Bells Palsy

[Irelandraven]

Just wanted to let everyone know I woke yesterday morning with the left face paralyzed. I went to the urgent care this morning and after a day of research from me the first day and the urgent care visit, I have Bells Palsy.

I have to drink through a straw, it hurts terrible to eat and the left side of my face droops.

Its not permanent but recovery time is unkown, it could be 2 weeks, 6 months, a year....

I am on 3 types of meds also.

Its the oddest thing it comes on very quick and they don't know the direct cause but they think it may have been from my severe sinuses.

Has anyone else had this?

[wyckdblyss]

I am so sorry to hear about that honey. I have not had it myself, but I did work with a man who did. It came on just like yours...he woke up one morning with it. He did manage to recover most of the way by the time he left the job though, so just know that it does eventually go away. It is just very unfortunate that there are no definate time lines on recovery. I am sending you lots of healing engery and and adding you my list of people I speak to the Goddess about every night. *HUGS*

[Hausfrau Monica]

Yes, I have had it.  Just remember this....this too shall pass!  It is very scary at first but then the best thing over all for you to do is rest and destress.

I had my case a few months after delivering our son (he is now 15).  It was very scary and I got to the doctor right away.  He did his exam with all seriousness and then started to laugh.  I was crying because he scared me even more.  He then told me what it was and that all would be well.  The funny part of the day was that my doctor's office was inside of a teaching hospital.  When I had calmed down he asked me if he could have the student doctors look at me since this is a rare condition that they may never see in practice.  Wow!  What a guinea pig experience!  A general call went out to all floors and I had at least 12 residents poking my face with pins and asking me twenty questions.  It was hard after a while not to make things up to try and trick them...

The diagnosis for me was, I think, the 6th and 7th level of cranial nerves.  I had numbness on the whole side of my face, I had to use a straw to drink because any fluid in my mouth just dribbled out but I could swallow fine, I had to tape my eyelid closed to sleep because for the first few days it wouldn't shut and then my eye would dry out.  They said what caused it is a virus that attacks the nerves and I do know that my father has had it twice in his life.  I think I was well in less than a month.

It is so strange that you feel well enough in body but you also feel very debilitated at the same time.  I am going to guess that they have loaded you up with antibiotics to try and zap the nasty, little bug that is causing this.  I would suggest that you think of this as a time to be quiet and restful, not out and about a great deal (which you won't want to do because you think your face is disfigured) but more so that if you are on antibiotics there is more chance of your body not being able to fight off other bugs you might run into.  Take this as a time for yourself...which I know is a very difficult thing to do...but overall, there is nothing but time that will heal this.

Oh, and my mother-in-law had it as well.  The poor thing got it just as they were leaving on their "trip of a lifetime" to Hawaii!  All of her pictures show her with a droopy mouth and eye.  But, I guess the rest there did her some good because she was over it fairly quickly.  So there!!!  Maybe you should take a holiday and go and lay on a beach....that sounds like a better prescription, I think.

Hugs to you, Irelandraven.  I hope you are well again soon.  Message me if you want to talk.

Monica

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

I have had it, many many years ago.  I noticed you live in Mission Viejo, I had it when I lived in So Cali too. 

You will heal... although you may have some gentle reminders... like when you get tired your eye may droop a bit or you may dribble a drynk.  You have probably been going through a very stressful time in your life recently, you may have also exposed yourself to cold winds recently, not be taking in a lot of dairy and you also noted a sinus infection.  I know the traffic where you live can be unpleasant although the climate is lovely.

Myne lasted about 3 weeks, had to tape my left eye shut to sleep.  They put me on steroids.  Hopefully you have a sympathetic doctor, myne was not and sent me back to work.  Fortunately 3 of the "bigwigs" at work had also had it and told me to go home and rest.  That was MOST helpful, definately heed the advice of earlier posts, rest, rest, destress, rest some more and find ways to make your life more easy going forward.  Massage your face, take in good things for you to help your body heal... keep saying to yourself your are healthy and whole... you will look and feel fyne again very soon friend. 

[Irelandraven]

Thank you so much ladies! I woke this morning after getting a good nights rest and the pain wasn't as bad.

They have me on 2 different anibiotics and one type of steroids.

I also have been watching Vblogs on Youtube of people who have this.

