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Bell's Palsy?*Update!*
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:42pm
Has anyone ever heard of this?

I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy about a week ago and it sucks. The right side of my face is almost paralyzed due to a swelled nerve I have in my face. (I think that's what it is.)

Since I've been taking the medications I was given, I can feel some movement in my face. Ex.: my lip will randomly twitch or start to tingle. My doctor said that it's a sign that the nerve is coming back to life.

Has anyone else dealt with this before? I've become a bit subconscious when I go out now since I can't really smile. DH says I look like Two Face from Batman when I smile. I'm trying hard not to let this get me down, but it's tough.

Any words of support or encouragement are well appreciated! (I don't know if there was really a point to this post. I guess I just wanted to see of anyone else has dealt with this and how they have overcome it!)

ETA: First, I wanna start by thanking everyone who commented. Thank you so much for the encouraging words as also for sharing your experiences with me. It helped to make me feel better.

Now it's been about twoish weeks since I first got BP and I'm doing much better. I've gotten more movement back in my face.

My eyes still doesn't close all the way but I can now lift my eyebrow, flare my nostril and it actually looks like I'm smiling now instead of trying to scare a small child lol.

I've had a visit with my doctor and he's given me a month before he wants to see me again. He says that if he doesn't see any other inprovement that ill have to consider looking into electroshock therapy.

I'm hoping it won't have to come to that. :/

Replies (1-10 of 47)

Posted by cLanief
on 4/25/12 at 7:44pm

one of my besties had to go to urgent care a couple weeks ago cuz he thought he was stroking out... He was diagnosed with bells palsy and given meds... He looks normal now.

Good luck!!
Posted by epoh
on 4/25/12 at 7:45pm

I had it. I woke up on my 16th birthday with half of my face paralyzed. Usually it goes hand in hand with Lyme Disease but I was tested and the results came back negative.

Within 2 weeks my movements were mostly back to normal and within a month I regained full function of all the muscles. I had to wear an eye patch at night to keep my eye closed and I had to use eye drops to keep it moisturized since I couldn't blink.

It was horrible. :( I smiled covering my mouth for the first couple weeks because I drooled and scared small children and old folks with my creepy smile. They never figured out what it was from and it hasn't returned since.
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:47pm

How long did he have it for? An thanks :)

Quoting cLanief:

one of my besties had to go to urgent care a couple weeks ago cuz he thought he was stroking out... He was diagnosed with bells palsy and given meds... He looks normal now.

Good luck!!
Posted by kryptomom
on 4/25/12 at 7:48pm

Dad had it. At first we thought it was a stroke. He recovered fully within a month. Had to wear an eyepatch briefly because his eye wouldn't close on it's own.
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:49pm

Oh wow! Well I'm glad it healed up well for you. I didn't know about the Lyme disease. Actually my doctor had said that they didn't really know the cause of BP. That it was something that just happened.

I hope mine heals up soon. I really don't like NOT being able to smile.

Quoting epoh:

I had it. I woke up on my 16th birthday with half of my face paralyzed. Usually it goes hand in hand with Lyme Disease but I was tested and the results came back negative.

Within 2 weeks my movements were mostly back to normal and within a month I regained full function of all the muscles. I had to wear an eye patch at night to keep my eye closed and I had to use eye drops to keep it moisturized since I couldn't blink.

It was horrible. :( I smiled covering my mouth for the first couple weeks because I drooled and scared small children and old folks with my creepy smile. They never figured out what it was from and it hasn't returned since.
Posted by cLanief
on 4/25/12 at 7:49pm

Not sure but I saw him 2 weeks after it happened and wouldn't have known it happened had he not posted on fb.

Quoting i00adri00v:

How long did he have it for? An thanks :)

Quoting cLanief:

one of my besties had to go to urgent care a couple weeks ago cuz he thought he was stroking out... He was diagnosed with bells palsy and given meds... He looks normal now.

Good luck!!
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:49pm

Oh wow! Well I'm glad it healed up well for you. I didn't know about the Lyme disease. Actually my doctor had said that they didn't really know the cause of BP. That it was something that just happened.

I hope mine heals up soon. I really don't like NOT being able to smile.

Quoting epoh:

I had it. I woke up on my 16th birthday with half of my face paralyzed. Usually it goes hand in hand with Lyme Disease but I was tested and the results came back negative.

Within 2 weeks my movements were mostly back to normal and within a month I regained full function of all the muscles. I had to wear an eye patch at night to keep my eye closed and I had to use eye drops to keep it moisturized since I couldn't blink.

It was horrible. :( I smiled covering my mouth for the first couple weeks because I drooled and scared small children and old folks with my creepy smile. They never figured out what it was from and it hasn't returned since.
Posted by wodntulk2kno1
on 4/25/12 at 7:49pm

Yes, I have heard of it. I have also taking care of people who have had it. Just take your medication and the nerve will heal.
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:50pm (1 like)

Oh wow! Well that makes me feel slightly better. I'm glad your friend is doing better :)

Quoting cLanief:

Not sure but I saw him 2 weeks after it happened and wouldn't have known it happened had he not posted on fb.

Quoting i00adri00v:

How long did he have it for? An thanks :)

Quoting cLanief:

one of my besties had to go to urgent care a couple weeks ago cuz he thought he was stroking out... He was diagnosed with bells palsy and given meds... He looks normal now.

Good luck!!
Posted by i00adri00v
on 4/25/12 at 7:51pm

I will. Thank you. :)

Quoting wodntulk2kno1:

Yes, I have heard of it. I have also taking care of people who have had it. Just take your medication and the nerve will heal.