Worst of all is the stroke-like appearance on the rt. side of my face. I have been asked if I had a stroke or Bells Palsy. When I tell them that this is from Botox injections, they ask me why on earth, do I still take them. I sometimes ask myself this. I guess it helps to keep me sane. It's hard to stand the stress of the spasms without Botox. My doctor has prescribed Zoloft for stress, anxiety and depression. I am sure all the symptoms are directly the cause of HFS.

I find myself envying people that can laugh at a joke or smile at their grandchildren. This is what I miss most. I have hidden from people that I would really like to see. One old friend, a former nurse, whom I hadn't seen in five or more years, bluntly asked me, "What has happened to your face?" I felt like bursting into tears, but I found out that crying does not help anything. I would love to have the surgery, but I live in the hills of Eastern KY, far away from any of the better known surgery centers. Is there anyone out there with a better solution for treating this demon?