Wyckd your Aunt is on my mind also, I am sending as much light to you and her as I can =)

Seriously, waking up and reading your posts have made my day, having you here is a huge help also. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Oh dear Gods Monica I would have been so nervous having the interns poke at me! How the heck did you handle that?! Did you cry a lot when you found out you had this? I was in so much pain the last two days and being depressed about it didn't help. Do you still see side affects?

Mikayla, how long did yours last?

I have also been under a lot of stress, so that isn't helping.

Thank you so much again I will keep everyone updated.

[Pascal]

I've had it too -- as you've no doubt found out, it's a nerve thing ... nothing earth-shattering, more of an irritant than anything else.  Can also be stress-related, too.

Was talking to my doctor about it recently (my bout happened about 5 years ago) and he said that once you have it, you'll always still be susceptible to it happening again.

Also (as you've probably found out as well), there's a lot of doubt whether the steroids (prednisone, right?) actually do anything helpful.  I found that taking Lysine supplements helped mine go away.  Whenever my eye feels a little droopy, I start 'em up again ... appears to keep it at bay.

[Hausfrau Monica]

That was a very interesting day when I was diagnosed.  Utter panic until the doctor told me what it was and that it would only be temporary.  At first, I was terrified that I would be stuck like that all the time.  When the doctor suggested that I let the interns poke at me, I said "let them come, I'll be the guinea pig then".  They came in two at a time, all younger than me and were soooooo serious that I ended up laughing....I couldn't keep a straight face   ;Dhahaha.

Mother-in-law just came in and said that acupuncture is what got her through fairly quickly.

I only remember taking antibiotics but no steroids (nasty, nasty stuff prednisone is!).  I don't recall that it lasted more than a month.  The only lasting reminder that I have of that is that I can't swish water around inside my mouth without leaking (fun at the dentist) and that when I am really tired and stressed my lower eyelid will twitch.  That might be a good thing....a reminder that I am getting too stressed and to watch it or else.

Pascal:  what is Lysine?  OTC or perscription?

Rest, rest, rest Irelandraven.....all will be well.

[Hausfrau Monica]

I am also so thankful for this forum and for everyone on it.  It is amazing and a true blessing that everyone is so inclusive and caring.  We share a common interest but it must be in our natures to also be so caring of other people around us.  Everyone is truly interested in sharing a comment or advice only for the sheer fact that it might make someone else's day just that little bit easier.

And the photos are something else all together.!

[Tammy]

My sister in law had it. She woke up, and thought she'd had a stroke. Hers wasn't too painful (or she just didn't tell us), and it went away in a couple of weeks.

I'll be sending you healing thoughts...and I'll light a candle!

[Alphonse]

 Been there and done that myself, it took me about four months to get over the worst of it, of course way back in the 70's they didn't give you any form of treatment, just a diagnosis. To me it seems like my left eye droops but everyone says it is not noticeable, except for being nearly deaf on that side,lol. You will get better and even if you notice it, odds are that most people won't, in a few months time. I lost my ability to taste foods as well and that returned with time. Here's hoping the best for your quick recovery!

[Tipsy Gypsy]

I've known several people who had it, and any lasting effects were very minor and hardly noticeable. If you didn't know they'd had it, you wouldn't think anything amiss at all. My ex was the first person I knew who had it, and after a couple of months he was pretty much ok. I don't recall if the doc gave him any meds, but I do remember that he gave him an ointment to put in his eye to help keep it moistened until he could close it fullly again, and the ex found that immensely helpful.

[Pascal]

Pascal:  what is Lysine?  OTC or perscription?

Lysine is an OTC suppliment; it's an essential amino-acid.  Means it's required, but that your body doesn't make it by itself, so it has to come from food/suppliments/etc.

[Lady Mikayla of Phoenicia]

Myne lasted about 3 weeks.   I thynk I had it about 15 years ago by now... when I get tired or not feeling well or overdo it, the left side of my mouth may dribble and my left eye may twitch, as aforementioned a note to self to slow down & destress.    

[lordwriothsley]

I can honestly say that I have never had that but I can only imagine what you are going through right now. I will be praying for a quick and speedy for you IrelandRaven.

God Bless and God Speed to you lass.

[Irelandraven]

Sorry its been a couple of days since I posted this Bell's is kicking my Irish butt.

I am always tired and yesterday I had a relaps with the headaches and forget driving.

I am trying to remain in good spirits.

Its not showing any signs of improvement but that doesn't mean I won't wake up tomorrow and it won't start improving!

Thank you again for all your support, prayers and light its means the world to me.

Lord Wriothsley, thank you M'Lord I appreciate so much.