topic Re: Bell's Palsy in Wellness

Bell's Palsy

kaydee50 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:24:04 GMT

Just been diagnosed with this. Has anyone had any experience with Bell's? I am taking a steroid and viral meds but understand that it just takes time for the muscles to get back to normal. My main concern is that I am unable to blink my left eye and need to keep it covered. Any info/support is appreciated.

Re: Bell's Palsy

Shelbelle — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:28:47 GMT

My friend had a similar attack last winter. It came and went very quickly. I remember she had to apply an ointment to her eye just for about a week or two. I do realize some do take longer to heal, I do know someone else who had a droopy eye for sevrral months after this. Best of luck.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:41:10 GMT

Does it just affect the eye's ? Bless you. I have heard of it but it has been a long time.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:42:58 GMT

Yes- I had it about 15 years ago just out of the blue... would not want to experience it ever again... I would take double knee replacement over it any day again given a choice. Would not wish it on my worst enemy.

Sorry you have to go through it. It took about 12 weeks to get full use of the right side of my face.... I totally recovered. I did do a lot of natural supplements to promote healing. Lysine, trace minerals and B vitamins and Lecithin for helping with nerve regrowth..... I had pain like someone hit me in the face from the nerves... and could not taste food, also My hearing was very sensitive on that side of my face during that 12 weeks.....it started out as a very bad ear ache. I NEVER get ear aches...so I wondered what was going on.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:45:43 GMT

I taped my eye down at night. I covered it during the day with a patch and used drops. Just hid out in my home for several weeks.... what else can you do but wait for the healing??

Re: Bell's Palsy

HappyDaze — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:48:26 GMT

My friend had it (he was young, early twenties) and it took him about a year to fully recover from it. I think how long it takes to recover would depend on each individual and the severity of it.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:51:56 GMT

Praying for you, and counting my blessings. God Bless you !

Re: Bell's Palsy

harcon — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 16:52:58 GMT

I had Bell's 2 years ago. I had to use eyedrops to keep my eye moist especially at night. Took the meds and the Dr. told me the best thing was to just rest. It took about a week for my face to go back to normal. Other than learning to eat and drink without wearing my food and looking odd it wasn't the worst thing I've suffered.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:01:30 GMT

Ok does it just come on a person ? Did you have any warnings ?

Re: Bell's Palsy

ccassaday — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:03:19 GMT

My dad had it. They thought he was having a stroke. A family friend that we had also.was thought to have had it but he had a disease that destroyed his nervous system and he passed away.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:05:42 GMT

Mercy....so i guess it numbs one side of the face/body.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:12:53 GMT

On 10/8/2014 BOYINTX said:
Mercy....so i guess it numbs one side of the face/body.

It is just on the face... some may experience both sides of the face but that is more rare.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:18:34 GMT

On 10/8/2014 BOYINTX said:
Ok does it just come on a person ? Did you have any warnings ?

I had a terrible ear ache just out of the blue( I never have had an earache.) That was it. Suddenly my face felt funny.... I looked in the mirror and could not move the left side of my face.. it gradually comes on over a 5 day period. That 5 day window is the period where you will know how bad you will have the palsy.. I just had paralysis .... some people get drooping very severe and disfiguring....

It is an Inflammation of the nerves in the inner ear. It is a virus connected to the chicken pox virus... it usually comes out when your immune system is low.. like with herpes simpex II virus( cold sores etc.)

It runs its course, then your body needs to mend the nerves killed off. 95% of people affected by Bell's Palsy get better.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:19:17 GMT

We never know what life will hand us. I see in a previous post about the pain,ect- and twelve weeks .Gosh .....I wonder if it leaves a person in fear of a return or does it only hit once .

Re: Bell's Palsy

Ranchergal — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:20:11 GMT

On 10/8/2014 BOYINTX said:
Ok does it just come on a person ? Did you have any warnings ?

I've known a few people who had Bell's Palsy including children. My grandmother got it after working in the yard on a cold windy March day. A friend got it after sleeping very close to an air conditioning unit, another friend got it hunting on a cold day in Nov. It seems that cold triggers it and that's why it affects children who have been playing outside in the winter. My grandmother's face and mouth did not fully recover from the palsy. The people I know did not have warnings...they just woke up with Bell's Palsy. If I have to be out in the cold, I cover my face as much as possible.

Re: Bell's Palsy

shoppingT — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:21:06 GMT

Known causes include viral infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, or ear infections. You should consider being tested for Lyme disease even if you haven't had a bullseye rash. You don't always have the bullseye rash with Lyme disease.

Feel better.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:28:10 GMT

On 10/8/2014 shoppingT said:
Known causes include viral infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, or ear infections. You should consider being tested for Lyme disease even if you haven't had a bullseye rash. You don't always have the bullseye rash with Lyme disease.

Feel better.

interesting fact is that many pregnant women get bells palsy as well. There may be a family tie to higher odds of getting it. I had two lady friends who were sisters. They both got it during different times... and their Mother also got it at one time. It can happen more that once in a life time.... but most people only get it once.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gazelle77 — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:33:45 GMT

On 10/8/2014 BOYINTX said:
We never know what life will hand us. I see in a previous post about the pain,ect- and twelve weeks .Gosh .....I wonder if it leaves a person in fear of a return or does it only hit once .

Boyintx.... it took about a year for the fear of it returning to go away for me.... If I ever even thought I might have an ear ache starting after I was well.... I would start taking aspirin hopeful to make it go away. I really think it was the most horrible thing to go through, even though it is far from life threatening or anything. It was just so SCARY. I think I cried more times in those 12 weeks when I looked in the mirror than anytime ever in my life.

Re: Bell's Palsy

BOYINTX — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:39:39 GMT

I am not one to panic but this should be viewed by everyone. I did have no idea it was so bad. Did you cry from pain or just the emotional tired of it cry or both ?

Ans in one post here i see it can hit any age or gender.

Re: Bell's Palsy

gardensla — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:41:20 GMT

Both my father and my cousin had this and both had a 100% recovery.