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Original poster

Bells Palsy - Any Advice

18 replies

ItsSnowJokes · 12/06/2022 10:24

I got diagnosed with Bells Palsy on Thursday. They think it has come from a sinus infection. I am struggling so much with it (I know it is early days). My eye is taped 24/7 on advice from the eye hospital as I was already getting dry eye patches on my cornea when they saw me on Friday. My speech and eating is severely affected and the only upside is I might lose a bit of weight before my holiday next month!

Does anyone have any top tips? I am on steroids, antibiotics, eye drops, eye ointment and eye gel. Also on strong painkillers.

What is the best thing to eat? I thought soft foods would be better but they just slip out, I can't open my mouth very wide so I can't eat big food, chewing is hard as well. Any one with misophobia will hate being with me currently!

Someone has recommended acupuncture which I have had before, years ago, but I would want one who has experience of Palsy and I don't know how to find one for that.

Any help appreciated.

OP posts:
Sunsetboater · 12/06/2022 11:02

I had it when I was 14, not sure what bought it on but remember having physio (including electrical stimulation) on my face for about 12 months after and lots of facial exercises and face pulling at home. Your symptoms sounds very similar to mine.
I've just googled it and remedial action doesn't appear to have progressed that much since.

It's an awful thing to go through but hope your medical team are giving you the best treatment promptly. Huge hugs x

Greybeardy · 12/06/2022 11:12

Had it years ago too. Eating was messy til I learnt to try & just use the good side. Drinking was a bit easier through a straw on the good side IIRC. My eye still got sore despite tape/lubricant. Not a chance I’d have let someone do acupuncture! On the positive side it was only really dense for a few weeks for me (also had steroids) and eventually came back to pretty much normal without needing physio or anything.

SweetestThing · 12/06/2022 11:17

There's a fantastic charity Facial Palsy UK where you can find lots of resources and personal stories from other people with Bell's Palsy. www.facialpalsy.org.uk/

I have facial palsy from cancer surgery and this charity helped me enormously. My story's on there but not under the BP section. Good luck with your recovery.

2MinuteRice · 12/06/2022 19:18

My MIL had this last year and has made a good recovery.
She doesn't believe in acupuncture but gave it a try on the advice from someone else and apparently it made a big difference.
I don't know a lot about acupuncture but I'm assuming they don't do it in your eye!
Good luck op Flowers

Original poster
ItsSnowJokes · 13/06/2022 13:58

Thank you everyone for the advice and help. I seem to be living on beans on toast with the toast cut up really small and having a napkin on hand at all times. My eye is so, so sore from the tape but I have been recommended 2 different tapes that I am going to try and hope they are gentler.

I do need patience which I am not great at! Hopefully I see some improvements soon.

OP posts:
Anyfeckinusername · 13/06/2022 14:01

I have had it three times :( the last time I got acupuncture and massages - I was so upset it was back that I needed to feel like I was doing something. I have had full recoveries each time (had it on each side of face too). I remember rhr apoets masseuse telling me it was no surprise I was ill, rhst my body was a barrel of tension.

hopefully you’ll get those little tingles tingles soon that tell you the big defrost is underway… wishing you well x

StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon · 13/06/2022 14:26

An eye mask for nighttime so you do not have to have your eye taped would be better. I got one on amazon for about a tenner but you can pick them up anywhere really. Just keep taking the tablets and use your good side to eat. I feel for you as I have had it myself and it can be very painful and is seriously annoying.

SnotsGotTheBoobies · 13/06/2022 14:36

Drinking through a straw whilst holding your lips shut may be helpful. I also remember my midwife telling me that rolling a tennis ball on my face may help. I never tried this, but could be worth a shot.
also, are you taking your steroids all in one go? I had baby brain at the time, but all it said on the box was to take 8 tablets a day. So I took two with breakfast, lunch and dinner, then two just before bed. It wasn’t until my follow up appointment that the doctor said I had to take all eight steroids in one sitting 😳

Original poster
ItsSnowJokes · 13/06/2022 14:56

Anyfeckinusername · 13/06/2022 14:01

I have had it three times :( the last time I got acupuncture and massages - I was so upset it was back that I needed to feel like I was doing something. I have had full recoveries each time (had it on each side of face too). I remember rhr apoets masseuse telling me it was no surprise I was ill, rhst my body was a barrel of tension.

hopefully you’ll get those little tingles tingles soon that tell you the big defrost is underway… wishing you well x

Its funny you should say that as last night I had like a twitching tingle in my chin! I didn't know that my chin was that paralysed but I definitely had a twitch. I'm hoping I get more soon! Well that's if its a good thing to get them!

