Bell's Palsy / Ramsay Hunt Syndrome

[ThaQuilomum]

Had a cold or whatever cough / sore throat bug is going round (not covid) about two weeks ago. Then I had horrendous head and ear pain on Christmas Eve. Ended up going to out of hours doctor on Christmas Day. He prescribed antibiotic for sinuses and ear drops for outer ear. Ended up going back on Boxing Day as I had muscle weakness on my right side. Ood sent me to a and e and I was admitted that night.

The head pain and ear pain is literally horrendous. Been give three pain killers and it's only just taking the edge off. They reckon it's either bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Either way treatment is the same. On high dose steroid and antiviral.

Now to my AIBU. Am freaking out about going back to work. Am a teacher of 13 years olds. My eye on the right side doesn't close at all and is patched. My mouth is totally frozen on the right side so I look horrendous. This is affecting my eating and now my speech.

Asked doctor today about how long I'd need off work. He wasn't getting into that yet with me. Wants me to go for CT scan and a few other tests. Not long in the school so wanted to make a good impression but cannot see myself at the top of the class in this state.

How long did you take off work if you Bell's Palsy?

I had Bell's palsy about two years ago couldn't close my eye at all and one side of my face dropped I think I ended up with 3 weeks off work as the steroids etc really helped quite quick I was on about 10 tablets a day tho! Lots of rest and hopefully you'll be on the mend sooner than you think!!

My dd had Bells Palsy after an ear infection. We got her to the drs within the required 72 hours and she was prescribed medication (can’t remember what). Her face was back to normal within a few days and that was frozen all down her left side with a very droopy eye lid and her eyes would roll into her head too. It is possible to make a fairly quick recovery but it can also, sometimes, take a few months or longer.

I had Bells Palsy a few years ago. The worst symptoms lasted about 5 weeks, I had to have an extended course of steroids because the paralysis was worse after the first 7 days than it was when I started the steroids. I drank through a straw for about two months and had to wear an eye patch for the first few weeks because I couldn't blink on the affected side and my eye was drying out.

I didn't have the pain you describe though. I just had a very mild earache the day before the paralysis started.

I work from home and carried on as normal but if I had to do any significant speaking I would have terrible spasms in my face by the end of the day and would look quite severely lopsided. I don't think I'd have gone to work of I'd had to leave home for it, at home I could pace myself which you won't be able to do.

I had suspected bels palsy but I spent 5 days in hospital. I'm not convinced it was because the drs didn't seem convinced either. I was blue lighted into resus with suspected stroke so on the steroids very quickly. It went after 3 days. But I had a blinding headache for 12 previous days. The headache went my face went back to normal. I couldn't have worked like it, I was dribbling.

Thanks so much for the replies. Still in hospital. The uncertainty of it all is what's really getting me. If or when I'll recover. Feeling quite down today.

Don't feel bad. You might still make a fast recovery. I felt really dizzy and tired for about a month or so afterwards. The Drs told me it could take 6 months to completely recover. I was fully expecting it to take a few months.

Did you have the CT? They was talking about a MRI and lumber puncture for me but none of the Drs could agree on my plan. They did say it could have been Ramsey hurt hence the lumber puncture but there was no rash

I've had RHS @ThaQuilomum and it took a month to get back to normal. RHS is where you have shingles in your ear canal which causes inflammation that presses on your trigeminal nerve causing the paralysis. As it's viral, it's really important to rest and let your body recover, that means accepting it's one of those things and that you are ill and it'll take time. I know the pressures of working in a school (I work in one too) but you will need to take a step back and accept your body needs to heal.
I completely get that it's utterly miserable - mine was Christmastime too, but I promise this will at some point be a footnote in your history.

At the time I had it (14 years ago now) my GP surgery told me I was the first case they'd had in 27 years so they told me they'd discussed my case notes at their practice meeting. It was a locum who spotted it; I'd been in about an ear infection a week prior (it was the start of the shingles) and they were quick to get the antivirals and steroids going. It's good the NHS has acted fast in your case as hopefully you will be on the mend very soon.

Took about a week for my inflamation to go down and the face sort itself out about 12 weeks in but we are now years later and I still get that horrible striking pain behind my ear.

I took no time off work. I couldnt at the time.

Yes had the CT Scan and all was clear. Like that they couldn't fully agree on BP or RHS but said the treatment is the same anyway. I'm home now taking steroids and anti virals for another few days. Day 6 now. Pain has gone but ringing in my ear is constant and obv no movement in the right side of my face.

Thanks for the replies. Hospital doctor signed me off work until February. At home now in my bed with my husband looking after me. It's just so hard to know how it will all play out and hoping for some movement back. The uncertainty is tough.

Just rest and sleep as much as you can as that will really help. Don't forget to be careful and look after your eye. Tape it shut to sleep and use the drops. Try a straw if you can to drink. Anything that makes life easier will cut down the stress. Just bin work off mentally for now. It might all change before Feb anyway. It's a scary thing your going through, but most people fully recover so keep that in mind. Just really put yourself first for now.