Minister reveals shock diagnosis after concerned viewers spotted his droopy eye at a Covid press conference - as he issues a very important warning
A NSW government minister has revealed he is suffering from a condition that sees half of the face droop, diagnosed hours after viewers expressed grave concerns for his health at a Covid-19 briefing.
Victor Dominello sparked alarm at the state's daily press conference on Wednesday when television cameras picked up on his droopy eye.
The customer services minister revealed later that night he's since been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a type of paralysis that affects one side of the face, and encouraged Australians to keep an eye on their health during the pandemic.
The condition causes sudden muscle weakness or paralysis that causes half of the face to appear to droop, leading to one-sided smiles and one eye that refuses to close.
'At this morning’s press conference - a number of people commented on my droopy eye,' he captioned a screengrab of the concerning feature.
Victor Dominello was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy a few hours after viewers expressed concern for him at Wednesday's Covid-29 briefing
'Some people thought I was winking at the cameraman. Some thought I had a stroke.'
Mr Doninello recalled how he felt a pain in his skull behind his right ear on Monday before waking up two days later with pins and needles on the right side of his tongue.
'I only got it checked this afternoon - after a number of people reached out to see if I was ok,' he continued.
'Thanks to everyone who reached out. The reason I am posting is because hopefully it will remind people to look after their health.
'We are focused on Covid but there are plenty of other health problems going on.
'If you have any health concerns - please get them looked after.'
Victor Dominello (pictured with Gladys Berejiklian) woke up on Wednesday morning with pins and needles on the right side of his tongue
The NSW customer services minister hopes his shock diagnosis will serve as a reminder to everyone to look after their health
His plea to everyone comes after NSW recorded 633 Covid-19 cases, the highest spike in daily new cases since the start of the pandemic.
He ended the post by paying tribute to the staff who treated him at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Bell's Palsy is usually a temporary condition with symptoms typically improving within a few weeks, with complete recovery in six months.
Around 90 per cent of patients will recover completely with time.
WHAT IS BELL'S PALSY?
Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis.
It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve).
Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.
Bell’s palsy can strike anyone at any age. It occurs most often in pregnant women, and people who have diabetes, influenza, a cold, or another upper respiratory ailment.
Bell's palsy affects men and woman equally. It is less common before age 15 or after age 60.
Bell's palsy is not considered permanent, but in rare cases, it does not disappear.
Currently, there is no known cure for Bell's palsy; however, recovery usually begins 2 weeks to 6 months from the onset of the symptoms.
Most people with Bell's palsy recover full facial strength and expression.
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine