Bell's Palsy

[Kristen&Cary]

Does or has anyone ever suffered from Bell's Palsy? I woke up Sunday morning with what we think is Bell's Palsy. Any information on this would really help me out. We don't have insurance so if i don't have to Iwould rather not go to the doctor.

TIA
Kristen

[ManteoChik]

A friend of mine had this when we were in high school. He came to school one morning and couldn't move one side of his face, his mom was am EMT and she had an idea that's what it was but he went to the doctor and sure enough, that's what it was. I remember he couldn't move one side of his face for a few weeks and then it just went away. It's been so long now that I'm not sure if there is anything that they do for it. I would suggest seeing your doctor.

[DallasLady]

A lady I work with has it. She also just woke up one morning not able to move one side of her face. However, it took years and she still doesn't have all the motion back.

[Kristen&Cary]

The worst part other than the way I look when i talk & say some words (since I work in a beauty salon) is the fact that my eye isn't closing all the way & it's killing me!! My eye is SOOO dry. I tried to get into a doctor today but they were already closed for the day at 1pm:rolleyes: but i'm going to go ahead & call in the morning & see what they say.

[alliekat75]

Hi Kristen,
I'm so sorry this has happend to you. My good friend woke up one morning, near the end of her third trimester, with Bell's Palsy. It's been 3 months and she still has it, although, it has improved slightly. Her face looks a lot less drawn now.

According to her neurologist, there is a drug that can be given in the very early stages that my help. Unfortunately for her, it is not safe in pregnancies, so she wasn't able to take it.

Definitely see a doctor ASAP. In most cases, it clears up on its own within a few weeks.

Good luck. Please keep us posted.

[IrisHope]

Hi, you really need to see a doctor. Although you don't have insurance your health is really important.

[Jenessa]

Here is a description of Bell's Palsy from my Anatomy & Physiology textbook (2005):

Bell's Palsy, also known as facial paralysis, is a unilateral paralysis of the muscles of facial expression. It is due to damage or disease of the facial (VII) nerve. Possible causes include inflammation of the facial nerve due to an ear infection, ear surgery that damages the facial nerve, or infection by the herpes simplex virus. The paralysis causes the entire side of the face to droop in severe cases. The person cannot wrinkle the forehead, close the eye, or pucker the lips on the affected side. Drooling and difficulty in swallowing also occur. 80% of patients recover completely within a few weeks to a few months. For others, paralysis is permanent. The symptoms of Bell's Palsy mimic those of a stroke.

Facial Nerve (VII): Damage due to viral infection (shingles) or a bacterial infection (Lyme disease) produces Bell's Palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles), loss of taste, decreased salivation, and loss of ability to close the eyes, even during sleep.

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I hope this information will help you a bit, but by no means do I recommend that you diagnose yourself without speaking with a physician first. Good luck and make sure to let us know what happens.

[KarenS]

You really need to see a doctor rather than self diagnose. Last spring I had a really bad scare thinking I had Bells, a small stroke, even MS. It took a few days once it progressed to that point for me to get into the doctor and honestly I was terrified. Turns out what I had was a horribly bad sinus infection that had spread to my ears and throat. I never had a fever, never had pain, never had any "standard" symptoms. What I did have was slurred speech, lack of balance, and mild facial and eye droop. 10 days on diuretics and Flonase and the symptoms disappeared like they'd never been.

While you could very well be suffering from Bell's, it could also be a dozen other things. You really NEED to see a doctor.

Karen

[Kristen&Cary]

Thanks for all the help! I called & made a Dr. Appt. but they didn't seem too concerned to get me in right away so I’m going in Monday morning. I'm really having a difficult time at work since they keep the ceiling fans on ALL day & then all the perms & coloring chemicals are killing my eyes! I get home at night & keep eye drops in my eyes constantly & by morning I’m felling better but as soon as I get to work they are hurting again so I think I’m going to go in for a little while see if I have any appointment & then just go home till Tuesday unless someone calls then I’ll go in to do that (depending on what they want done no nail chemicals for me!!) & come straight home. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Thanks!!!
Kristen

[amew]

My husband had it about two years ago. Within a span of a couple hours he went from being fine to being unable to close his eye or smile on one side. He was put on steroids at the first sign of trouble (there is some evidence that this can speed up recovery time). I believe he was also put on antibiotics, as it is believed that Bell's Palsy can have its origins in a bacterial infection in certain cases, and he was given an oinment to use at night to keep his eye from drying out. He regained full use of his facial muscles within a month.

I would go to a doctor. There may be things they can do to help with recovery or symptoms (like giving you eye drops or oinment) if it is Bell's, and either way you should rule out anything more serious (stroke, tumor, etc.)

[Sare79]

My brother had it a few years ago. He was at work (in an autobody shop where he is a painter) and he thought something got in his eye, and even after flushing his eye, it was sore and dry and then his face strated to become paralyzed. He went to the hospital, where they did a bunch of tests and figured it was Bell's Palsy. He had to tape his eye shut every night, and ended up being off work for a bit because he had very limited vision in that eye.
He regained muscle control after about 3 months and his vision came back to perfect in the eye after about a year. His taste buds have changed, too.

Good luck with your doctor's appointment!

[j*east]

My sister had it about a year ago, for about a month. I believe she had to tape her eye shut, use eye drops, and eventually do some light rehab (eye circles, etc) to strengthen the muscles once she got better. She was in MA and I was in CA when it happened, so I didn't get to see her. It was scary, but she made a full recovery in a few months. She's totally fine now.

Good luck to you! I hope the dr. visit goes well. :)

[Kristen&Cary]

Well I just got back from the doctor & they confirmed that it is Bell's Palsy. He told me that it should go away in a few weeks but to make sure i keep the drops in my eye since my eye only closes 80% of the time. He gave me a prescription for Prednizone & told me it was really up to me if i wanted to fill it or not. It may or may not help it clear up faster. So i'm not sure about geting it filled since it causes weight gain & i'm trying to lose weight.

[NotDesperate]

I know two people to have gotten it and in both of them, they woke up one morning and couldn't close their mouth. It went away really fast and only one of them still has it a little bit in that you can see it in her face.

[Jenessa]

Wow! Good thing that you went and saw a doctor to confirm what you thought you had. I hope you recover quickly! Take care.

[jennylou]

I had it when I was in middle school (it was either 6th or 7th grade).

I was put on some medication and it went away within a few weeks.