Bell's Palsy

[livingwith]

I woke up last Saturday morning to notice that I had no movement in the right side of my face. I was terrified that I was having a stroke I woke my husband up and off we went to the ER. I was taken stright back and told that I had Bells Palsy I have had a pain behind the ear, dryness in my right eye and I am very tired. I haven’t heard anyone mention being tired. Has anyone been affected in this way, or is it just me.
...Read the full article

[Debbie B]

Yes Dana, you will be tired among many other things. I have had bells palsy for 9 months now it's a slow and very long road to recovery for me. The week preceeding bells I had a headache for about 4 days, and the back of my head felt like it was swollen, noises were louder, almost piercing, I was sensitive to light, my mouth felt numb the day before. The next day I went to work and I didn't feel like myself, thought I'd get a coffee to wake me up and I don't drink it usually. I had lost my sense of taste, noises were loud, my head throbbed, so I went home. I went to lay down and when I woke up iI felt almost heavy, I looked in the mirror and thought I'd had a stroke. My husband took me to the ER and I was told the same thing as you. I wish you better luck than I've had so far. I now have an appt. with a neurologist, in a few weeks. I'm exhausted all the time, I have 4 children and as that isn't exhausting enough, I just can't seem to get a grip somedays. I wore a patch over my right eye to prevent drying out, especially outside. I drooled for about 2 weeks, and forget drinking from a straw it was like learning the basics all over. I even went to physical therapy, but it got to costly to go 3 times a week. I eventually lost my job in the Salon I worked at because I just felt hideous. I'm sure that my clients would've understood but I didn't want hear anything I was just so depressed about how I looked. Eventually, I have learned to live with this Iknow that my case was severe, and that my face may never be the same. Don't give up... it will get easier!!!!! Go for any rehab you can, talk to a neurosurgeon if you feel unsure about anything your Dr. says. Have a voice and let your Dr. know your concerns, I didn't and now I may have permanent damage. There are medications, and cosmetic
surgeries to fix some of the facial deformities. If you need some one to talk to , I'm here to listen, but remember the healing time varies for every individual from days up to 18 months.
Good luck and try to stay positive!!!!
Debbie B.

[dudders]

Hi Dana, Yes I have been very tired, to the point where I can be talking to someone and feel myself drifting to sleep, this is not normal for me. My Bell's started a week ago, I had an ear ache for about 3 day's before and it finally came on whilst I was awake on the right side of my face. About 10 years ago I had Bell's on the left side, this took a year to go, for the first 10 or 11 months I had assigned to myself to always having to live with it because it had not improved but in the 11 or 12 month it rapidly improved to the point where no one could detect that I had had it. The first time I had it I did not have any pain with it, this time it is very painfull, apart from the pain and the tiredness everything is the same as before with most of the symtons that Debbie decribes in her post.