My experience with Ramsay Hunt goes back to 1992. As you read my diary you will see that knowledge of this affliction was limited even among doctors. No doubt earlier specific treatment would have limited the damage. And, of course, there was no world-wide support like this excellent site.

I would judge my experience with RHS as not being nearly as severe as some noted on this site. For all practical purposes, I recovered after two years. I am physically active and still working at 65. Any physical limitations are due to other issues and just plain getting older. The message for those discouraged during the early days of the course of the disease is that recovery is possible. I still have some residual paralysis and problems, but they are liveable.

Most notable about my experience were: the onset had nothing to do with any stress; I had very little pain directly from RHS but severe eye pain due to a related viral infection; early misdiagnosis as simply Bell's Palsy and not RHS; and full recovery of balance and hearing.

The one impact of this disease was it stopped any political ambitions. I soon discovered that I could no longer "talk out of both sides of my mouth at the same time".

The support of my family was most important to my recovery. I thank them all but especially, Dagmar, my wife of 41 years.

Read my story