Bell's Palsy Support Group
Bell's palsy (facial palsy) is characterised by facial drooping on the affected half, due to malfunction of the facial nerve, which controls the muscles of the face. Bell's palsy is the most common cause of acute facial nerve paralysis and affects about 40,000 people in the United States every year. Additional symptoms that may accompany the condition are pain around the...
I was at work Tuesday and the left side of my face went numb and started tingling. I chalked it up to the migraine I had the day before but decided to go to the doctor the next day if it wasn't better. So I woke up Wednesday morning and made an appointment. I felt horrible, I had a headache, my ear hurt, I couldn't blink both eyes at the same time and my face wasn't numb any more but I couldn't move anything on that left side. My eye and mouth started dropping and I thought I had a stroke. Now don't get me wrong, Bell's Palsy was the last thing I expected to be diagnosed with but its better than a stroke. Today makes 3 days with it and I feel like I'm doing better. I can drink from cups and such with more ease and if I really concentrate I can blink both eyes at the same time. Also, I've been feeling little twinges in my face and I have read that's a good sign (: at least I hope. My doctor put me off work until Monday and I'm really not sure why. I mean I don't feel great but i don't feel awful either. Of course there's a lot I don't know about this disease...
My eye was starting to feel better today until I took my son outside to play, now it's driving me crazy. How long did Bell's Palsy last for you guys? My doctor told me it could be a week to 6 weeks! But I've seen where people have had it longer. Any suggestions on getting better?
My eye was starting to feel better today until I took my son outside to play, now it's driving me crazy. How long did Bell's Palsy last for you guys? My doctor told me it could be a week to 6 weeks! But I've seen where people have had it longer. Any suggestions on getting better?
bajadoug
Hello. I'm at about week 12 now and maybe 50% recovered. I've read the average recovery time is 4 to 6 months, so I suppose I'm on track with that. My earlier post, titled, "My protocol...", lays out my personal nutritional plan. I listed all the nutrients I'm taking. But as I state in the post, it was my personal decision after researching Bell's and also all nutrients that are beneficial to the nervous system. Check out the post so you have more information to make your own decisions going forward. You mentioned that you thought you were having a stroke. I think most of us thought that also. In fact, I walked in the emergency room and flat out said, "I think I'm having a stroke". They rushed me in and gave me a preliminary diagnosis of Bell's within minutes. That was great news, once I found out that bell's is temporary. Well, good luck to you and have a speedy recovery!
wweila
Hi I had Facial palsy on my right side 8weeks ago- I also had shingles and as it was a direct result of that, my treatment was concentrated on anti-virals, steroids and Vitamin B supplements. Im now completely recovered since 4 weeks although those 4 weeks were very painful. I'll suggest rest and stress free environment for faster recovery. Also I did facial exercises 2 times a day. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
jdrury0707
I started having a funny feeling in my mouth and tongue last Thursday, a feeling like I'd burnt my tongue. Friday as the day went on I noticed some oddities like my left upper lip felt numb. By dimmer I was having trouble drinking with a straw on the left side. As we left the restaurant I told my husband I felt funny he asked if I should go get checked and I said no. MNote: we're on vacation in Anchorage - got back to hotel and noticed I could close my left eye by itself and I had a crooked smile. This scared me and I agree we needed to head to ER. Wow were they quick at getting me from triage to an ER treatment room and staff in the room I,mediately. They did the common tests for stoke and the doctor asked if I'd heard of BP and quickly made the diagnosis. He put me on several meds and did a Lyme Disease test since we're from an area with several tick problems. So, fast forward almost a week ...... I'm super tired, left eye waters when I try to focus too much with it, can't feel left side of mouth and can drink with a straw or from glass or water bottle only from right side. Still have twitches in eye and in lip and chin. Pretty frustrating and worried about recovery. Biggest issue now, is the fatigue (I'm taking 1000 mcg of B12) but feel like any activity at all wipes me out. Any comments i.e. suggesting are appreciated. We head home in 4 days and I have an appointment with my fa,ily doc a week from tomorrow. Thanks, Jill
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