Drooping face

[Shopkinsdoll]

Iv had watery eyes all week and yesterday when I was brushing my teeth I was horrified that my smile has drooped as if I my right side of my face has been paralysed. I feel ok apart from this. I went to a and e yesterday as I thought I’d taken a stroke. But the receptionist was rather rude and asked if I had a dental problem. I have a wobbly tooth on this side. The tooth wouldn’t cause this world it. I’m reading Bell’s palsy?

Yes call 111.
I did yesterday, having put up with excruciating ear ache for 3 days. I called 111 yesterday afternoon, a medic called me back within 2 hours who made an appointment at our local A&E for 6pm last night. Turns out I have infected lymph glands in my neck - was prescribed antibiotics which I picked up from a nearby Midnight Pharmacy at Boots.
I suffered a bout of Bells Pulsey when I was 13 years old and remember having really bad earache for a few days right before the stroke happened. It was a bad stroke and took months of painful electrotherapy and facial physiotherapy exercises. The treatment now is I'm sure, much better thank god.

Please get yourself checked asap!

My husband had bells palsy about 10 years ago, apparently having a cold and stress can cause it. He had it for about 2 weeks I think but the doctor said it could last for up to a year and can come back.

I think the receptionist was probably pissed off at someone just turning up instead of following procedure - ie to call 111 first during the CV outbreak.

Presumably that’s why she sent to OP home to do just that, rather than her sit in A&E when she may not have had to/another hospital may be dealing with this type of thing/that hospital may have been a CV hospital only/who knows.

I can’t understand why the OP has not followed the advice. If you are having a strike OP then you are being really really stupid.

Please phone 111 like you were told NOW.

Oh piss off - you are not told to phone 111 if you're suffering a suspected stroke. They are clearly stating that people SHOULD seek urgent medical attention where it's needed, which means going to A&E without an engraved invite from the Queen.

You would not phone 111 for a broken leg if you could get the person there without an ambulance - you'd just turn up.

There is no reason for a suspected stroke to be dismissed out of hand by an untrained medical receptionist - it's absolutely appalling. I agree you should complain.

Please go back OP. My DD has a facial droop and it was taken very seriously as there was a risk of something putting pressure on the nerves in her brain stem. Yes it probably is Bells Palsy but you need other things ruled out and treatment if necessary

Aye alright @CornishPorsche keep your hair on. If she really thought she was having a stroke she should have rung 999.

She turned up during CV when the advice is clear - don’t turn up, phone.

And the fact the OP still hasn’t followed the advice she was given isn’t good. If it is a stroke it’s been far too long since it happened now. Half her brain could have chucked it.

My friend had something similar and it was Bells Palsy

No, the advice for A&E is NOT what your claiming. In fact, they are saying the opposite.

Funnily enough, stroke patients are often confused and not thinking coherently or acting decisively.... Just a thought for you.

Have a read of this article www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/accident-and-emergency-open-for-emergency-treatment-during-lockdown_uk_5e8dedcfc5b6748116191a09

Or any other one of your choosing. You're wrong, and spouting dangerous nonsense under the guise of advice.

Hopefully you have since gone back and/or called 111.

Please also write to the Clinical Director at this Emergency Department to let them know that you presented with a facial droop and were sent away by reception. This really needs to be dealt with before someone ends up permanently disabled.

Good point about not thinking clearly I had forgotten about that @CornishPorsche
The receptionist should have taken that into consideration as she is an nhs professional, unlike me.

However I went on the nhs website just now and it says under the heading of urgent medical advice to go on the 111 website which has a symptom checker to help you work out what to do.
If it’s an under five year old child phone 111.
If it’s an emergency phone 999.
And then it specifically says to “try and avoid turning up at A&E”.

Go look for yourself. I’m not relying on second hand info from the huffington post, that’s straight from the nhs website today. I am not spouting dangerous nonsense under the guise of advice. I’m quoting the nhs!

The article is about the Medical Director of the NHS and what they advise, it's not made up by a journo.

Calling an ambulance, in some cases, may be an unnecessary burden on the NHS, and crate unnecessary delay.

The reality is, if you need to go you should go. Delaying urgent medical care to ring 111 is bonkers, and also dangerous.