Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Bell’s palsy

30 replies

katystar · 15/02/2021 20:35

Hi has anyone got any good advice about what I can do..I’m feeling really low and dr google is making me worse. I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy on the right side of my face last Sunday I’m 8 days into 50mg of steroids a day, I’ve had muscles spasms in my face which caused an ambulance to be called on Wednesday as We weren’t aware it could happen, more due to panic and not being able to close my mouth and feeling like I was choking. I’m off work sick and they are being amazing, but I feel guilty about that. I can’t feel my face properly and have a constant feeling of pins and needles and have to tape my eye shut every night and according to my kids When I smile I look like the joker. I also have a lot more pain in the evening including ear ache and it feels worse. I suppose what I’m asking is reassurance that it will get better or someone that has been here to tell me what I can expect or anything that can help. TIA sorry for the typos and lack of paragraphs

OP posts:
Sarjest · 15/02/2021 21:12

Katystar, ‘sorry to hear you’ve got Bell’s palsy. I had it a long time ago, in my teens. It was unpleasant and embarrassing but I did recover. I remember doing exercises to turn up the side of my mouth which wouldn’t move and gradually the muscles began to work. It doesn’t happen overnight however. You can’t tell I ever had it (unless you were paying particular attention to my mouth and nostril). Flowers

Dowser · 15/02/2021 21:14

Do you think it’s a result of the vaccine?
A friend had it 30 years ago. It took a long time but she did recover

Beamur · 15/02/2021 21:17

Most people who have it make a full recovery. It happened to my Granny. Looked a bit alarming for a few weeks but got better.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
WhereIsMyMojo · 15/02/2021 21:24

Hello @katystar - I couldn’t read and run. I’ve had it three times abs it’s on my mind lately as it was flagged up in the vaccine trials. It has brought back down gruesome memories but I have to tell you I have FULLY recovered from all episodes of BP, and I had it on either side of my face.

If you have pins and needles etc that is a GOOD thing. The twitches are a positive - take comfort in them as it memes your nerve is still functioning.

I had full paralysis on the affected side. Drink would spill out the corner of my mouth. I wore an eye patch to protect my eye. When those little spasms started with gusto, oh the relief!!!

It’s a nasty virus but try to stay calm, don’t force your face into doing exercise, leave it be for now. It also means you’re ill at the moment so rest rest rest - stress will not help.

Keep us posted how you’re going and re: the steroids - brilliant. They will give your body that extra shove to see it off.

The last time I had it I randomly did acupuncture for it (along with steroids). I’ve no idea if it worked but the guy was so assured this was a cure, I think I took comfort on someone else’s confidence he could fix me.

So we you eight days in, since it started? If so, that’s GREAT you have the tingles.

Lots of love, I know how scary it is. X

Original poster
katystar · 15/02/2021 21:50

Thank you all so much! I’ve felt so worried about the pins and needles feeling and hadn’t known it was a good sign!
It’s just so scary, my mouth and eye are at a lower angle and I can’t smile or frown at all (which is probably doing my wrinkle lines some good 😂)
I tend to have more movement in the morning but I’m trying not to push it and use my face...difficult with 2 kids a job and husband who have all decided to be be ill this week. I haven’t had the jab yet.
I go between feeling really vain for being worried yes I look and sound different but it will get better to full on I just want to be able to smile at my kids and the ear pain and face pain to go away.
It came out of no where and I know I should be looking after myself and relaxing but it’s been one of those weeks where everything has gone wrong. Do you think they will continue the steroids they need reviewing at 10 days? I’ve been told I need to see a ENT specialist but I can’t see that happening any time soon. I’m just feeling a bit lost so thank you all for responding x

OP posts:
WhitechapelLass · 16/02/2021 00:46

I had it a few years ago, very severely. I did recover: I can still tell the remnant effects but others can’t.

Things I remember:
The pain - ear and headache. Terrible pain. I remember there was not much about this in the info I was given but it was definitely a thing. It did go reasonably quickly.

The exhaustion - I slept and slept and slept.

Artificial tears - a godsend. The ones I used were a gel.

The feeling of panic that I would never smile again. How important smiling is. I don’t think you can understand this until you lose it. The relief when the first hint of a lip twitch cane back. This steadily improved to a full smile. It will return.

The mental impact of feeling disfigured. It is significant, it’s ok to be upset and angry. It does not make you vain.

It is a confusing, exhausting and upsetting time. But it does improve.

Bobbi73 · 16/02/2021 00:57

Hi,
I had Bells palsy a few years ago and it wasn't much fun (you know that already) but I did recover. My right eyelid is still very slightly droopy although only I can see it apparently. Pins and needles and twitches are a good thing and it will get better in time.
BTW. I had to wear an eye patch to protect my eye so I got a pirate one to cheer myself up. Maybe that might help. x

ittakes2 · 16/02/2021 01:23

My lovely grandad at 95 has bell palsy and recovered - I am sure you will be fine.

noideabutstilltrying · 16/02/2021 01:48

My husband had it in 2014. I came home from work and thought there was something not quite right when talking to him at the time. Panicked and thought it was a stroke.

He had the steroid course and made a full recovery. He was like you and conscious of his droops.

Rest, take the medication and do the exercises to help your muscle tone.

It's scary but you will be ok xx

Original poster
katystar · 16/02/2021 10:38

I am shattered all the time and the ear ache is driving me mad.

