I know this is pretty much off topic but has anyone ever had Bells Palsy. Those who have had it know what it is for those of you that don't it's where half of your facial muscles become paralyzed. I woke up last Friday with half my face paralyzed. At first I thought it might have been a spider bite wasn't too worried. Went ahead and went to work but as the day went on it steadily became worse. From somewhat facial muscle fuction to none, zilch, nada. Really started freaking out and finally went to the V.A. Hospital thinking it was a stroke I might have had in my sleep. They don't really know what causes it but it is supposed to be activated by stress. Eventually it is supposed to go away. Anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 1/2 years. Anyway just wanted to see if anybody on here has had it and how long it took for it to go away. Trying to reassure myself that hopefully things will be back to normal eventually.
My lovely bride had it. After a month, only I could see any trace left; completely gone by two months. A guy at work took longer, maybe six months for complete recovery.
you haven't been to the dentist the day before symptoms have you? I've seen lots of patients with bells palsy. In ten years I've only seen one case that lasted more than a month. Did the VA put you on steroids or antivirals? They don't know for sure but think it has some relationship with a virus. Stress would trigger the virus to multiply and affect your facial nerve. It's a bitch - Hope your in the 2 weeks and it's gone category. Feel better soon - Kyle
I too have a friend who had it for a few months. Same with him, he knda freaked out at first but it seems to be nothing more than a nuisance. Hang in there, you will be back to as normal as possible soon!
Actually Bells Palsy usually follows a 10-30 days earlier illness. It is virus. It is not usually stress related but thoughts are that stress delays the time for the body to heal, so that's why stress is mentioned. It is one of the ways the brain deals with trying to release a viral germ and yes it can take weeks or months or a year to get back to normal or what normal might be. It starts in a slight swelling of a crainial (brain) nerve and with the swelling usually re-directs to the facial cavity creating a shutdown for lack of better words. It can affect from the teens to elderly. Can re-occur once you have had it. Know of a 18 year old hockey player last year who had it happen following a nasty 2 week cold/bronchial pneumonia. Time only heals. Take care and do everything your doctor tells you and not skip any direction once. Cob Classified Editor
Yup, what others have already said. My dad had it when I was a kid, and it went away in a couple weeks. Guy at work had it late last year...don't know how long it lasted, but at one point I noticed it wasn't bad, and later it dawned on me that he didn't have any traces of it. If you've got young kids or grand kids, it's a great entertainer--my dad could raise one eyebrow (not the half-cocked "Oh REALLY?" one-eyebrow raise, but the full "Oh shit!" eyebrow raise), flair one nostril, and wrinkle exactly half his forehead. That was kinda cool. Hang tough, it'll go away. -Brad
Prednisone an anti-inflammitory/steroid. Doubled up the first four days and than one a day until they run out is what the Doctor gave me. It looks like I got botox injections in 1/2 my face. I always did what to be able to raise just that one eyebrow like John Belushi was able to do. When it comes to dealing with the public you really are only talking out of one side of your mouth, and don't try to drink out of a bottle.
I've had it twice--first time for about a week---second time for almost a month--doc told me once you have it---chances are you'll get again. Doc says ALMOST always goes away---
My father wokeup with it 2 days after being told he has Prostate cancer. The Palsy was gone in about a 1 1/2 months so is the cancer. He said he didn't mind the fact that his balls were black from treatment, but that he couldn't drink coffee without runnin down his chin. Like every thing else in time it'll go away. Good Luck to ya
It's not limited to humans, either. Believe it or not, my buddy's 7 year old Labrador got it. One side of his face kinda looks a little 'off'. It was bad at first, freaked my friend out, and he took him in to the vet. The vet referred to it as 'bells palsy' as well. It slowly gets better...hang in there man!
Yup - had it and got over it a few months ago. I was sick, just getting over a respiratory infection, lying in bed while nibbling at supper. I remember thinking my teeth felt like I had novacaine at the dentist, wrote it off to being sick. I while later it had gotten bad enough I went into bathroom to check. Looked at self, all seemed ok, so I smiled - but only half of my face moved - YIKES. Like you, I thought it could be a stroke. There were 5 minutes left of Conan The Barbarian so I mulled it over for exactly that long, then left for the hospital. Spent the next 15 hours getting tests to eliminate concern of stroke. Was given anti-viral meds and lots of "good luck"s, and sent home. Looked normal (well, as normal as I ever look) in about 2 weeks, and symptoms were gone in 3 more weeks. Kinda tough to drink coffee while driving, as needed to hold lip against cup so wouldn't dribble. Tried to wear coffee-colored shirts for a while. Be patient, and find reasons to laugh about it. You should be fine soon.
