Actress turned politician Angelu de Leon shared the two battles she had with Bell’s palsy several years ago. In an interview in the latest vlog of veteran broadcaster Luchi Cruz-Valdes, the Pasig City Councilor recalled how the two attacks she had were out of nowhere.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a condition which “causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.” It is rare to occur more than once according to the private medical center.
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Angelu had her first encounter with Bell’s palsy back in 2009–– during one of the breakfasts she had with her mother. She recalled how weird she felt as she couldn’t see her face moving as she tried talking.
“Pag inom ko ng tubig, biglang nag squirt yung water. Sabi ko, ano yun? Parang involuntary at tsaka weird yung pagkaka squirt, para kang fountain. I went to the bathroom and looked at the mirror parang nag sasalita ako pero hindi na siya gumagalaw. I don’t know where to go, derma ba? Tinawagan ko yung derma ko pero [sabi nila] hindi, punta ka sa neuro. Bakit sa neuro? Yun na nga, inexplain sa akin yung Bell’s palsy,” she recalled.
On her first day of having the condition, her face hadn't drooped yet–– it was on the second day when it happened. Fortunately for her, she was immediately given medical attention and within a week her face returned to normal.
The second attack of the condition took place in 2016. The Kapuso actress shared how she and her husband came from a trip to Europe then took their children to a vacation in Boracay.
“Everything was normal until mayamaya, nasa swimming pool sila sabi ko ako naman mag swimming. Pero pag sabi ko nun, all of a sudden, naramdaman ko na nanigas yung left face ko. I consulted again the neuro, another Bell’s palsy [attack],” she shared.
Her medical team explained to her how it’s already in her system and when the immune system goes down, Bell’s palsy can resurface.
“Sinasabi na it’s there in your system. Sometimes it’s there that you do not know, that it affects late. If it affects you, dahil bumaba yung immune system mo–– dun siya nag eeffect,” she explained.
Her 2016 Bell’s palsy left some remnants of it on her face but she claimed that it would only show if she’s tired.
Angelu then shared how she left it all to her faith, trusting that there was a reason for her to have undergone the condition twice in her life. Despite the remnants that it left on her face, the Kapuso star expressed her gratitude as she was still able to get some work in the showbiz industry.
“Ang galing din ni Lord, after nito kahit may remnant siya, that’s when I had a billboard in EDSA. I mean it didn’t stop from the blessings. Kailangan mo lang lakaran,” she ended.