I’t is smiling that I’m missing you really don’t know how much you use it. My speech is also slurred especially in the afternoon/evenings. I think I just feel lonely and like it won’t get better. Thank you all though for the positive experiences.

I’m tempted to get an eye patch I’ve been using sil tape on my eye and eye drops but it’s still dry, I’m going to order some gel ones to see if they are better.

OP posts:
SaltyMagnolia · 16/02/2021 11:38

I had the steroids for weeks that didn't make much difference then I had accupuncture & the difference was amazing, I would really recomend it

Original poster
katystar · 17/02/2021 17:47

I’ve managed to get an ENT appointment for Friday, and I’m looking into acupuncture. I spoke to My gp today to basically be told I just need to get on with it which made me feel really low and not happy at all.

OP posts:
tentative3 · 17/02/2021 18:12

I had it a few years ago and am fully recovered other than a slight feeling that it is visible when I'm very very tired. No one else can see it though so that might just be in my head.

I remember feeling scared and frustrated particularly because medical professionals were very dismissive - I was referred to an eye specialist at the hospital but by the time the appointment came through I was largely recovered and she was scathing as to why I was there. Similarly I was told to inform my gp (diagnosed in the walk in centre) who was bewildered that I'd called. Now I'm fully recovered it doesn't seem as big a deal, but at the time, not knowing if I would recover, it was very upsetting to be treated like I was making a fuss over nothing.

Rest as much as you can and don't force anything. I'm not so sure on exercises, I feel like I read advice saying not to do them but I could be mistaken plus it was a good few years ago so advice may have changed.

WhereIsMyMojo · 18/02/2021 13:05

@katystar

I’ve managed to get an ENT appointment for Friday, and I’m looking into acupuncture. I spoke to My gp today to basically be told I just need to get on with it which made me feel really low and not happy at all.
It’s shit how they basically just leave us to get on with having it. How are the twitches and face spasms today? And the pain?

I really felt a huge panic about losing my face as I knew it and that’s not vain, it’s a huge shock. As I think I said I tried the acupuncture, I needed to believe. Don’t force your face into doing anything.

Keep chatting to us here. The resounding message is we all recovered and chances are you will too! xx

spiderlight · 18/02/2021 13:29

My friend had it years ago, very severely. She swears that acupuncture was the thing that triggered her recovery - nothing else had helped much and her GP was useless, which was upsetting for her. She's recovered pretty much completely - you can still see a very slight droop in her smile when she's very tired, but nothing that anyone would notice if they didn't know what they were looking for.

WhereIsMyMojo · 27/02/2021 16:34

@katystar how are you now katy? Any improvement?

Original poster
katystar · 27/02/2021 16:57

Not great to be honest, I had a random day of twitching on Tuesday it really wouldn’t stop all day, and then it’s dropped more since then, I’m hoping it’s a temporary setback. ENT saw me and prescribed antiviral tablets as I had some bubbles behind my ear. Other than that things have been the same. Thank you for remembering I keep meaning to update Smile

OP posts:
Scoil · 03/03/2021 19:18

Does bubbles behind the ear mean inflammation?

Sorry to hear it’s still hanging on. You pop into my head - I’m rooting for you to recover soon! Please keep us posted.

fairfat40 · 15/04/2021 17:30

@katystar if you’re still around it would be great to have an update. I am on day 5 with it and have some quite odd symptoms accompanying it … parathesia in my hands. It came on with a trapped nerve. I am completely wiped out and shuffling around like a 90 year old. I’m very concerned it might be cooking something else. Really hoping you’re fully recovered with it,

Pedallleur · 15/04/2021 18:15

The bass player from def leppard has it. Keeps it under control with meds

Original poster
katystar · 15/04/2021 18:21

I was totally wiped out for the first 2 weeks and spent a lot of time sleeping and the smallest task felt like a major one! It is horrible, my face isn’t recovered properly yet I’ve had progress but it is slow and a long road. I still have pins and needles in my face not as much as the beginning but I always took that as a good sign. Although in your hands is odd. It is normally caused by a virus so listen to your body and relax. Are you taking the steroids as they can have wonderful side effects. Any questions just ask I got so much help and keep meaning to update. X

OP posts:
fairfat40 · 15/04/2021 18:47

Good to hear you’re on the mend. @katystar Yeah I think the hands and feet thing is just a worry in case it’s something else. I did have an MRI because of tingling in my leg last year, but luckily there were no sclerosis. I’ve also had a trapped nerve as I said, and something called costochondritis which is basically inflammation of the ribs. I think that I’m finding my whole body is inflamed with something.The main thing with the steroids is that I’m eating like a pig including McDonald’s for lunchtime which I don’t usually eat! I think I will be as big as a house!

Crappyfridays7 · 15/04/2021 18:57

I had Bell’s palsy whilst pregnant with my 4tg (didn’t know yet) was out on aciclovir and steroids. I also got liquid tears which helped too. It’s horrible, my face tingled and ached my tongue even was affected and I couldn’t taste properly. I’m not sure how long it took to recover but was a while. Hope you’re on the road to recovery I’ve never had it again so hope it was a one off. I remember my sister calling me Quasimodo

Crappyfridays7 · 15/04/2021 19:05

@fairfat40 weirdly I’m on steroids too, for Crohn’s disease flare up and am the same had McDonald’s for lunch and feel dreadful now. I didn’t realise it made you ravenous, my sister mentioned it the other day. Really thirsty now and off food