got bells palsey

[Anothermrssmith]

Title says it all,over the last 24 hours I've developed bells palsey on the right side of my face. Thankfully it's pretty mild and is only noticeable if I smile or screw up my face. However I'm diabetic and the normal treatment of steroids have a side affect of sending your blood sugar levels crazy high (very dangerous for baby) so I can't be treated, meaning it's probably gonna get worse just in time for all those Christmas photos! Spent 4 hours in my maternity unit seeing every doctor around while they decided the safest course of action was to take no action! That however is preferable to the alternative of ten days treatment in hospital so they can control sugar levels with an insulin drip while I have the steroids.

Luckily I'm 36 weeks and the plan is to be induced at 38 weeks so only a few weeks of a lopsided face before I can get it dealt with.

Oh the joys of being pregnant!

I have nothing to add except "poor you"! Didn't want to read & run and thought a bump might help. Hope you have a stress few last few weeks x

Oh you poor thing. I got that post partum and it's horrid.

As well as steroids I got some physio - I was in the labour ward when it came on so at least it was easy to track down health care professionals. Can you try that? Just ways of contorting my face.

And generally DH did say that it was less bad when I spent a lot of time talking, as that seemed to use the muscles in my face naturally, and help reawaken the nerve. All I wanted to do was hide... But the antenatal class reunion, where I talked all evening and everyone was really sweet, was one of the best things.

You do at least now know which is your "best" side for photos!

My friend got this postpartum, and the doctor thought it might be related to her catching Lyme Disease while pregnant (we're in the US, where it's common).

My poor friend still has the palsy fourteen months later, although I believe that's incredibly uncommon.

Hope you're back to symmetrical soon!

I'd second Fridayschild about facial exercises- there's a book called "Facial Workout" by Eva Fraser (available on amazon IIRC). It's designed to prevent wrinkles (better side effect than the steroids!) but works well for Bell's palsy rehab. Hope you recover soon.

Thanks littlelight, will definitely check that out! Was back at hospital seeing the ENT specialists today (they had to approve not treating it at all) and luckily he agrees that leaving it is the best course of action given the circumstances. He did say though that if treatment isn't started within 48 hours of symptoms appearing it won't do anything so jut need to leave it and get a referral to see him again if no improvement in 6 months! Thankfully it's no worse today which is a good sign apparently so just need to keep my fingers crossed it sorts itself out!