In A&E with a numb face...keep me company please?!

[numbcheek]

I've NC'd for this.

Yesterday afternoon my face suddenly went numb on the right side. No other symptoms but my face has drooped and 24 hours on is still numb.

Anyone ever had this? What was the outcome? I tried hard not to google it but it's very worrying.

111 sent me to A&E and I've had bloods taken. It looks to be a long wait!

It's busy, people are queuing on ambulance stretchers to get in. Standing room only (because half the chairs are taped off for social distancing).

So far, there has been one person in for toothache, one because he's punched a wall on Christmas Day, another with a sore toe....

Glad to hear that you have answers and that they have started the steroids already. Don't forget to care for the eye on the affected side (see my tips above). Hope you recover quickly.

Very glad they don't think it's anything more serious OP.

Bells Palsy isn't the most pleasant of illnesses but hopefully it will pass quickly. Invest in a good straw, keep your neck warm and ask for the eye drops. Hey at least we're all wearing masks at the moment!

Some people.

That's scaremongering and unhelpful in these stressful times - let the doctors be the ones to share any info like that!!

(that was in reply to getsomehelp by the way).

What a relief! Hope DH has a feast waiting for you

When do you get to go home, OP?
What prognosis are they giving you?

Friend had BP and it probably took her 24m to get her face working normally again. Try not to despair if recovery is slow.

@Porridgeoat he's eaten without me!! Charming. But he has put the heating on and will make me something!

I hope the steroids work, don't know what to expect having never had them before but fingers crossed.

Thank you all for keeping me entertained. The jokes are awesome xxx

Please get them to check for Listeria. My nephew had a mis-diagnosis for bels palsey, when in fact it was Listeria. Easily treated with antibiotics if caught early

Glad you have an answer and pleased it isn’t anything serious.

[quote numbcheek]@Porridgeoat he's eaten without me!! Charming. But he has put the heating on and will make me something!

I hope the steroids work, don't know what to expect having never had them before but fingers crossed.

Thank you all for keeping me entertained. The jokes are awesome xxx[/quote]
Funny story, I also ended up in A&E this year with an eventual diagnosis of Bell's Palsy. Mine was thankfully incredibly mild & I only needed steroids for a week.

A few tips I found that worked for me - take your steroids as early in the day as possible, they can cause issues getting to sleep which definitely affected me for a few days.
Always eat something substantial when taking the pills & be aware they can increas appetite considerably.

Also with regard to the Bells, the steroids should treat the inflammation but don't be discouraged if your face is still not quite normal at the end of the course, mine took a few more weeks to get back to normal.

If you're having issues blinking, get yourself some preservative free eyedrops to stop your eye drying out - if your lower & upper eyelids aren't touching when you blink then you won't be triggering your tear ducts to lubricate the eye. Also think about a sleep mask to help you sleep & keep your eye from drying out overnight.

Have you had the Covid jab, OP? There's another thread on MN today, "ill effects from Covid jab" and this was a side effect reported from a poster. The person concerned ended up in A & E and was prescribed anti histamines, and yet is allowed a 2nd jab !

Calmate that was facial swelling, not motor deficit or numbness.

I've got an idea. READ THE FULL THREAD! Or at least OP's updates.

I’ve had Bell’s Palsy three times. I know some of these points have been made but I’d reiterate the following...

The steroids can make you feel very energetic so best to take them in the morning. You may feel a bit agitated from them but it’s important to complete the course. You should taper the dosage when coming off them.

The droopy face may continue to worsen for a week or more. Take a photo of yourself smiling each day and you will notice when it starts to improve. Make sure you rest as much as possible.

Use eye drops during the day if you can’t close your affected eye. I found an eye gel at night was best as it kept the eye lubricated for longer and tape your eye shut as it will help prevent any infection.

Feel free to ask if there’s anything you want to know about it. Hopefully you won’t get it too severely. I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you @MardiBras thanks to this thread I've taken pictures...mine looks mildish I think but it's noticeable. My face is smiling on one side only...my eye isn't even smiling if that makes sense?

My smile is completely wonky, it's diagonal. I'm wide awake now but they had me take 12 little steroid tablets at about 9pm tonight and I've to pick up the rest in the morning

And no I've not had any covid vaccine or anything like that. I don't think this is covid related whatsoever

Thank you so much all for replying and keeping me entertained and reassuring me

Sadly taking steroids in the evening will make you wide awake. Hope you can get some rest soon OP.

We've got to go and collect the rest of the steroids first thing at the hospital pharmacy...they were closed by the time I got freed!

No doubt I'll fall into a deep slumber just before I have to wake to collect the next dose 🙈

Plus side is you’re home OP 🙌. Hope you feel much better soon!

Lots of these jokes have made me crack up😂😂 - “th”inking the titanic took me far too long to catch on

Glad you’re home @numbcheek snd that you’ve got a diagnosis. Hope you feel bettter soon. 💐

Ahhh glad not a stroke, I had bells palsy when I was about 19, I went to eat my lunch and I couldn’t put my sandwich in my mouth. I thought I was having stroke, but was Bell’s palsy bought on by they think a cold sore. Took a couple of months to get back to normal, but all ok. I worked with a lady who had it, and she had a crooked smile as never fully recovered but you could hardly tell

@Calmate

Have you had the Covid jab, OP? There's another thread on MN today, "ill effects from Covid jab" and this was a side effect reported from a poster. The person concerned ended up in A & E and was prescribed anti histamines, and yet is allowed a 2nd jab !

See the link up thread that I posted. Bells Palsy isn't a side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Really pleased that you're home safe, and I hope your recovery goes well

Wishing you a speedy recovery OP.
Bells palsy is crap iv had it twice now, once on each side of my face. Most of the time you recover without any problems. First time I had it I ended up with few lines crossed so if I raise my eyebrow my lip will twitch up it's not really noticeable though unless I point it out.