peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 So, I woke up with Bell's Palsy. The right side of my face is completely paralyzed. Has anyone ever had this before??? Link to comment
TechResQ Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Oh gosh...I'm so sorry. Haven't ever had it, but knew someone that did. It resolved on it's own over the course of a few weeks. Do the Dr.'s know what caused the onset of your's? Link to comment
peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 nope.. a couple days ago I noticed that my taste was off, and then yesterday it felt like my eye was swollen and I couldnt close it all the way. Today I couldnt move the right side of my face at all. Apparently it can take anywhere from a few weeks to years to heal... and the doctors cant tell me either way. Hopefully it's the former... this sucks. Link to comment
alli Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Wow, sorry to hear that. I hope it resolves very quickly for you. Do they have any idea what would cause that? Link to comment
TechResQ Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 nope.. a couple days ago I noticed that my taste was off, and then yesterday it felt like my eye was swollen and I couldnt close it all the way. Today I couldnt move the right side of my face at all. Apparently it can take anywhere from a few weeks to years to heal... and the doctors cant tell me either way. Hopefully it's the former... this sucks. I'm sure it does suck. The person who I know that had it, had been to the dentist a few days before and had a crown placed on a tooth...the Dr. thought that could have triggered it. His took about 6 or 8 weeks to completely go away...it started to gradually get better and better. I hope yours goes away quickly. Link to comment
teabee Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 So frightening, I'm sorry this happened What does your doctor say? Link to comment
Shortpants Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Yes, I had Bell's Palsy at the end of my last pregnancy. Woke up one morning with my face feeling a little weird and within a couple hours it was totally paralyzed on one side. Due to it happening while I was preggo, they did an MRI and a couple other tests to make sure it wasn't something else more life threatening... luckilly it wasn't. They concluded mine was due to the excessive swelling and increased blood pressure at the end of my pregnancy. Honestly, I was petrified by what I was reading on the net about it lasting longer, or possibly never going away. Mine hung around for about 2 months of full paralysis, then gradually got better and was gone by the time I went into labor. It was tough as I am in a public contact position at work and I really felt like everyone was staring at me like some freak. The worst part was having to manually blink my eye as I couldn't do it naturally. If I forgot and it got too dry, it was downright painfull! That and the drooling and chewing on the inside of my mouth when eating was oh such a joy! LOL Really, like I said, wasn't too bad all in all. I made myself more nervous than anything. It went away on it's own... in it's own time. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask! Keep your chin up! Link to comment
norsewoman Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 This happened to a friend of mine. Her face was back to normal in six weeks. I hope your case is brief. Link to comment
peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 thanks for replying everyone. As far as what caused it, they are not really sure. It can be viral or it can be due to physical trauma. Basically the facial nerve is inflamed or damaged. it sucks, but I'm tryign to stay positive about it. Looking at myself in the mirror is pretty amusing at the moment lol the whole not being able to close my eye thing is really annoying though. My right eye is all bloodshot because I cannot blink properly. They said i might have to tape my eye shut for a while... Link to comment
BellaDonna Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 I had it an it was a nightmare. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. Mine developed shortly after having my son. They don't even really know what causes it (lots of theories- viruses, high blood pressure, irritation of the facial nerves- but they really don't have a clue) but I was told it is very common in postpartum or pregnant women. Doctors can prescribe you steroids which help and I also sought out laser treatment from a chiropractor which seemed to really help me regain control of my muscles. I also would massage my face often, and try to move even though it would not. Some docs may also reccomend taking Valtrex. Even though it is commonly used as a suppressant for people who have genital herpes, it also has a secondary, broader antiviral properties so if your Bell's is due to a virus it can help shorten the duration. I was so scared that I would suffer permanent damage to my face when I had it- I just cried and cried and remember not wanting to take any pics with my new baby because I looked like an absolute freak. I got extremely depressed. I had an eye that was stuck open and would slobber my food on one side. I hated life, needless to say. The first 2 weeks were the worst- I literally had zero control of the left side of my face. After a month I had full control of it again, thankfully and I suffered no long term damage. I agree with Shortpants that the stories you will read online about permanent issues are very scary- don't read them. My father has also had it in the past, when I was a kid (he has no long term damage) One thing you can do to help right now is to get yourself some eyedrops (the natural tears) kind, from the drug store. You might have problems with your eye becoming dry from not blinking. Are the docotr's treating it aggressively? When I went to my general doc, she referred me to a specialist for treatment. Link to comment
Shortpants Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Yes, I wholeheartedly echo BellaDonna's statement of don't psyche yourself out over "what could be". I also have no lasting effects from it at all. Once I got over the initial shock and fear of the unknown, it did get a little comical. Drinking water and drooling it right back out was a favorite giggle moment for my husband. Azzhat! It WILL eventually go away on it's own, just take care of yourself in the meantime. As BellaDonna suggests, some natural tears drops help the no blinking and eyes drying out alot. I say my mother in law coming for the birth of her grandchild and cooking me a whole bunch of yummy Spanish food fixed me right up! I had no drugs or treatments (due to being pregnant) and it just took care of itself. Good luck and best wishes! Link to comment
peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 6, 2010 Author Share Posted March 6, 2010 thanks guys... just checking in... im realizing that this condition is extremely psychological. I dont want to go out and talk to anyone or smile or laugh, because that's when it's extremely evident that theres something "wrong" with me. Doesn't help that I really need to agressively be looking for jobs right now. I dont think I can interview like this, but I might have to force myself to. Dating? ug. Link to comment
metrogirl Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 My ex had it and he was a basket case because he thought he had suffered a stroke. The doctors couldn't pinpoint the cause of it. His lasted a few weeks, probably 4 weeks at the most. Those 4 weeks were stressful for both of us. He was scared that he would be like that forever and of course he convinced himself that I was going to leave him because of it. *shakes head* Hope you feel better soon. Link to comment
BellaDonna Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Milkandhoney, did your doctor run any bloodwork on you? I remember when I had it they tested me for Lyme Disease, because it is also believed to be a potential cause. I hope you feel better soon. The psychological aspect of it is indeed the worst. Hopefully by the time you have an interview the whole thing will just be a memory. Link to comment
Seraphim Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 My 8 year old neice had it last year, my father in law had it years ago and 2 of my grandparents. They all made a full recovery. Link to comment
Miss Firecracker Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I know a lady that had it when she was in her 20's. She is fine, but I remember how strange it looked when she tried to talk, a lot like after going to the dentist and having one side of your face numbed. I know it's embarrassing, but I'll bet you will be fine in a few weeks. Link to comment
peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 pretty much everyone i have talked to has had it or knows someone that has had it before and have made a full recovery.... so that makes me feel better. playing the waiting game is the tough part now. Link to comment
peanutbutterandjelly Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Milkandhoney, did your doctor run any bloodwork on you? I remember when I had it they tested me for Lyme Disease, because it is also believed to be a potential cause. I hope you feel better soon. The psychological aspect of it is indeed the worst. Hopefully by the time you have an interview the whole thing will just be a memory. i actually got tested for lyme's over the summer. I ended up having ehrlichiosis which is similar to rocky mountain spotted fever and is carried by a deer tick. I was treated for it, but they dont really know much about the long term effects of it as it hasn't been around that long. they said its probably not connected to the bell's but who knows. Link to comment
BellaDonna Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 How are you doing now? Have you gotten any movement back at all? Link to comment
snoopydog Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Wow this is scary stuff. I'm impressed with how calmly you are dealing with it, I would be terrified and I am a man! I admire your strength, keep it up! Link to comment
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