belspalsy hi has anyone had this and if so how long did it go on for?

[sweetsleeps]

lost the whole right side of my face end of october and to be honest i have my moments but have dealt with quite well it has knocked my confidence alot. but i recently got the use of my top lip back but the bottom half is stressing me out as i cant say some words and i keep biting my lip it feels like i have cotton buds stuffed in my cheek lol sound almost like chucks friend in goonies lol love to hear from others who have had BP

[karenmac60]

I had it when I was 13 and it lasted for 6 weeks. At the time my parents were really worried about it but to be honest, I thought it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me - I was always a bit invisible and it meant I got lots of attention at school. My biggest problems were eating and sleeping. Eating meant half my food falling out of one side of my mouth and I had to drink everything through a straw or it'd end up down my front. And to sleep I had to lie kind of face down on the pillow to keep my eye shut. But I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here - you've had it a lot longer than I did. One thing my parents tried was getting me to eat raw lemons to try and draw my mouth in. I don't think it made any difference, but who knows?

[sweetsleeps]

it is funny people trying not to look at me as if to say what the hell is going on and i was just like you for the first 7 weeks i still cant drink properly out of a can i end up dribbling but if i place it right its ok you can see something is wrong if i laugh but have without realising started to cover my mouth with hand to hide myself silly but well what can i say most people think ive been to the dentist by now i must have had a lot of work :) will try lemons you never know plus i actualy like them

[karenmac60]

I do too so I was all for their suggestion :) The other thing I'll say is I am now 38, but I can still detect a slight difference in the strength of my facial expressions - they are not as pronounced on the side that was paralysed, like I've been left with a weakness. My wrinkles aren't as deep on that side either!

[sweetsleeps]

had noticed myself it looks like ive had a mini lift on my right side lol ive read up a bit on this and it can show up whenever your shattered or run down iam 32 just glad it wasnt something worse i thought i had had a stroke had you had chicken pox befor you was 13 as the say it can be related

[Mr Veritas]

I had BP some years ago,and didn't notice it.My wife did though,and thought it was a stroke (given my age).
She rushed me off to the local A&E,and (at 2am) a very nice doctor diagnosed it.
I was given a course of steroids (normal practice in this area,but not in others?) and after two weeks it had completely disappeared,and has never returned.
It is caused by the major facial nerve,which travels through the skull in sort of tunnel.The nerve becomes irritated (for whatever reason) and cannot retract,so the muscles relax and cannot resume their normal position.
More here:~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell's_palsy

[karenmac60]

Hi Sweet, I didn't get chickenpox till I was 16. I did however, have very badly rotten window frames in my bedroom and the dr thought it was probably caused by sleeping in a draft as I hadn't been ill and at my age I was unlikely to be stressed. The thing is I kind of forgot about it pretty quickly as my sister was rushed to hospital to get her appendix out 6 days after I got it so the family's attention was shifted onto her. I didn't even get the attention at school for very long as it was just before the summer hols :)

[Buenchico]

I've not had Bell's Palsy (so I apologise if you didn't want a response from me) but I wondered if you were aware that there's a UK support group for the condition?
http://bellspalsy.org.uk/main.htm

Chris

[sweetsleeps]

yeah ive looked on sights but feel its not as good as asking people who have had it i took the steriods to and was signed off work for 4 weeks it is coming back but seems to be taking a long time nevermind it could have been something alot worse should be thankfull of that :)

[beejaybee]

My late mum had it years ago. She had to have surgery to put things right. Even then, she was unable to fully close her right eye. xx

[Mr Veritas]

sweetsleeps,
Please,if you are at ALL worried by this,do go and pester your GP;that's what they are there for.
You shouldn't have to put up with it taking this long.

[Androcles]

There is also a variation of BP called Ramsey Hunt Syndrome which is associated with the herpes virus in the facial nerve. http://www.medicinene..._syndrome/article.htm

I had this and it finally went after about 6 weeks, although side effects lasted for some years afterwards. There is also a significant chance it can be permanent.

[sweetsleeps]

mr veritas have got yet another doctors app just held off as it seemed pointless when i did go was being told it will take time!!!! but after 5 months my state of mind isnt as strong as it was and as i work in a job that is always infront of the public iam always being watched and people are very kind and say its so much better but i dont feel how i look i hold myself up for the days work but it is just a mask of how i feel so i intend to change it and will be herd plus i would like to eat a meal without chewing my bottom lip lol and get my old cheeky confident self back :)