#innko talks

I was gonna be writing my big driving school update post on here since I hadn’t gotten the chance to write about the school and my disability accommodations but…

I just finished up antivirals and low dose steroids for the third shingles outbreak I’ve had in 2 years. The first one in June 2024 paralyzed my leg after an 8 week diagnostic delay, and the second one in October 2024 with a rash that spread from my eyebrow to my shoulder ended up leaving me with post herpetic neuralgia and a weak arm/hand, the full extent of which I did not discover until I started driving school.

This time, the it was the same left side of my face as October 2024. The night of June 4, my face suddenly became weak and the next day I slowly realized…this is not my residual damage flaring…by that night I mostly lost my sense of taste too. I’ve had mild ear pain and dizziness too, but I’m on Valium for my paralyzed leg’s spasms, so I think the full extent of that has been masked. Got the rash on my hairline and my neck. I went to my usual doctor on June 6 but she only gave me antivirals and no matter which AI I asked all of them insisted facial weakness requires steroids as well so I got some at a neurology clinic on June 8…so low dose I was scared they might not work, but my facial weakness started improving on them and I still got the classic irritable roid rage lol.

Now my facial weakness is a lot better and I think my taste is starting to come back, but healing nerves are funny. I’m getting weird metallic tastes in my mouth and lots of tingles and zaps in my tongue and corner of my mouth.

I had to cancel one of my driving lessons but I was able to return sooner than I thought. The pickup van comes really close to my flat and they always make sure to bring the car close to the building/take me back to the building so I don’t have to walk much…but I tried to go out to take some photos in the neighborhood on June 13 and was only able to make it to the shrine two buildings down.

I think my facial strength will mostly return and I’m hoping my taste does soon too. Praying for no permanent neurological deficits this time. I’m going to try to get supportive therapies like vitamin b12 added to my usual IV neurotropin and ATP at my next appointment on the 22nd now that I’m in the crucial nerve healing phase.