3yo DD with sudden Bell's palsy

[JustCallMeMaam]

Been to a&e tonight with 3 yo dd as the right side of her face was drooping

Turns out it's Bell's palsy. I am a bit

I've been googling but lots of info more about adults. Anyone got any experience of this in little ones, eg how long it lasts before if???? it went away?

Thanks

I had it (as an adult) a few years ago. Only lasted a few weeks. I was put on a couple of courses of tablets. I found a Bells Palsy forum which was very helpful. There were a few parents posting on there about children with BP. Hope it goes soon, not nice :(

Hope not prying flowella - did you have steroids? They said probably wouldn't give her steroids due to age. We have to go and see paeds by end of the week to see what next step is.

Suggested that might just leave be and hope gets better by itself....

Bump for morning people :) anyone had experience of this?

I had it as an adult about three years ago. I was slurring words, couldn't keep drinks in my mouth and lost the ability to whistle! All of these have returned, almost fulky back after about three weeks, gradually started gettng better after about one week.

I also found the BP forum useful.

I have never had a return of the full blown effects, though if I am very tired I can feel my face fall a little - others tell me they can barely notice.

Hope your wee one feels a lot better soon. I was very tired with it too.

I had it about 10 years ago and have never recovered. Sorry if thats not helpful.
I still have 1 eye that doesnt open as wide as the other or close when i try to sleep.
If im drinking i fully look like a half melted Picasso painting.
I believe it usually clears in a couple weeks with no lasting effects.
Make sure she does her physio! I didnt.

My sister had it OP and she's fine now...she got it when she was young. So sorry about this...it's very upsetting I'm sure. I hope that because DD is younger, she'll be more likely to recover.

Fleurdebleurgh have you been offered further treatment? I've heard botox injections can help.

Thanks all - all very helpful. Stats suggest all with be fine hopefully in a matter of a few weeks but you can't help but consider the worst poss scenario, can you?

She's happy enough this morning And we've for he a straw to Leo her drink - she was upset at first when her mouth "wouldn't work" to drink

Seeing the paeds tomorrow so hope will know more then x

*we've got her a straw to help her drink

sorry that made no sense!

For those of you who had it as adults or older children any tips on how she might be feeling (tired/ pain/ discomfort) and how we might best support her/ make her feel more comfortable?

I was reading on a BP support thread about eye drops to keep the eye moist for example. I am making a list of things to ask the docs about tomorrow

Thanks in advance!

I had it a couple of years ago. It made me feel miserable so I feel great sympathy for your DD.

The paralysis was preceded by a week of excruciating pain in that side of my head, so by the time anyone realised what it was I was already miserable and sleep-deprived. I also found the uncertainty about the prognosis very hard to deal with.

I had a week of steroids then acupuncture once or twice a week. Started seeing some signs of recovery after about three weeks and was completely better within three months.

In the meantime, eating and drinking were... interesting. I couldn't close my eye, so taped and covered it at night and when going outside. Most children just thought I had a cool pirate-with-an-asymmetrical-smile look going on, but I had a couple of upsetting comments from adult strangers, which gave me a small insight into what it's like for those people who look unusual or different.

Thanks threebee

For anyone who happens across this thread a later date I have just discovered the Facial Palsy UK website which is fab generally, but also has a great section on young children www.facialpalsy.org.uk/advice/children-young-adults/young-children/326

I remember my sister's face used to hurt in the cold....but she had it in the winter...hopefully that won't be an issue for your dd.x

As ThreeBee suggests it's important to tape the eye and keep it lubricated with eye drops. If you don't it can lead to serious complications.

Tape it closed at night that is! Don't want your child walking round like pudsey bear

A much needed giggle Tyler thanks. Say hi to your mum

I had no pain apart fom an overall feeling of having had a jag at the dentist. Not sore, but odd and numb.

And I was mega tired

I feel much better informed today - thank you all lovely posters above!

Just a final bump for any evening MNetters with DCs who have had this....

Hi there

We've moved this to Children's Health at the OP's request.

I had it as an adult when pregnant two years ago. Felt weird and embarrassed and generally a bit sorry for myself but didn't hurt a bit. Totally gone within 2 weeks.

My work colleague had it aged 14 and was better in 4 weeks, never had it again.

HTH

Ps that must have been really frightening for you. Hope you got a quick diagnosis!

Hiya - sorry what follows is a bit epic!

Yes very quick diagnosis - the original diagnosis on Wednesday night at A&E, then confirmed Friday at the paediatrician appointment.

I'd spent all Thursday researching BP - a lot of information about adults, but less about children. I was very upset about it as even though I had read that it usually lasts a few weeks up to a few months, the slim chance that it could be a much longer term problem kept pinging around my head. I didn't get much sleep on Thursday night worrying about it!

The appointment on Friday was very good - they are confident it is BP and there is no need for an MRI to diagnose (which I am glad about as they tend to sedate small children for it so they will keep still). They seemed reasonably confident that DD will have recovered in the short term and we were given an appointment for a fortnight's time to check progress.

We had a further challenge on Friday night as DD1 threw up at tea time. Vomiting was on the list of things that - if they happened - they said we should take her back to a&e... So off we went!

DD1 vommed again in children's a&e. Just as I finished clearing that up, DD2 threw up all over DH - all down his tie, shirt and new suit (he'd come straight from work). It was an absurd moment that we couldn't help but laugh. At that point the only other family in there said could they sit away from us and our pestilence ridden children, and we got whisked off to a solitary confinement room in proper a&e.

A LOT of waiting later DD1 got checked over by a paediatrician and they don't think this is BP related but a unfortunate gastro bug that she has at the same time.... Sigh

Both DDs been ok today - eaten and drunk well (and kept it down!) DH and I been sick though, so probably is a bug.

paediatric team called to check how DD1 is and have asked us to go to see them on Monday to check progress on the facial paralysis.

I have been impressed at the way things have been joined up - first our GP called first thing thurs am as she'd had a note from a&e and she wanted to check we were getting the support we needed. Then this morning the doc we saw at a&e last night called to see how she was.

I asked for the thread to go into children's health section so it survives. Not necessarily expecting further post from others but thought anyone in our situation in the future might find it useful when searching for info

Ah poor little DD being sick....you do sound like you're very good at keeping things upbeat though Maam

So the plan now is just to wait is it? Do you have other DC? HOw are you managing with work...or do you stay at home? I hope little DDs face gets back to normal asap. xx

I also have DD2 who is 8mo and I am on mat leave at the moment so that makes it all a lot easier. I think it would all be much more stressful if I was at work... Especially juggling hospital appointments, etc.

I think it is pretty much a waiting game now - we'll see the paeds on Monday I think for them to see how the facial paralysis looks (I think looking to see if any improvement yet - BP is supposed to peak at day three then its a case of waiting for the nerve to start working again). I think it looks the same today, although her temperament is MUCH perkier today. I put that down to the stomach bug being almost gone now.

If she is personality-wise back to normal and it's 'just' the facial paralysis that we have to deal with for a few weeks/ months I think we should be fine. I was struggling with the idea of her being so sad and lethargic for a long period while we waited for the paralysis to go, but now I think this behaviour over the last few days has been caused by the stomach bug.

Thanks for your kind words

It's been going very well - virology all clear and MRI clean bill of health. Told to just wait it out. Saw improvements in speech and mobility in face towards end of last week

Then tonight noticed that her LEFT side of her face is now immobile

Have posted in chat too about this, but if anyone here has any experience of this, would love to hear your thoughts.

Will be calling docs in the morning...