Nuthin' new to add, but a friend of mine had it. Lasted about 3 weeks or so, from what I recall. That was almost 10 years ago, no recurrences that I know of.
Not to be a bearer of bad news............. BUT Keep on top of this. I had a friend that was some years older than me, But in real good shape ... He got the SYMPTOMS of bell's and the doc told him it was bell's and it would pass. Well, it didnt.......... Went on for months & got increasingly worse. Till he finally went to UCLA medical where the told him he had a BRAIN TUMOR Unfortunatly, He passed away after about 18 mos.... They said if they would have caught it when it first happned, he could have lived. Keep on top of it & make sure you get a few opinions !!
An older guy I know had it. It lasted about 2 months. But we had a local TV weather man that got it and he was off work for about 4 months.
my old man has been fighting it for 4 yrs hard seeing a tough man like my pop have drink out of a straw and tape his eye closed to go to sleep horrible disease
My partner had it last December. Doctors told her it was viral, contributed to by stress or a chill to the face. They said it could take 3 months or more to recover significantly. Apart from one side of the mouth not working properly, one eye wouldn't close. She had to tape it closed at night and at other times when it got sore because of drying out. A chance meeting resulted in her going to an acupuncturist for a course of treatment. Pretty much back to normal in about 6 weeks. The eye soreness took a bit longer to recover.
ratatat, When you look in the mirror and try to lift up your eyebrows, does your forehead wrinkle up on the involved side, or is it paralized too? Doc.
my mom had it about 25 years ago when i was a kid,,,,at that time the doctors thought it might have been a stroke,,, ,,a customer that comes into work had it happen to him about a month ago,,, he was freaking out about it,....but i called up my mom and had her talk to him about it,....shortly after it happened he said he was playing cards with his son one night and that he fell asleep,but his son kept talking to him and thought he was mad cuz he wouldnt answer him,,,but he was actually asleep but his eye was still open,,,,,,a couple weeks later and he was fine,,,,
I had it about 18 years ago and it is a bitch. Went to get a glass of milk and it dribbled out of my mouth. Lasted about a month ans was totally gone. I had a bad ear infection couple of weks before.
I have had it and after going to the Dr. and thinking it was a stroke & stressing out like a loon, I went to the acupuncturist. it was all done within 10 days. Western meds suck...
My daughter had when she was about 9. Yikes! Scared the h__l out of us. She's 21 now and it hasn't returned.
Hey Ratatat, Sorry to hear you have Bells Palsy. About 3 years ago a guy i was seeing developed it. We'd gone for a walk up a cliff in freezing weather in January, The next day half his face was paralysed and we were quite scared. The doctor explained what it was and said it would eventually disappear, It did become less noticeable and 3 months went completely. He didn't take anything for it just tried to keep his face warm and out of any draughts. I hope you're soon back to normal. Take care x
LYME DISEASE........Very common symptom for that. The damn ticks are so small ya never even know ya got bit. Many people in the Rockland/Westchester area of NY have had it. Get it early with anytibiotics
I had it in High School, which was really embarassing. I actually remember when I first realized something was wrong, I was drinking a glass of milk through a straw and the milk started running all out around my mouth and I freaked out. My mom later told me she thought I was 'looking for attention'. Thanks mom. Lasted about a month.
I've had it twice, once when I was 12 and again when I was 25, both times it was the same side. Only lasted about a month both times and the steroids certainly helped. The only bad news I have for you is that there is not always complete recovery of muscle control. It's been three years since I had it last and my right eye still doesn't close as quickly or as tightly as the left and I still have to watch out for dribbling when I drink, I can also feel that side of my face drooping when I get really tired.
It just happened to Dave, who's one of my bestest friends ever. He thought it was a stroke, thank God it wasn't. I hope you and he get better soon.
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