Bell's Palsy strikes twice

Betsy sorry to hear this, I had an Uncle that had this once also, maybe it won't be as bad as last time you had it. Sending get healthy soon vibes to you.

oh gosh, Betsy, I'm sorry this is happening! lots of healing vibes coming your way!!

So sorry! Lots of healing vibes~

It is rare to get this twice - even more so to affect the opposite side - but my life is ruled by Murphy's law, unfortunately. I've gotten used to having bad things happen to me, even though I'm good people. It's just another test, though I don't know why I have been made to suffer and struggle so. Maybe in the next life things will be good...

The last time it happened it was on a Friday night 6 years ago and I went right to the ER, and some idiototic, sleep-deprived resident diagnosed me as having had a small brain stem stroke, which would have meant that I'd have become a thinking vegetable with a completely paralyzed body. Funny that, considering I was ambulatory.

So the ER wasn't even a consideration - I know what these symptoms are. I've got an appointment today with my doc at 3 p.m., and he'll probably send me to another neurologist. I hate brain surgeons, they have absolutely no people skills. I guess we'll see what happens! I'm still waiting to get a call back from my acupuncturist - I just hope she isn't away for the holidays, because the sooner I get in to see her, the sooner the paralysis will go away.

On the bright side, it hasn't progressed as quickly as it did the last time. The last time it happened, it progressed through to complete involvement on my right side of my face within a matter of 12 hours.

I woke up this morning REALLY pleased to see that it hadn't gotten much worse than it was last night. A little, but not much. The far left side of my face is numb and tingly, my smile is crooked, spitting out my toothpaste was an adventure in laughter, and I'm trying to keep a good head about myself.

Knowing what it is makes it much less traumatizing than 6 years ago.

Thank you all for being here for me and for your prayers and vibes - I definitely need them right now!!

You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Tons of quick healing vibes and prayers for you!!

Lots of vibes for a speedy recovery

So sorry to hear this - my nephew had it as a teenager, and he still has a very slight unbalance to his face twelve years later. But apart from that he is fine. I do hope you find the acupuncturist and are able to deal with it as soon as possible.

I am soo sorry you're going through this right now. I'm sending lots of prayers and vibes your way for quick and easy healing.

*good vibes for you that it goes away SOON*

First of all, thank you all SO much for your vibes and well wishes!!!

UPDATE: Well, here it is, 6 days after onset, and although it was a slow progression, the paralysis eventually took over the entire left side of my face with one small exception: I've been able to close my left eye to sleep, even though I lost the ability to move my left eyebrow.

This alone is huge for me - not being able to blink requires the hourly application of "natural tears" and an eyepatch for sleeping or going outside if it is windy.

I can still feel things on the left side, I just can't move any muscles on that side at all, again, with the exception of my left eyelid.

This time, though, it's a little different, and although I can move the right side of my mouth fine, I've lost feeling in my lips on the right side. So I can feel my mouth on the left side but can't move it, and I can move the right side but can't feel it. SO weird. It makes eating and drinking quite difficult. I am using a straw to drink my coffee, as I can put the straw further back into my mouth to draw up the liquid.

I have had 4 acupuncture treatments already - she treated me on Xmas eve, what a special woman! - and have 4 more scheduled for tonight, tomorrow night, Friday night and then Sunday, then we'll see where I'm at.

I woke this morning with the ability to move my left eyebrow the teensiest bit, and I wasn't able to do that at all yesterday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the swelling around the nerve is subsiding and that the nerve itself is starting to regenerate.

My Christmas was wonderful because I surrounded myself with people that I love, who love me back, no matter how crooked my face is. I spent Xmas eve with the widower and family of my late friend Dee, and we had a really nice visit with gifts exchanged. They gifted not just me but my daughter as well, and we spent time gathered around a roaring fire in their back yard. I went home smelling like a campfire.

On Xmas day, I was invited to a ham dinner at the home of a long-time friend who I don't get to see much more than once or twice a year. It was a quiet, small gathering, and it was nice to be with my friend and her family. Later in the day I picked up my daughter again and we met my mom and stepdad at a chinese restaurant that both of my late grandmothers had enjoyed very much, and we all exchanged our gifts at the table.

