. I have zero interest in wasting money just to have someone poking my face with needles, and honestly, time is almost up anyway.😁
Today marks my sixth session, and it’s been 16 days since the paralysis started🙄 (between running from doctor to doctor, waiting on appointments, and dealing with holidays, the days just vanish...😳) ...but look, I can already move things pretty well. I'm just a tiny bit away from being totally back to normal. I still haven't figured out how to trigger the muscle for the bottom of my lip, and I can't really wrinkle my nose properly yet... but it's coming. It's such a relief seeing everything return to normal. I'm convinced all the exercises and electrical stim therapy actually did the trick!😉
Also, I absolutely hated that "Frank" nickname.🤣
Honestly, when you really sit back and think about it, we’re all basically heading down a dead end. Between this frantic pace of life, being glued to our laptops and iPhones, the constant stress, and even just dealing with the smog and the heat... everything is basically working against us 👎
Just look out for yourself as much as you can, because most of this stuff is pretty much unavoidable 🤷
But honestly? The worst part is even stressing over it! 😳 Just live your life and actually enjoy it while you can—make every single second count!!! 😁 ...you know, like that old saying goes... live every day like it's your last 😛
😲So, I just finished my first round of therapy. Heading back tomorrow for round two, and we’ll keep this rolling until things are sorted out🙄. Nobody wants to give me a straight answer on the timeline. Look, I get it—nobody can predict the future and everyone heals differently—but I still want a ballpark figure of what I'm looking at🙂.
I actually ran into another girl at the clinic where I go for physical therapy who just wrapped up her sessions... but nope, couldn't squeeze a single detail out of her about how long it actually took.🤷
Sam Hall15, you think maybe a month?🙄 Yeah, okay, that’s roughly what I was thinking... so hopefully, with any luck, I'll be done even sooner.👍 Honestly, I am putting in the work. I'm doing my exercises day and night—at home, staring in the mirror, without the mirror, while walking down the street, even at work.😛
Today, I can already move one side of my mouth just a tiny bit. It’s subtle, but I’m pretty sure I couldn't do that the other day... or am I just losing my mind?
The therapy itself is actually pretty nice during the massage portion.😁 The electrical stimulation part is a bit much and feels pretty unpleasant (especially if you haven't had a real meal, which was my situation yesterday!😲)
Keith Martinez said:Laser therapy is actually great for knocking out symptoms. It works wonders for trigeminal neuralgia.
😕
Dee, who exactly does this and how does it even work? 🙄
Michael Williams70 said:So, last night I used this antibiotic ointment—can't even remember which one—and I basically smashed it into my eye and squeezed it shut so it wouldn't leak out while I was sleeping. During the day, I just stuck to artificial tears. I wasn't messing with the ointment during daylight hours because it blurs your vision like crazy, and I needed to be able to see clearly since I had to drive myself to my appointments.
You probably aren't going to bother with the EMG. I had such a nasty shock that I actually had to go in for it. It reminded me that my hearing has been acting up too. My ear was ringing like crazy. As soon as the noise hit a certain volume, I felt like my eyes were literally going to pop out of my head. Even taking a shower was a struggle because if the water hit my ear too hard, the sound would have absolutely wrecked me.😲
That wasn't exactly a walk in the park. I really hope things are feeling way less intense for you now that your doctor actually gave you the green light to get back to work.
Do you sit in front of a mirror making faces while you're on your meds? While I was waiting around for the power to come back on, I ended up just cracking jokes to myself. People were staring at me like I’d completely lost my mind. Honestly, even I thought I was being ridiculous.😂
Yeah, exactly. I got that Chloramphenicol ointment for my eye too, so I just slather it on before putting my bandages on and heading to bed. In the morning, I take some Nexium on an empty stomach to buffer my system against the Medrol I take with breakfast. Those pills are absolute heavy hitters, but luckily I’ve got a stomach like a longshoreman.🤣I’m popping B vitamins three times a day... Honestly, I'm basically just a walking pillbox at this point.😁
Heading to the doctor's office for the first time today. Honestly, I have zero clue what they're actually going to do to me...
My hearing is totally fine—not even a little bit off. Even my neurologist asked if I noticed anything different with my ears, but honestly, I don't notice any change at all. 🤷
Ethan Garcia8 said:That sucks.
