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?

Fair enough but you'd think, if this were something that concerned you, you could figure this out for yourself really - it doesn't take a rocket scientist.

@AgnesNaismith

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

Please don't start censoring titles questioning the vaccine, it just makes it seem more suspicious 🤨

Bell's Palsy - Pregnant women are affected three times more than none pregnant women.

Had it twice so therefore I’m far more likely to have it again. For this reason I would not take the Pfizer vaccine. I can not bear the thought of any additional damage to my face.

@Markies but since the vaccine doesn't cause it.. you are not removing the chance of getting it again by not having the vaccine.

What's going to happen when all those predisposed to Bell's Palsy demand the Oxford Vaccine and then everyone is sat around scratching their head wondering why there is a higher prevalence of Bell's Palsy following that particular vaccine?

if anything you're making your chances higher as getting covid is more likely to cause it like the normal flu increases risk

[quote tellthem]@Markies but since the vaccine doesn't cause it.. you are not removing the chance of getting it again by not having the vaccine.[/quote]
I do no want to do anything that might even slightly increase my risk of having it again. Has it absolutely been proved that the vaccine was not responsible for these people having it? Nothing I’ve seen can 100% say it wasn’t linked. If you’ve had to go through what I have with BP then I’m pretty sure you would be of the same opinion.

@Markies well the incidence rate of people who had the vaccine and then got BP was lower than the general incidence rate of people who get it in general. so if anything it would appear to be helpful

When the time comes, I’ll have the conversation with my consultant. Not a random on here.

I’m sorry, I didn’t reason only people who agreed with you could respond. I gave my opinion, which to me is valid.

I had Bell's Palsy 2 years ago and wouldn't wish it on anyone. It was a very miserable time of my life, which fortunately I have recovered from I'd say about 95% in terms of getting the movement back. I think only I can tell I've had it, not anyone else.

When I read it was a possible (rare) side effect from the Pfizer vaccine, that along with the potential for side effects in those with allergies (which I have) is enough for me to refuse that vaccine.

No-one can state for certain that the vaccine actually caused it, nor that it didn't. I think it's important we discuss these issues so that people can assess their own risk and make up their own minds.

@Markies you're on a thread discussion having the jab with people on the Internet, whilst saying you won't be discussing having the jab with people on the Internet ... seems you are the one who only wanted a discussion if it was in agreement with you.

@CrunchyCarrot

I had Bell's Palsy 2 years ago and wouldn't wish it on anyone. It was a very miserable time of my life, which fortunately I have recovered from I'd say about 95% in terms of getting the movement back. I think only I can tell I've had it, not anyone else.

When I read it was a possible (rare) side effect from the Pfizer vaccine, that along with the potential for side effects in those with allergies (which I have) is enough for me to refuse that vaccine.

No-one can state for certain that the vaccine actually caused it, nor that it didn't. I think it's important we discuss these issues so that people can assess their own risk and make up their own minds.

100% agree with you. I’m totally for the vaccine and can’t wait to get it, but would be hesitant for the reasons you have stated. 2 time sufferer so absolutely terrified of having it again.

[quote tellthem]@Markies you're on a thread discussion having the jab with people on the Internet, whilst saying you won't be discussing having the jab with people on the Internet ... seems you are the one who only wanted a discussion if it was in agreement with you.[/quote]
Not at all. I gave my valid reason for not being confident about Pfizer. You came for me as a result of that and shut down my reasoning. I’m more than happy to have any other vaccine.

@Markies totally sympathise with you, having it once was bad enough, but twice!! I'm sure you'll be able to get the Oxford vaccine instead in due course. :)

But there was no prevalence being what you would see anyway. The same number of people will have had asthma attacks, epileptic fits, heart attacks, got run over by a bus - why has this one captured the imagination?

Being = beyond

Recurrence rates of BP are approx 7%, so the majority of people who have it don't get it again. A few very unfortunate people have multiple recurrences. Would be interesting to see if any of the research participants had had BP previously.

I don't know if treatment has improved compared to 20 years ago but I had grade V BP (unable to close my eye fully or smile, no forehead movement and obvious facial asymmetry at rest) couple of years ago and was almost fully recovered in 5 weeks after two lots of high dose steroids. Typically you get one course of steroids but mine was actually worse after a week's worth so my GP prescribed some more. I have never been so grateful to a GP. Maybe I was just very lucky.

@Markies

What I understand is that 4 out of 43,000 participants in the Pfizer clinical trial had Bell’s palsy (all 4 received the actual vaccine, not the placebo). But this percentage of cases is to be expected to occur randomly anyway, that's why these cases are not believed to be linked to the vaccine although potential future incidence will be monitored (in the US)

www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20201217/fda-says-vaccine-recipients-should-be-monitored-for-facial-paralysis

As you say, your consultant may recommend a different vaccine for you

The study showed the same / lower incidence of Bells Palsy as the general population. I would be more concerned about Bells Palsy secondary to covid infection and would be keen to get vaccinated ASAP - especially if planning another pregnancy which would increase your risk.
Lots of interesting neurological presentations of covid including BP have been reported. casereports.bmj.com/content/13/8/e237146

@FOJN my first instance - which I haven’t recovered from was about 7 years ago. Like you, I was on a high dose of steroids, took about a month before I was fully off them. I’ve been left with awful synkinesis. Unless you’ve had your life really badly affected by BP then I don’t think people understand quite how bad it is.

Markies

I accept I was very lucky indeed. I'm sorry you are still so badly affected. My experience was bad enough so I cannot imagine living with the effects 7 years later.

But there was no prevalence being what you would see anyway. The same number of people will have had asthma attacks, epileptic fits, heart attacks, got run over by a bus - why has this one captured the imagination?

Possibly because of the disfiguring nature of Bell's Palsy. If you had had it, you might sympathise.

It is possible to get BP more than once, I try not to think about it!

I had a course of steroids (which made me feel awful), the whole left side of my face was frozen. I sat in A&E for 4 hours till I saw a doctor and was given those, or rather, a prescription for them as they were out of them!

It was my eye that gave me the most discomfort (endless irritation) and I wore an eyepatch during the day with a big cotton pad under it to keep it shut, and used gel-type eye drops like they were going out of fashion! It was around 8 weeks before my eye started to slightly improve. I had the effects of BP for around 8 months of the year before I'd say it was mainly gone.