Bells Palsy

[lilyflower1803]

Those of you who have had Bell's palsy, how did you symptoms progress? I think I have it, but it's very mild at the moment.

Left side of the face cannot smile, I can just about force the muscles into a smile if I try really hard. I can move my eyebrows and can shut my eye, it's just my lower face.

Began last night, no other symptoms but have just recovered from a nasty viral infection I had for almost a month (throat infection, ear infections)

I had it around 8 years ago, paralysis on one side of my face as you describe after a day of feeling intensely tired. The worst part was the eye irritation. I ended up making a patch to cover the affected eye during the day. I went through bucket loads of eye drops. I was able to shut my eye so not a problem at night but it was the day time irritation that was the worst. As for movement, started to come back after a few weeks and slowly continued returning over the months. I'd say I got around 95% of movement back. Several years on it shows up more as I've aged, so you can see the unevenness in my face a lot more.

I don't recommend looking too much into other people's recovery rates as everyone is different and you'll either feel people are mainly getting better faster than you, or feeling depressed at the stories where they haven't recovered.

Hope you get better soon! I was prescribed some prednisolone but didn't get on with it so ditched it after a few days.

Don't delay, the quicker you get the steroids and anti virals the less it will progress snd the less chance of lasting symptoms. I noticed a different taste to my toothpaste and when I put on lip balm my lips didnt meet when I put them together. I was lucky that i commented as a friend knew someone who'd had it. Best of luck.

Only because you say it only started last night- have you been checked by a Dr? If not I'd recommend you are if you've lost movement in part of your face, even if it does for with a post viral BP picture, just to be certain it's nothing else neurological. Apologies if you have, I just wasn't clear.

I have an appointment this afternoon but worried it's not severe enough for them to want to treat! I can still move my face on that side slightly, even to form a smile but it's not natural and it feels sluggish and weak

They will treat. Chance of anti virals working increased by quick treatment. I couldn't raise one eyebrow, that was all doc asked me to do, he could see it in my face and I had the meds the same day as felt first symptoms. If I hadn't mentioned to work friend no one would have known, no one could see anything that day, except the GP who knew what to look for. Insist on a prescription.

I could move my face a little but not at all like normal so it doesn't need to be complete paralysis. I took the steroids within 24 hours and have been lucky not to have any long term symptoms. I had mine after being ill with a bad cold type illness that I was already off work for. GP signed me off for further 3 weeks due to BP in case related to stress. I was pregnant so don't know if that played a part.

Very similar to me! I'm already off work due to the previous illness and stress. Although not pregnant!

I thought I'd had a stroke, colleague asked why I was winking at them, slurp of coffee and it ran out of my mouth. No idea what triggered it. I went to the docs immediately, short course of steroids and it improved very quickly.

Mine recurred a few months later, which is apparently rare but that went too with treatment, although I had to see a neurologist in case of anything else going on. I do get slight tingling/stiffness on the affected side when particularly tired/unwell, but absolutely no other effects.

Speedy treatment really is important and don't let GP argue against it

Do you have no forehead involvement? One of the big features that doctors use to differentiate between Bell's Palsy and stroke is forehead involvement. Bell's palsy typically involves the forehead, while stroke typically spares the forehead. If you have no forehead involvement whatsoever I think you should seek immediate medical assessment.

I can move my forehead but have no other stroke symptoms. TBH, I wouldn't even say my face looks droopy per se, when relaxed it still looks fairly normal, it's just if I smile or talk it has no involvement, it's more just slight paralysis/weakness. I am being seeing by a doctor in half an hour to reassure! :)

Best of luck. Lots of similar advice here so no doubt the GP will treat and quickly 🌷

I was similar and developed more symptoms as days went on and was diagnosed with post viral nerve inflammation. Which is a nice way of saying we don’t know but think you’ll be fine. I’d expect a ct scan to rule out stuff. Anti inflammatories ( naproxen) and steroids helped.

I had it very mildly like you, some numbness and some very mild drooping but I called 111 as I couldn't get a GP appt. They sent me straight to A&E where I was treated as a very high priority and had a full MRI brain scan within an hour of being there!

I went straight onto the steroids, it didn't progress and further and hasn't reoccurred - good luck!

I had this a couple of years ago, but very much stronger symptoms. Honestly thought I was having a stroke... doc put me on strong dose of steroids, main symptoms went in 2 weeks, felt completely back to normal after 6 weeks. But everyone is different.
(Protect your eye on the droopy side. Night time ointment and tape it shut overnight.)

Hi all, all good and diagnosed Bell's palsy! Got steroids and anti-virals. Fingers crossed a good prognosis as it was caught early 🤞 thank you for all your help and advice ☺️

I had it at Christmas. Don't delay getting steroids and eye drops.

Mine took I reckon 10 days to reach its peak, by day ten my face was completely twisted over to the 'good' side. I went back to work on 22nd Jan and still had some paralysis, my eye didn't fully close etc. Now I am almost fully back to normal but my mouth will always be crooked I think.

crystal-touch.nl/

This website had the most informative content I found, there's really not a lot of information out there

I came on to say ‘GET ANTIVIRALS ASAP!’. Glad I didn’t need to 😂

I had it and it was 99% recovered after 6 weeks, I didn’t have steroids as I was breastfeeding.

Brilliant OP.

Already sorted 🤣 I hope it goes quickly!

I will just add op, make sure you rest- properly rest. It seems to be the one thing that makes the difference to the recovery.

I have a three year old so you know what that's like 😭 😴 I am currently signed off work though so that's good, due to go back soon though.

How much rest is recommended? I want to make sure I recover fully.

I've had it three times over the last 20 years. Last time was when I was 38 weeks pregnant with my daughter who is now 5. My face recovered gradually within about 10 days every time with no lasting side effects. I got the steriods from my GP without issue.

There is Facebook group that I joined that I found really helpful. Wishing you a swift recovery.

@lilyflower1803 I had it at Christmas, from the 20th December to about 27th, I did rest but obviously it was Christmas so it was really difficult. Once i properly stopped, pretty much bed/sofa rest, I started to improve. It still took over 3 weeks to get any movement back at all.

The recovery is very very gradual. It depends how much of the nerve is affected, if it's just the outer layer it takes around 3-4 weeks to repair, if the damage is into the body of the nerve, it can take 6 months. If you've only been diagnosed today, you may continue to get worse/ less movement over the next few days. I think mine 'peaked' around day 10.