One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s I wasn’t expecting was the facial mask. The limiting of facial expressions. Honestly there were a lot of things I didn’t expect or consider and I swear there are some, if not many, that I am oblivious to. I will look forward to those appearing on our journey: not.
Would I say my husband is the most easy person to read? Probably not. He isn’t exactly open with his expressions or feelings around people he doesn’t know. So did I expect to notice much difference. I don’t have any prior experience with people with this condition apart from my mother-in-law. I didn’t notice this with her so would it really show?
His lip tremor has become more obvious. Now I have no idea if that is just obvious to me because it was brought to my attention by the consultant. My husband has commented how he can sense it more. Especially when he is looking at his gawjus face in the mirror. (His words not mine.) I don’t want to ask others in case they then become aware of it and stare like I did for the first day. The last thing I want to do is draw attention to it, people are not exactly subtle.
Recently I have noticed his expressions have changed when he is just sat watching telly. His resting bitch face as I refer to it in myself. It’s really hard to describe. He looks sadder if that makes sense. For a while I found myself asking if he was OK more often. Then it dawned on my that it was the start of this face masking I had read about. His expressions aren’t limited when he smiles and laughs. His face still creases, as faces do when you reach a certain age. Especially a face that has been exposed to the elements during the numerous years he worked outside.
He can be a grumpy git, he’ll admit it. That too is an age thing I am sure. Men reach a certain age and the grumpy old git gene kicks in. I am suddenly reminded of a saying I heard when growing up when I was caught pulling a face ‘careful the wind doesn’t change or you’ll stay that way.’ I don’t want the wind changing and him having a permanent resting bitch face or expressions of that ilk.
I guess that means I have to make sure he exercises his face muscles to keep his expressions fluid. The muscles active. So do I have carte blanche to behave like an idiot? We tease each other a lot so that helps. Sometimes he starts chuckling and I am looking at him wondering if he has lost the plot. Usually its some odd thought that has popped into his head. I swear the random thoughts are eye opening, but they do make me laugh.
Another thing he has a great habit of doing is mishearing. He has done it for years. It’s not something he makes others aware of but when we are alone it is a great source of amusement. He can reduce me to tears of laughter with the level of mishearing he has. I have given up trying to work out how he can hear something so completely different that what was actually said. It’s like the singing the wrong lyrics to a song for years. That I understand.
I guess we will have to keep trying to make each other laugh and exercise those facial muscles to help maintain those natural crazy expressions for as long as we can. It’s just extremely lucky that we are both so nutty. It goes to proves that you don’t have to be mad but it sure as hell helps. E x