The worst part is you can't even laugh at it because you just end up looking like a total idiot to yourself. 🙂
Oh yeah, clearly that's my biggest struggle... I can't even say hello without cracking a grin. I actually set up a mirror in front of me just now, trying my hardest to fix this smile so I can finally look halfway normal.😂
Ethan Garcia8 said:I went through this twice myself—once five years ago and again last year. First it was one side, then the other. I don't have any lasting issues, and they didn't go overboard with the treatment like they did for the guy mentioned above. I hit up the ER neurology department both times; they checked me out and confirmed there were no neurological issues. Then I got a referral to an ENT, who also gave me the all-clear. They just handed me some B-complex vitamins and some exercises to do, and that was it. It cleared up in about 3 or 4 days. The first time I went to physical therapy, but the second time I didn't bother.
I know another guy who dealt with this twice too. Clearly, some people are just prone to it, even if the odds are slim. 😁
Actually, I prefer this outcome. I’m hoping to follow your lead regarding the recovery and making sure it doesn't happen again.🙄
Man, seriously, some people are just unlucky and catch every flu or cold going around... while others deal with this kind of "nonsense."😳
Yeah, they sent me to an ENT too. I've got an appointment in 10 days... honestly, the main thing stressing me out is the actual cause. Like, okay, maybe it was just a draft, but what if it wasn't?😕
Michael Williams70 said:I’ve been through this twice myself—once back when I was just a kid, and again about 12 years ago. Honestly, if I were you, I’d be hitting the B vitamins via IV, staying on top of physical therapy like it's your full-time job, and keeping that side of your face warm. Do facial exercises, practice blowing air, and for heaven's sake, stay out of the wind. It really sucks that you're dealing with this, man.
I was out on medical leave for 75 days straight. Getting started on these treatments ASAP is absolutely critical, and I wasn't allowed to step foot back on the job because the risks were too high—if I had worked, I could have ended up permanently paralyzed.
All I’ve got to show for it is messed up vision in my left eye—the stroke hit my left side hard. My eyes tear up constantly now, and my face is totally asymmetrical. Breathing through my left nostril is a total struggle, and since the left side of my lip is weak, I end up being a messy eater. It’s embarrassing; I can’t even handle something simple like spaghetti because the left side of my mouth just won't hold it together.
Honestly, reading all that sounds pretty grim, but it’s really not as bad as it looks on paper. I just tend to notice things that everyone else misses. Still, I’ve gotta be careful not to catch it again—recovery would be a total nightmare this time around.
Back when I was just a kid in fifth grade, I spent an entire month stuck in a hospital bed over on Vineyard. They had me on these B vitamin shots—injected straight into my butt—and let me tell you, it was absolutely brutal. My ass would be sore and bruised, making it impossible to sit, lie down, or even walk properly after the shot. They always made sure to hit me with them right before lunch, too. And the stinging? Pure hell. Just imagine being an eleven-year-old kid having to deal with that kind of pain.
It was actually way easier this time around. They did an IV combo with Vitamin C, which made a huge difference. B vitamins aren't even covered by insurance anymore—I don't know what the deal is with that lately—even though they're standard treatment for this condition. Luckily, I managed to score some through a friend who works at the hospital.
All I can say at this point is good luck with the recovery. Hopefully you dodge as many side effects as possible, but honestly, it’s going to take some serious discipline and actual effort with the therapy to see real results.
Yeah, seriously. And another thing—because of this whole illness situation, I had to deal with the most uncomfortable medical exam of my entire life. An electromyography. Gross. It’s basically checking nerve conduction. Totally necessary, but man, it was unpleasant.
Hope that helped you out at least a little bit. Hang in there. 😉
Man, you didn't actually help me at all—you just straight up lectured me.😲😢
Look, alright, you just laid out your own side of things and basically told me not to mess around with it.🙄
So, I’m back at work now, and honestly, I'm not even planning on taking any sick leave. I'm strictly behind a computer screen, not out doing anything crazy—just sitting in my office. My neurologist gave me the green light and said working on a PC is totally fine. The only real headache is the commute; I have to be extra careful walking to and from the office so nothing flies into my eye. Since I can't blink properly right now, my eye stays wide open all the time and gets incredibly dry. It's a pain.
I’ve been non-stop writhing around since she told me I had to. For the first two days, I was actually overthinking it, thinking I shouldn't stretch too much or twist my body, but turns out I actually need to do as much as possible. Not that I mind, though. Between grinding more than I ever write, writhing, twisting, and just moving around, I'm staying busy.🤣)
I think I’m finally over the worst of that panic. Honestly, things are starting to look up—my mouth is actually beginning to straighten out on the left side again. Or maybe I’ve just gotten used to the sensation, because my jaw isn't hurting nearly as much from being pulled out of shape anymore.😕
By the way, I'm just not feeling the vibe for messing around right now.👎
Nerve conduction study? You've gotta be kidding me. Am I really expected to go through that too?