OP posts:
Original poster
ItsSnowJokes · 13/06/2022 14:59

SnotsGotTheBoobies · 13/06/2022 14:36

Drinking through a straw whilst holding your lips shut may be helpful. I also remember my midwife telling me that rolling a tennis ball on my face may help. I never tried this, but could be worth a shot.
also, are you taking your steroids all in one go? I had baby brain at the time, but all it said on the box was to take 8 tablets a day. So I took two with breakfast, lunch and dinner, then two just before bed. It wasn’t until my follow up appointment that the doctor said I had to take all eight steroids in one sitting 😳

I'm on 10 a day and take them all in the morning to try and counteract any insomnia from them. It's what the GP said to do. I just wish they did them in a bigger tablet. 10 tablets all at once is hard work when you can't use half your mouth properly!

OP posts:
peachgreen · 13/06/2022 15:12

Bless you OP, I had it last year and it was horrid. Mine has almost completely gone now - I can still see it but nobody else could. The steroids made a huge difference and pretty quickly.

I can still feel the tingles if I think about it too much! Hope it passes soon for you.

Original poster
ItsSnowJokes · 14/06/2022 07:46

I have woken up and I can half close my eyelid! Never been so excited in my life I think! I know it sounds like such a small thing but it has honestly given me hope that it is starting to heal.

Also my eye isn't so irritated this morning so I am going to see how long I can leave the tape off for today and see if I can only put it on at night.

OP posts:
Anyfeckinusername · 14/06/2022 10:13

ItsSnowJokes · 14/06/2022 07:46

I have woken up and I can half close my eyelid! Never been so excited in my life I think! I know it sounds like such a small thing but it has honestly given me hope that it is starting to heal.

Also my eye isn't so irritated this morning so I am going to see how long I can leave the tape off for today and see if I can only put it on at night.

That’s great! You are on the mend!!! That’s the sign it’s in reverse, gosh I remember that relief!!!

StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon · 14/06/2022 10:30

Just asking here, and not taking over the OPs thread but does anyone get pains and odd 'bells palsy' type feelings years after you have had it? I still get pain in my neck or behind the ear that was the exact same as when I had it first and it still hurts.

peachgreen · 14/06/2022 12:27

Yes I do @StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon - in fact it's pretty much always a bit tingly although I don't notice it now unless I think about it.

NavigatingSEN · 14/06/2022 12:35

That's a really good sign that you're starting to get movement back!
I had it in third trimester of pregnancy. Apart from the steroids, they said rest a lot as your body needs time to sort itself out. And the doctor said I should take a daily photo of me trying to smile, to track progress. Those are not the photos I will put in a frame on the wall 😂
I wasn't offered any physio. I can still notice a very slightly changed eyelid shape.
Eating was hard. I think I ate soft pasta as I could just swallow it without chewing, I was 8 months pregnant and starving!

Anyfeckinusername · 14/06/2022 12:36

@StaceysmomandIhavegotitgoinon Yes! I still get spasms and twitches around an eye, and it can intermittently go on for weeks. When I feel ill in general I am more vulnerable to twitching (but it’s not visible to anyone else) it can distracting for me though! I see it as a warning sign - am I getting stressed, am I feeling ok…

Original poster
ItsSnowJokes · 14/06/2022 13:29

@Anyfeckinusername and @NavigatingSEN than you! I am so surprised. It is a horrible condition to have and no one knows how long it will last and the GP had said 3 months minimum so to be able to half close my eye to me is amazing 6 days! I want to get back out driving, working etc....... so hoping this progress continues.

My mouth is not great today, feels very heavy and stiff, but if my eye is having some healing I'm hoping the mouth will come! I'm using drops every hour for my eye while I am awake and it's not taped up.

OP posts:
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