Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Hi, June,Actually, you can't see yourself blink in a mirror. In particular, you can't see the difference between normal blinking (which involves the eyelids only) and spasmodic blinking, which involves all the muscles in the facial mask, including eyebrows, nose, upper cheeks, etc. You can only observe yourself objectively by videotape. You can observe others with Blephs, however, and I keep an eye open for them (yes, that's a bad pun) and have met about a half-dozen this way. The youngest I can recall seeing was about 30, which is also about the age I was when I first recall spasming. It doesn't surprise me that others might have BEB at an earlier age, it's just that I haven't met them. Curiously, a close friend of my wife's from Middle School days who was a bridesmaid at our wedding later developed BEB and was involved in early tests of Botox in the 1980's. --- Lynn
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Lynn, I never thought about not being able to see oneself blinking in a mirror - I guess you are right! When I do look in a mirror (as infrequently as possible!) I wonder who that slit-eyed creature is? Even after botox my eyes are not as big and well rounded as they used to be - oh well, not to worry, at least I can see.June in Toronto
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I have always blinked a lot. I used to have people ask me all the time if I wore contacts (because of the blinking). But, since my eyes have always been dry, I never could wear contacts. Also I can't remember not being sensitive to light, though less so than now. Sounds like I've been headed here all my life.
Virginia in AL
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
The only symptoms that I had as a child or even before BEB were light sensitivity and squinting. I've always been a squinter. Pictures of me as a little girl, had me squinting or holding my hands over my eyes to shade them. No excessive blinking. As a young adult, under times of stress, I would develop a tic that sometimes would last for weeks.Shirley in Ar. who gets to get her botox a week earlier than planned but a week later than needed. Now, if I can just make it until Wed.
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
So I guess, Shirley, beb, was in your system from childhood - like me. I remember having to wear sun glasses in the UK even when it wasn't sunny (and that wasn't very often - LOL! (scus me Jenny in Liverpool).June in Toronto, who wishes that SHE could get her injections a week earlier, but is REALLY GLAD FOR SHIRLEY that she is able to.
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I have always been sensitive to the sun. Squinted a lot, too. Never could have contacts because the eye doctors said my eyes were too dry.Sally In North Idaho
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Sally, it sounds like you had beb symptoms, too, in your childhood.June in Toronto
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
That's an interesting one. I remember when I was in early grade school that I couldn't see the blackboard no matter where I sat. I did the squinting. It wasn't until late grade school years that I finally got glasses. Other than that, I can't recall at the moment any signs of blinking a lot. Maybe no one said anything to me. Now I wish I could remember. grace anne in port orchard
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Grace Anne, do you have parents, siblings, to ask if they remember you blinking when you were young? I DON'T REMEMBER my blinking, but my grandfather sure told me about it - so I remember it that way!June inToronto
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
You know, June, I could ask my mom but I know it wouldn't do any good. For example, when a gyn asked me to find out from mom what age she went through menopause, mom said "How should I know! I just thought I was having a bad day". So I can imagine asking mom if she remembers me blinking. She'd probably say "How should I know! I just thought you had something in your eye."graceanne in port orchard
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I suppose I was an early candidate, too. I was always very sensitive to the sun (eyes and skin) and people kept telling me to stop squinting. Then MDH would often say, "why are you frowning?" and I wasn't frowning at all. And I blinked a lot, though it was seldom mentioned. Usually blamed it on my blue eyes.
Mary NY
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
Shirley described me pretty well, always squinting in every outdoor picture with head tilted and one hand up trying to shade my eyes or wishing I could. I remember people commenting to my family (as though I weren't there) about my squinting, blinking, frowning, and snurling my nose. I wore glasses from the age 13 and had headaches which the doctor said was sinus headaches all my life.
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
So Mary and Delaine are two more to add to the list of early childhood beb - interesting isn't it, how many of us did have all the early symptoms?June in Toronto
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
I certainly think I had some precursers to BEB as a child and things very slooo-----wly progressed. Nothing got my attention like the blinking everytime I got in the car to drive to work in Jan. 99; I thought I was losing my mind. Looking back, I remember sitting in staff meetings and blinking or having to look down under the bright lights or listening to someone else talk for maybe a year. By April of 99 when I could no longer look my patients in the eyes and my eyes closed when they were talking, it broke my heart. By May I could not drive or function at work.
Re: DID YOU HAVE ANY SIGNS OF BEB IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?
There we are back to that old sinusitis/headache that so many of us have in common. I just can't help but think there is some connection between the chronic sinusitis and BEB. Sally
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