My mother and her husband have had a tough couple of years financially, so my daughter and I split the dinner cost for the very first time ever. Then my mother gave me a very special gift that I wasn't able to refuse: she offered to pay for several of my acupuncture treatments. I just couldn't say no, even though she's NOT well off. I'll find a way to make it up to her at a later date.

Then after dinner, my daughter came back to my house and she and I had our Xmas gift exchange with my roommate, and we opened our stockings. I got some things that I needed, like moisturizer that I use, a nice pair of new gloves that I needed badly, a couple of nice fuzzy blankets to keep me warm, and I even was the big scratch ticket winner, winning $100 on one ticket, and so I was able to pay the oil bill yesterday.

So despite the crooked face, it was a wonderful holiday, most specifically because of the love that I felt surrounding me.

I hope you all felt as blessed as I did.

I am glad that you had great holidays despite ou facial issues! And I continue to send healing vibes! I hope your accupuncture keeps helping only faster!

I'm so glad you had such a wonderful holiday Betsy!! I was thinking of you and hoping everything was ok. Hope the acupuncture really helps

Oh Betsy, I'm sorry this is all happening to you! And I'm sorry I didn't see this thread sooner.... I am glad things are moving along for you, you really seem to be handling this with such grace and the strength of a tiger! How scary this all must be for you, I will keep you in my prayers.... Please lean on Ginger & Ferris in this time, they say that hugs & loves from an animal reduces your blood pressure instantly, and will calm & relax you during a stressful time. I too am a sufferer of that darn old Murphy, I'd swear some days if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all!

Originally Posted by LuckyGirl

you really seem to be handling this with such grace and the strength of a tiger!

Click to expand...

LOL...they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so at this point, I guess I'll never die! I've been through SO much crisis in my life that I have no choice but to take it all with a grain of salt and a sense of humor.

My list of "Things that could be worse than a crooked face" has grown QUITE long over the last few days. Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself (and with Bell's that happens about once every 2 minutes, or every time I have to force my left eye to blink, as it won't do it by reflex anymore) then I just think of something else that could be worse, and I feel a little better about my situation.

I really appreciate the support you guys are giving me, it really helps me to bear it!

It's funny, I met a white husky puppy the other night, she is 10 months old and SO beautiful, and she kept coming over to me as I was sitting in a chair and putting her nose right up to my lips. She didn't sniff me or lick me, but would just put her nose up to my lips, just barely touching them.

She did this a couple of times, and I started to wonder if she was able to sense something not being right with my face - I've heard dogs can be sensitive to injuries that humans sometimes can't see on the surface.

The third time she did this, I kissed her nose as she touched my lips with it, and I said, "Thank you, Dakota," and then she didn't do it again the rest of the evening. Isn't that strange in a good way?

that those treatments keep helping, Betsy!

That's so cool! What a great puppy! I have also heard that animals can sense things like that, they can even smell cancer..... Crazy huh? I can kinda imagine what you are suffering from, my Nana had a stroke in her face and lost a percentage of motility in her right side....you don't notice it too much except for when she smiles.... and your tears....my dad lost something in his tear ducts when he was in the war years ago....he is shade blind and cannot produce tears, so he has those little caplets of "tears" to lubricate the eyeball, such a pain for you....and being a woman we are filled with so much pride! I'm wondering if this will bring you & your kitties closer, I know they can sense when we are emotionally upset, as my Louie (not the sharpest tool in the shed ) always knows when momma's a bit sad.....

You are right! What doesn't break you makes you tougher!!! Now, repeat this everyday, make it your mantra! (I also wanted to add, a diamond is the hardest of all gems, and it takes TONS of pressure and soot to make it as beautiful as it is when it's cut & polished.....you are a true gem as well!)

Wow that is so cool with the puppy. They can sense so much! I bet she knew something was wrong and that was her way of saying she is sorry you don't feel well. Animals never cease to amaze me!

Betsy - Gary had Bell's Palsey also in 2001. It recurred 3 -4 times over the next few years. He was treated with acyclovar (sp?) - an antiviral (some believe it is triggered by a herpes- type virus) and prednisone.

It is important that treatment be received within 7 days or the nerve damage can become permanent.

There is a Bell's Palsey information site that is chock full of info. Here is a link to the treatment page: http://www.bellspalsy.ws/treatment.htm

Hope you're not in pain and that your face becomes "uncrooked" soon!



Laurie

Betsy, I'm just seeing this thread now. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.