Vaccine side effects - Bell’s palsy

[QuantumCheese]

I had Bell’s palsy about 20 years ago when I was pregnant and it was horrible. A mixture of pain, pregnancy hormones and having a facial disfigurement, although it was resolved eventually, caused me severe distress for many weeks.
So we are being offered the new Pfizer covid vaccine at work and it came to my attention that Bell’s palsy has been mentioned as one of the possible side effects and I’m terrified of this, even more than catching covid itself. I know it’s not logical and I’m being ridiculous but I can’t get this fear out of my head. It’s my Achilles heel unfortunately and I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know what the chances of getting it again and also that the chances of it happening due to the vaccine are very low but I can’t stop thinking about it. I should have the vaccine but I’m scared and wonder if the Oxford one would be better, if I could even get this later.

Before anyone slates me for being stupid, I know I am and should be grateful to be even offered a vaccine, but this is a big (irrational) fear for me. Any advice?

That’s right hen, you put a post like this on here to cause more fear!!

Nice one 👏

Ffs, what is autocorrect doing to me.

🙄🙄

@AgnesNaismith

I’m more worried about the effect of this thread.

Same!

Hold on, why am I being deleted for saying that lots of people did not become sick following the vaccine? I wasn't even rude about it.

I'd love to see some actual evidence about such a bold statement that seems utterly devoid of credibility.

@FourTeaFallOut I think because of repeating or quoting a deleted post spreading misinformation? I reported my own post doing the same.

Ie responding to the misinformation but in doing so (necessarily) repeating it.

Mine was too - I think all posts that quote a deleted post are then deleted :)

Surely you can have the other vaccine now instead? Good luck

Ah, that makes sense, my post was deleted first but the original is gone now.

When I had bells palsy in my twenties I was told 1 in 1000 people have it at some point. I was surprised it was so prevalent but I guess maybe people stay at home when they've got it. I certainly felt very self conscious. I understand why you're worried but sounds like it was just normal level of occurrence

Hi all. We removed a post and then removed the subsequent posts quoting it. Hopefully things will get back on track now. Please do report any further concerns.
MNHQ

I would talk to your GP, but definitely understandable to have you concerns

Thanks @MichaelMumsnet tbf I’m worried about the title.

@AgnesNaismith

Thanks *@MichaelMumsnet* tbf I’m worried about the title.

Yes I agree.

So we are being offered the new Pfizer covid vaccine at work

Is this a health/social care work setting or are you not in the UK?

@AgnesNaismith the vaccine is not mandatory so it is still a decision to make

You sound like you want everybody to make the decision you have made.

If you are concerned OP you are entitled to request the AstraZeneca vaccine instead.

Sick of all the scaremongering.

Not scaremongering it's the reality. It can happen.

@AgnesNaismith and @Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

The OP has asked what I see as a reasonable question. If Bells Palsy is statistically so common as people are saying here, many would share her same concern?

Should we censor questions just for the sake of it?

If Bells Palsy is statistically so common as people are saying here, many would share her same concern?

I'm not understanding your logic here. People are saying that it is statistically irrelevant because it occured at the same rate as you would see in the population generally. What are you saying?

@FourTeaFallOut

I mean that if Bells Palsy is so prevalent in the population (for whatever reason), there will be other people who my have concerns (founded or unfounded) they may get it again after taking the Pfizer vaccine (hence this thread may be helpful to them, it's not scaremongering)

But why would they be concerned about the Pfizer vaccine causing it when it occured at the same rate as it would occur naturally. It's a vaccine for coronavirus not Bells Palsy, after all.

@FourTeaFallOut

But why would they be concerned about the Pfizer vaccine causing it when it occured at the same rate as it would occur naturally

And that may be all the explanation they need to reassure them (instead of reporting the thread and calling the OP a scaremongerer, as some are doing)