Bell's Palsey

[BaldEagl]

Well, I just got diagnosed with Bells Palsey yesterday.  I've had it before in my late 20's/early 30's so I know what I'm in for.

For those that don't know, Bells Palsey causes either a complete, or partial paralysis of one side of the face.  The last time I had it it was complete.  It makes a lot of normal things very difficult.  You have to re-learn how to eat and how to drink without slobbering out of the weak side of your mouth.  It makes smiles go from this:  to this:  as you can't normally raise your eyebrows/mouth on the weak side and it makes it difficult to go out in public without being self-concious.

Last time, there was nothing that could be done.  It came on in about 2-3 days, lasted for 2-3 months then went away just as quick.  This time it's already been 4-5 days and symptoms are still very very mild.  The doc gave me a prescrip for an anti-imflamatory that's supposed to slow the onset and speed the recovery although, in many, there is permanent loss of function.  Normal onset is ~3 weeks with recovery in 3-6 months.

I'm not sure why I brought this here.  I guess because it's (obviously) on my mind and I'm hoping typing this will relieve some of the anxiety.

While this isn't age related, it's h*** getting old!  I guess it could be worse.

So when you see a pilot out there scowling at you, it will be me... and I'm actually smiling.

[Maverick]

Hang in there guy. I'm hoping for an early remission.

[Masherbrum]

BaldEagl, my best wishes go out to you.   

[Rollins]

Be strong and stay positive BE, you've got a good group of guys here pulling for a speedy recovery. <S>

[Hap]

BE, a good friend of mine in town got Bells 18 months ago.  Came around quite well.  Hope the same goes for you!

<S>

hap

[SuBWaYCH]

My dad has had it since 2001.

Best of luck Eagl 

[expat]

Eagle , i know how you feel , i had it  few years back,i woke up and thought id had a stroke i was pooing myself all i could think was thats my RAF career down the tubes.
It went fairly quickly , they put me on pills 8 a day to start with went down by 2 pills per week .
Anyway mate  im sure you'l be ok  just dont try what i tried ...get blind drunk with the idea that the otherside of your face would droop like the bad side .....didnt work beer on one shoulder and a massive hangover to boot  

[ROX]

Thoughts & prayers that it goes back into remission!



ROX

[Joker]

Good luck with that BE.
It is a difficult thing to get through as you know, but at least most folks have a very good return of function.
We're all pulling for ya bud. 

   Joker

[FrodeMk3]

I pray that it goes into remission soon, BE, hang in there! 

[LePaul]

My Uncle's best friend had that.  He blamed it on being an on-the-road salesman in the 50s and 60s, always had the window open, arm out and a breeze on his face.  I don't know if any of that has any clinical merit but he went through the same ups and downs

Prayers sent, hope this thing leaves as fast as it came.  Heal quick!

[SD67]

GL

[mtnman]

I've had it twice-  It truly sucks.  First time I had it, it only lasted about 6 weeks.  The second time I had it it lasted almost 8 months.  Complete paralysis both times, first on my left side, then on my right, about 1.5 years apart.  The second time I had it, it also affected my tongue (it's not supposed to do that), and it confused my docs so I was run through a CAT scan and eventually an MRI (they were worried about tumers, etc), and was scheduled to have a nerve specialist do a spinal tap.  I wasn't thrilled about that at all, but two days before I was sceduled to have it done my symptoms cleared up.  They decided they didn't want to run it if I wasn't showing symptoms, and I agreed, lol!  If/when I get it again they want to consider it again...

One of the worst things about it is the inability to close your affected eye.  It stays open, and dries out, causing it to tear constantly and excessively.  The eye doesn't blink, so the tears don't get spread across your eye, so it never ends.  Think about using your fingers to manually blink your eye every few seconds...  Ooops!  Are your hands dirty?  Did you get crap in your eye now too?  Dusty environment, on awindy day?  Fun!

Now try sleeping with one eye open.  Doc says "tape it shut".  Now, try removing tape without removing your eyebrow and your eyelash.  Add to that the sticky tape residue on your face.  Fun!  Doc says "fold up some gauze and tape that over your eye to keep it shut while sleeping".  As you sleep, your eye pops open and the gauze is smashed up against your bare eyeball.  Fun!

The fun just never ends!  Tip your head while you're drinking in an effort to "pour" the fluid into the "good" side of your mouth, vainly thinking you can keep it from dribbling out of the numb side.  And you can't seal your mouth around a straw, or around a bottle top.  And food falls out while you chew.  And food piles up between your teeth and your numb cheek since you can't feel it in there, to be found hours later.  Fun!

Hopefully this doesn't give you the impression that Bell's Palsy sucks.  Au contraire!  It's a blast!

Did I mention it's just caused by a virus, and that anyone can get it?  Not a special virus either, just a regular old cold virus that settles in your nerve instead of giving you the sniffles and sneezes.  Just "because".  And it "usually" goes away!  Generally only like 10% of its victims end up with a permanent case!  Trust me- 10% seems like a large number when you have Bell's Palsy...

Good luck BaldEagl.  I feel for you Bud!

MtnMan

[mensa180]

Hope you recover quickly and blow right through this BaldEagl.

[BaldEagl]

Thanks guys.  I really appreciate it. 

Symptoms are getting worse pretty quickly.  I can still blink and close my eye but not completely.  So far it's only a real problem in a soapy shower but because it never closes completely when blinking it's a little dryer than the other.  Last time I didn't lose the ability to close my eye so I'm hoping that will be the case again.  I can't stand putting anything in my eyes.

The mouth thing is already a problem.  Imaging trying to fit a burger or a sandwitch or anything for that matter into half of your mouth.  And, as Mtnman said, you can't really get the reamining "stuff" cleaned out of the weak side.  Drinking from a bottle, I have to put my finger to the weak side of my mouth to seal it or at least place it very carefully.

And, this time slightly over half of my tounge is numb.  I can barely taste food.  That didn't happen last time.  This is a bummer as I love food.  Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Italian, American meat and potatoes, you name it.  Somehow texture just doesn't do it for me.

Anyway, I'm dealing with it at this point.  I'll know how bad it gets in about 2-2 1/2 weeks and then we'll see how long it lasts.

Only ~40,000 Americans get this each year and only ~8-10% have a recurrence.  Over 20 years later I guess I drew the short straw.

Again, thanks for the support.  Hopefully it will be mild and short-lived.