Epilepsy and Hole in the Bottom Lip

Living with Epilepsy and the Aftermath of a Traumatic Brain Episode

There’s a Hole in the Bottom of My Lip

By Baylis

In March 2009 I had a traumatic brain episode. A blood vessel in a benign tumor attached to my brain burst, filling my cranial cavity with blood and creating all the symptoms of a stroke. After the removal of the benign tumor, I was warned that I could have ongoing coordination and balance problems. After months of physical therapy, my balance and coordination improved. I was able to get around my home most of the time unaided. However, whenever I would go out, I needed the insurance and sometimes the assistance of a cane or a walker.

Then, in December 2009, I had four grand-mal seizures. I was now epileptic. I am on anti-seizure medication and my wife was warned to constantly watch me in case of new seizures. Recovering in the hospital from the seizures, I was warned that some of the balance and coordination issues could return, which they did. This necessitated some more physical therapy, that included lots of walking and  climbing stairs, some in place exercising and some simple games with inflatable balls. It’s been more than six months since the grand-mal seizures. I have not had another grand-mal seizure, and my balance and coordination are slowing returning to where they were prior to the December episode. My endurance has not returned yet so I am working to improve it each week.

In spite of the progress, I still have one concern. In the aftermath of either the brain surgery or the seizures, no one warned me about the possibility of developing a hole in my bottom lip. What do I mean?

Every time I drink liquids from a glass or a cup, I find drips either on the table or down the front of my shirt. It doesn’t matter whether I drink straight from the glass or cup, or I use a straw. The drips are still there. It seems to be worse with cereals or soups that I eat with a spoon. My wife keeps suggesting that I slow down and make sure that I get the spoon all the way into my mouth. I reassure her and I then take pains to show her that I am very careful about leisurely and steadily raising the spoon from the bowl without spilling any of its contents, and slowly putting the spoon completely in my mouth before “slurping” its contents. Even with these precautions the drips magically appear.

But my problem is not just with liquids. Every time I eat crackers, chips or cookies, I leave a pile of crumbs on the table in front of me. Toast, bread, donuts, muffins and bagels all have the same fate. The only logical explanation that I can conclude is that there is a hole in my bottom lip.

My wife’s first response when I told her about the problem was, “Don’t sweat it. Nobody cares. Everybody does it to a certain extent.”I shot back, “Well, I do care. I know I shouldn’t, but I find it embarrassing and annoying”. When this slipped out, my wife’s solution to this dilemma was to suggest the old standby, duct tape. What is that “Use Number 102?” I am not ready for that solution yet. With my beard, I know there would be problems removing the tape. Has anybody else experienced this hole in the bottom lip phenomenon? Have you found any workable solutions or it is time, as my wife suggested, for me to quit worrying about it and get on with the meal? People that know me know that I am always ready to get on with the meal.