Three years ago, Howard Stall’s life changed forever when he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (RHS). The exact date of Howard’s diagnosis is difficult to pinpoint, as it involved trial and error with a visit to the ER, physician referrals, discussions with family and friends, and internet research. Like so many with RHS, Howard’s diagnosis trajectory was highly uncertain.

Early on, physicians misinterpreted Howard’s symptoms, the primary one being facial paralysis, as signs of Bell’s palsy. Howard’s symptoms immediately prompted him to go to an emergency department in Savannah, GA, where he was at the time of his symptoms’ onset. Although he was misdiagnosed at that time, he was prescribed a 10-day course of oral steroids, as well as Valtrex. After that initial ER visit, Howard saw his primary care physician and a neurologist in Charlotte, NC. His initial hope that the facial paralysis might be temporary faded upon receiving a formal RHS diagnosis, a feeling he likened to a car accident or suddenly hitting a brick wall.

Want to learn more about Howard’s RHS experience? Click HERE to read the full story.