Ughh! Bell's Palsy

[DuckLady]

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They have no idea. They thought it might be airborne. His brother in law got it at the same time. He was treated and is now fully recovered.

 

[dewey]

Lots of hugs! I had it when my (nursing on demand) ill baby was almost 12 months old. It was very bad, with a lot of behind the ear pain and nerve "star bursts" in the face that kept worsening over a couple of weeks or so. My one eye was frozen open, the other sagging, one side of my mouth was sagging, the other side not working, with slurred speech, some blurred vision and I couldn't eat or drink. I was struggling to nurse my sick baby and feed myself at the same time one evening shortly after dx and my (now ex

) husband starting laughing at the sight of me. Not a good feeling.

At first the ER docs thought I'd had a stroke because there was other muscle weakness and cognitive issues, but then BP was diagnosed, and later MS was suspected since the other symptoms progressed until one morning my legs didn't work...I couldn't walk...and it took over a year for my face to begin to go back to average looking and more than 6 months before I could begin to walk without some struggle, and it continued to get better for a couple of years. The little tingling feelings in the face went on for that long...nerve regeneration. Please do insist on treatment. I couldn't at that time but it could have been lessened or possibly quicker to pass if I'd been able to. Still have some residuals from it 18 years later, but nobody but me would really notice unless they knew what happened. I've known others that never regenerated the nerves.

Take good care of yourself and hang tough...I know it's not easy to do.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I have had two friends get it and both recovered. The one thought she was having a stroke and rushed to the hospital as she was prime age for one. The other did a lot of research on alternative treatments as she was pregnant at the time. She said the best thing that helped her was a Tenz unit. It sends electric signals to the muscles and makes them flex and relax so you don't lose your muscle tone. If you have it for a long time the effects can be permanent like the drooping. Check into it!! And you are more than entitled to feel sorry for yourself. Anyone would be in your position! Keep your spirits up and I will say a prayer for you.

 

[aChickted]

I had bells pallsy 4 weeks before my wedding. I was in the middle of a nursing practicum and my Grandma had just died, hubby was laid off, no idea how we would pay for the wedding, who would read the reading I had asked Grandma to do for the ceremony or if Grandpa would make the 2 day trip on his own to our wedding.

Bells Pallsy is idiopathic - meaning they often don't know what causes it. It is an inflammation of the sheath (like the protective sleeve) of cranial/facial nerves. This makes it so the brain can't send proper messages to the nerves in the face, some don't get through, or are mis-inerpreted. The permanent outcomes of this are dependant on how severe the swelling/inflammation is. This is why there is the use of an anti-inflammatory (prednisone, steroids, etc), to attempt to decrease the swelling around the nerve.

I had prednisone as it was a bit of a panic to have a proper smile on my wedding day! I cleared up about 6 days before the wedding.

I haven't had bells pallsy since, however that summer I had several episodes of random facial swelling - to the point that I had to go to the ER twice and was sent home from work as they were worried about anaphlaxys. Benadryl and antihistamines did nothing, Dr's didn't know what was wrong "take benadryl" ... I did it's not working .. "it should go away" Great thanks!


Good luck, wishing you a speedy recovery! If your eye is stuck open and the pupils don't/wont dilate, you may want to put a patch on your eye for the time being, and don't forget to keep it lubricated with eye drops!

 

[kickenChickens]

I too suffer from Bells Palsy... There is no treatment... Some people have only one onset.. others are more lucky and it remises... but will likely set in again, each subsequent time increasing the likelyhood of it staying active.... Some studies suggest there is a link between the Herpes Simplex Virus (cold sore, Fever Blisters) but nothing concrete. Hope your on my side of the odds and it remises and hang in there.

 

[jerseygirl1]

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That sounds like Lymes Disease

 

[schellie69]

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I also have Fibromyalgia and have been on steroids due to being stung by a bee I am deathly allergic, I did not find it to bad but I have meds for my FMS that helps with the pain. I would try the meds if they will help. The only thing I hate about the steroids is I can't stop I have to be moving cleaning doing something I now take zanxa to help me with my anxiety at night to let me sleep. So it might be better if I ever get stung again which I hope not. It is scary, I hope you get better I am sorry you are going through this and its okay to feel down sometimes I know I do. Just don't let it stop you from getting back up and going again. Good luck send prayers for a quick recovery.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Bells' Palsy is not always ideopathic...go to the doctor.

I had Bell's Palsy, mine was caused by shingles. I had shingles in my throat, a little (a pock or two) on my face, and in my ear canal. It hurt like crazy. I didn't have a regular doctor at the time, and just kept seeing different people at the urgent care place. I ended up with vertigo, Bell's Palsy, ringing in my ears, hearing loss, the inability to swallow, the inability to smell, double vision and some other symptoms. The treatment took longer and was worse because I didn't have a regular doctor. If I could have kept the antivirals down, I would have come out much better in the long run. I had something called Ramsey-Hunt Syndrome. Many people end up with permanent disabilities from it. I have permanent hearing loss in one ear, and still occassionally have vertigo episodes. The neurologist said that I was close to menigitus and that 7 of the 12 cranial nerves were affected.

Don't mess around, go to the doctor, get the prednisone, and get better!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mattemma]

Speedy healings.Had a relative that had this after childbirth.It resolved.Read it happens after flu vaccine for some.Usually resolves.Healings!

 

[Slinkytoys]

Okay, you guys convinced me. I went to an Urgent Care and was examined. My eye is now behind a patch and I have pred and an antiviral med to take. Sigh..... I hate pills. And the antiviral ones I have to take 5 times a day. So far they've made me a little upset to my stomach, but I think I can stand it for now.
Thank you all for the prayers, information and hugs. They are all greatly appreciated.
Slinky