I am currently on my 3rd day with BP. I woke up on Friday and found I could not hold water in my mouth to rinse after brushing my teeth. Midday I went to the doctor, he told me to smile, checked my ears, mouth, nose, had me raise my eyebrows, squeeze his fingers with both hands, then told me to keep my eyes shut as he tried to open them. He then prescribed me Acyclover (5 per day) and Prednisone (2 per day). At the time I could still move everything on the right side, it was just alot weaker than the left side. By Saturday night (end of day 2), I could not move the right side of my lips or eyebrow at all. And my eye doesn't close completely when I blink. It also waters alot, and I have a tissue handy to dab on the moist corners.
Thats it though, he didn't ask me to come back even if after the medicine treatment is done, there isn't any change. I also asked if it was going to get worse which he said no, obviously it did but I've realized through online methods that it is normal for the first 48 hours.
My question is, is there anything I should be doing to help this along? Going for the massages or physical therapy or just wait til after I have used up all of the medicine.
I'm 21, and am currently unemployed. Having BP has kept me up late these past few nights, my brain won't stop thinking on it.
i not get BP but i proud reading ur comment here and show how brave u cover this illness,chilll
Hello, I am 16th day into bells palsy. When doctor told me its Bells palsy and the left side of my face is paralysed, I was shocked and didnt knew what to do. The reason, i was abt to get married in a month. Along with the left side of my face, my senses also got paralysed for a few minutes thinking abt my marriage date. Cud there have been a better time for bells palsy to strike me!!!!!
But soon I realised i cannot loose hope, I cannot let the best day of my life, my parents dream be spoiled because of a small ailment. I realised that my strength, positivity, healing power of my body is much greator than anything else. By evening of the of diagnosis, i kick started my healing process. Along with doctors medication, physiotherapy, exercises its equally essential to be positive and believe in miracles. Today is the 16th day and I have recovered 70% from bells palsy. Today, I am able to give a wide smile, close my eyes, move my eyebrows, drooping of my face is hardly visible. 14 more days to go for my marriage and I am confident and believe with full heart tht i will be completely recovered by then.
Be positive, try meditation, ignite the healing power of your body, balance the energy in your body and you will have a speedy recovery.
And above all be thankful to God, tht if he had to give u hard time, its was only bells palsy. He has kept you safe from many other serious ailments that we see around. Believe in God and trust him. He will keep you going and give you the enery to heal.
Hi Geri1713 I too have Bells Palsy - for the second time! I started with this episode about 5 weeks ago. This time it isn't as bad as last time, and it doesn't look too bad, although there is still very little movement. It appears that no-one seems to know how long it takes, it seems that everyone is different, and every attack is different too. I am trying to stay positive. I have gone back to work, although on reduced hours, and I believe that's done me good. There's nothing wrong me, I'm just unwell! There's a really good website called 'changing faces' - I found it useful, helped with confidence etc. I've taken lots of vitamins this time - don't know if they work but worth a try, anything's worth a try isn't it? It's an awful illness, but we will recover from it, of that I am sure. In relation to the fdry eye, I read about putting cling film over it, and this does help, although doesn't look good :) I've rung around trying to find a 'clear' eye patch or something similar - but there doesn't seem to be any. Maybe we could invent one! Hope you recover quickly! Keep your chin up!
I'm going on 2+ months with little improvement- It takes longer than you'd think in many cases....
I have had Bell's palsy 4 times alone this last year! If you want quick recovery (in my case) Valtrex and an antibiotic, and its about 4 days and you will be able to once again move your face! mine has switched right, left, right, left every time! I still have minor twitching on my eye brow, and nose. I fear this will never leave :-(
im a 30 year old male and have linked my "outbreaks" to stress, when ever a death in the family, money issues, or life itself gets to me, I have a painful neck that is HORRIBLE! Hurts so bad! And I know its coming.
anyway, good luck everyone, I hope this helps and remember if this is your first time, it is very scary, but thank god not permanent for most!
thanks!
I was diagnosed with bells palsy 11 days ago, mine started with a numb tongue and a pain behind my ear then gradually took over the left side of my face. I couldnt raise my lip, close my eye or raise my eyebrow and had the usual problems eating and drinking. I have been taking steroids since I have 3 days left on them and am almost back to normal now thank god. It seems most people take much longer than me to recover but it seems it is possible to have it for a short period? I have been getting twitching in my eyebrow today which has worried me thinking its coming back but maybe im worrying to much which is only to be expected. This was so out of the blue and such a shock for me i missed a couple of days work and returned to adjusted duties which has helped me tremendously. I would say relaxing is the best thing you can do, try not to worry about what people think as 99% of people will understand and sympathise with you. I have read that this can come back was wondering if anyone knew how true this is? Thanks :)
Hi, i am 14, but i had Bell's palsy when i was 3, and it lasted for 6 months. Personally i don't remember it (Which is good) but as i was just starting to properly talk, i got annoyed with people when they couldn't understand me.
Anyway, it lasts for different amounts of time depending how old you are, you health and your condition that you are in.
So it could last for anything up to 10 days to 1 year, however some people never properly get rid of it. For example my mum has a friend who still has slight symptoms of it, and she has probably had it for about 10-20 years now.