Has anyone else dealt with this?
I swear, my brain just comes up with the wildest combinations sometimes.🙄
I've got all my meds ready and I’m starting physical therapy tomorrow, but now I'm wondering if I should also look into acupuncture or maybe seeing a bioenergy healer? 😕
Yeah, Čabrijanka has always been a big deal in Seattle😉
Ashley Perez50 said:The first two go "weeee" and the next two go "wuhuuu"... I definitely need a second to process that.😳
When are they actually going to announce the specific daily lineups? This year they scrapped that whole idea of having one day dedicated to techno/trance/house/rave stuff and another for rock—now it feels like both genres are just mashed together across both days, right?
Honestly, this way is better. Let them mix it up....
Especially for those of us who already grabbed our Festival Ticket for $33😉 now we get two full days of partying to the music we actually like... there's no way I’d be hanging out at some late-night DJ set listening to mindless thump-thump club music all night long.😛
Ashley Turner22 said:😢Here’s the truth: it takes time for something as stubborn as cellulite to show up, so it’s going to take just as long to make it disappear.
I’m currently in the middle of this "war" against my own skin, and I’m not delusional enough to think I can wave a magic wand and fix it in ten days...
Honestly, I never even thought I’d deal with cellulite issues. I was skinny as a rail my whole life.
But after I quit smoking after seven years, I basically traded one addiction for food. I’ve always been a foodie at heart, and despite a pretty chaotic diet, I used to have a perfect figure. Anyway, to make a long story short...
The cellulite started out as tiny little spots, then gradually increased until it became visible enough that I actually started to panic. I made a rookie mistake early on—I hit the gym hard for three months, toned my muscles, squeezed the cellulite away, and felt like I’d won. But then I took a step back and realized that wasn't sustainable. I’m a disciplined person by nature; once I set my mind to something, I stick with it, so I told myself I wasn't going to let this thing beat me.
Exactly. I started viewing it as a real battle. After doing some digging online, I came to the conclusion that diet, massages, creams, or exercise won't do much if you aren't combining them all into one strategy.
1. Watch what you eat. Say no to fruit juices, sodas, sweets, chips, white bread... Now, because my weight is actually perfectly fine for my height, I don't do strict diets—I hate feeling hungry. But I did manage to cut out almost all those junk foods, though I still allow for exceptions like birthdays or big celebrations. You also need to avoid greasy, heavy foods, though obviously not entirely unless you want to starve. Basically, eat more fruits and veggies, swap white bread for whole grain, and white pasta for whole wheat. Stick to three meals a day with a light dinner and two snacks in between, like some fruit, and you can regulate your weight without feeling deprived.
2. After figuring that out, I started a regimen of anti-cellulite treatments: ten sessions total, rotating between three types of air massage, mud wraps, and manual massage. Before each session, I’d spend half an hour running on the treadmill at the same spa. My aesthetician used Guam products the whole time, which are honestly phenomenal.
3. Drink plenty of water—at least 1.5 liters a day. It helps flush toxins from your system, and since cellulite is essentially just pockets of fat and water trapped under the skin, you need to stay hydrated to help flush that stuff out.
4. Once I finished the intensive treatments, I kept up with weekly sauna trips to relax and detox. Then, I bought some Guam dren cream to rub onto the affected areas, and trust me, it works wonders.
5. Walk every single day!
Just a heads-up: Guam products aren't cheap, but they really are amazing. The dren cream is about 20 euros, which is roughly $47 if I recall correctly, while the mud treatments are a bit more, around 50 euros... but nobody is saying you can't see results without them.
And I should be clear: the cellulite hasn't vanished, and medically speaking, it probably never will.😢What we *can* do is make it look much smaller and much less noticeable.
I’m an optimist. I put a lot of effort into my appearance, and while I don't spend a fortune, I definitely bring a lot of persistence to the table.
I truly hope this helps you out a little bit.🙂
Big KISSES!
👍🙂
Yeah, there are skin brightening and evening-out creams out there... and honestly, they actually work if you find the right ones😁
The spots on my nose and cheeks finally cleared up, though I make sure to hit my face with at least SPF 30 all through the summer months.
Obviously, you can't just use these creams once and expect magic; you have to stay consistent with them over time to see results.