Good luck though.
After being admitted to the hospital 2 days before Christmas 2012 for suspect of a stroke (I'm 34) on Christmas morning my doctor came in with a present. He said "We believe you have Bell's Palsy." Great gift. Over the course of two days I went through 6 brain MRI/MRA scan's (each lasting about 40 minutes long). I had two CT scans and then a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). The left side of my face is still now 3 weeks after the trip to the ER still just as paralyzed. No movement or hint of movement. My ear, my neck, and my head are in such extreme pain that I have to take a narcotic pain medication (dilaudid) and nausea medication (zofran) as often as I can. I still cannot blink or take a shower that isn't uncomfortable on my head and eye. In the hospital the pain got so bad that I was given treatments that ranged from not only the dilaudid but they went so far as to administer oxycodene (10mg) and treatments of fentanyl and ketamine. I was finally sent home after 8 days in the hospital with no improvement at that time and as of now, still nothing. My ear and neck pain along with the pain of emotional disgust looking at myself and not even being able to hold soup in my mouth easily still has me on the dilaudid and zofran diet. It was also suggested by a therapist in the hospital that I take Ativan for an emotional calm and to get sleep at night. Since my release I have not been able to work or even literally think normally. The real kick came when after my diagnosis. I started a new relationship just weeks before getting sick. After I told him what happened I no longer have a relationship. Two Christmas presents I got that I'll never forget.
I joined the BP club at 12:27 a.m., New Year's Day. Yep---27 minutes into the New Year 2013, with my insurance deductible starting over at midnight, I was in the ER with what I thought was a stroke. I'm 54 years old, in excellent health. About two days prior to the onset of BP, I had a terrible earache. On New Year's Eve, I noticed that my tongue was very numb. By midnight, when my husband tried to kiss me to ring in the New Year, I couldn't move the entire left side of my face.
The ER doctor did a CT scan (normal), EKG (normal), blood work (normal). He diagnosed me with Grade V Bell's Palsy, and sent me home with the antiviral medication (800 mg for 10 days); Prednisone (60 mg for 14 days); eye drops for daytime use; eye cream for nighttime use; I tape the eyelid down during sleep.
On a follow up visit two days later, a physician (not my regular dr) informed me that, because of my age (excuse me?!) he did not believe I would recover from BP. Since I am a professional public speaker, I told him, "That's not acceptable to me." He scheduled an appointment for me with a speech pathologist (so I could learn to "cope" with my new disability), and suggested I meet with a surgeon to insert weights in my eyelid so it would close. I just about told him where he could shove his advice.
I am also a professor and researcher, and began to research as many medical articles as I could get my hands on. I discovered that the B vitamins are especially helpful in combating BP, and found some European protocol that includes vitamin B1 (50 mg 3 x day); vitamin B2 (50 mg 3 x day), vitamin B6 (up to 100 mg 3 x day). IM injections of vitamin B12 (protocols vary) are also shown to reduce the severity and length of BP episodes.
On Thursday, Jan 3 (Day 4), I saw my chiropractor. He has adjusted me 4 times so far; I will see him twice more this week.
On Friday, Jan 4 (Day 5), I met with my physician and we came up with a treatment plan: I began injections of vitamin B12 (1,000 every other day); I also began the oral vitamins, as well as increased my intake of green leafy vegetables (green smoothies).
On Monday, Jan 7 (1 Week), I could not close my eye. On Tuesday, Jan 8 (Day 8), I was able to close my eye nearly completely. On Tuesday, Jan 8, I noticed twitching in my left eye. On Wednesday, Jan 9, I noticed that I have tingling in the nasal fold. *I think* I notice a difference in my ability to "scowl," and *I think* there is more movement in the eyebrow. I am feeling quite a bit of pain in my left cheekbone area. I am still UNBELIEVABLY FATIGUED. Un. Be. Lieve. A. Bly. No one told me this was part of the BP deal.
I saw my dr today; he believes that I've made some progress in the past week (still a Grade V, however); he indicated that he believes I will make a nearly full to full recovery.
What strikes me most about this journey so far? The incredible lack of information and the conflicting information! I shouldn't be the one having to devour medical journals for studies! I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm scared.And quite frankly, I got to the point where I didn't care who I ticked off in the process of finding what works best for me.
I make a living with my mouth XD, and I intend to fully recover!
I started out with thinking i had an ear infection, noticed numbing on my left side in my mouth, right eye tearing, & blinking alot, tried to drink from a straw and everything just ran from my mouth. Once I went to the doctor, he said you dont have an ear infection, he stood in front of me and said smile, he immediately said you have Bell's Palsy. Ive been taking 20 mg of prednisone since 12/10/12, B4 my rights side of my face did not move, could not see my teeth, within 2 weeks I had my total smile back, but still have the throbbing in my right ear. My daughter thought it was so funny when I brushed my teeth, because she could hear me spit through the entire house, she would say "seriously mom, did you just spit like a kid? We would laugh to get over not crying.:) I never missed a day from work, and only 2 people noticed. I am so thankful that my case was not bad. Wishing you the best with your recovery. I am currently still taking the prednisone.