Hello. My name is Lee and I want to share with you first hand information on Bell's Palsy based on my personal experience.
Bell's Palsy is the result of the inflamation of the Seventh Cranial Nerve and it's branches which control the facial muscles.
Signs and Symptoms
This was my first experience with Bell's Palsy so I did not recognize the
symptoms which, for me, started as a nagging pain just below the base of
my skull between the back of my neck and right ear. I thought it was simply a muscle strain that would go away after a good night's sleep.
The next day, Saturday, the pain had lessened somewhat, but I noticed an
occassional, slightly painful, tingling sensation radiating out from my neck, through my right ear, and across the right side of my face. Hmmm.
Later that same day the tip of my tongue started burning, there was a
numbness on the right side of my tongue, and my sense of taste had
decreased. I also noticed that I was having difficulty manipulating food in my mouth while eating. Hmmm, again.
These symptoms were mild and came and went throughout the day so I did
not realize they were related. I should also note that I was somewhat
irritable during this time and would be for several days to come.
Sunday afternoon the facial paralysis set in. I noticed this when I brushed my teeth after a meal. As I swished water around, it would spurt out the right side of my mouth uncontrollably. This is when I started to suspect I was having a stroke, or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Bell's Palsy, however, is NOT related to either of those more serious conditions.
Sunday night the right side of my forehead began to sag and by Monday
the whole right side of my face was sagged or drooped. That is because
the inflamed nerves had caused paralysis of my facial muscles.
Treatment
I called my physician who directed me to the hospital emergency room.
ASAP.There, because of my visible symptoms plus an elevated blood
pressure reading, I was presumed to be a stroke victim and was given
the full "Code S" treatment, lab tests, hooked up to a vital sign monitor,
a CAT scan, and hand, arm, shoulder,and leg strength tests.
The ER doctor, after listening to my description of the progression of
symptoms, how I was feeling, and based on the CAT scan results, diagnosed Bell's Palsy as the affliction. She then explained what it was and what to expect. She also informed me that it can be caused by trauma to the body as in an injury, or surgery, and that a viral infection is often thought to play a significant part in getting Bell's Palsy.
I was prescribed Acyclovir (anti-virulent) tablets (400mg) to be taken 1
tablet 5 times a day.
Prednisone (cortico-steroid) tablets (10mg) to be taken 6 tablets once a
day for 4 days, then 4 tablets once a day for 2 days, 3 tablets once a day
for 2 days, 2 tablets once a day for 2 days, and 1 tablet once a day for 2
days.
The Acyclovir and Prednisone tablets are uncoated and are bitter to taste. It was recomended to not keep them in the bathroom as they absorb moisture and odors which may alter their effectiveness.
Since my right eye would not close all the way, especially while I slept, I experienced dry eye irritation which caused excessive tearing and burning. This was further agravated by my sleeping under a ceiling fan, and in the path of an A/C vent draft. I discovered this when propped up in bed and trying to read, the draft from these two sources caused my eyes to tear.
The ER doctor had suggested I should tape my eye shut while I slept to help keep it from drying out. She prescribed an OTC med called Lacrilube by the makers of Rephresh brand eye care products. Lacrilube is a combination of mineral oil and white petrolatum (petroleum jelly). This was to be used to lubricate the eye and reduce the irritation. I paid about $11.00 USD. There are other brands with the same or similar formula and will probably work just as well.
Since oil and water don't mix, I had trouble getting the Lacrilube to stay in the lower eyelid. My tears kept repeling the product. I had to dab the lower eyelid dry with a clean tissue in order for the medication to stay in place.
I must admit the Lacrilube worked well at alleviating the eye irritation.
After two applications the tearing and burning stopped. But it must be
used until the eye resumes closing properly.
I used paper surgical tape and non-shedding cosmetic pads to keep my
eye closed while sleeping. There are eye pads available that are specifically made for optical use but they are more expensive. It is important to use non-shedding pads to prevent fibers from getting in the eye.
Sensory Issues
The vision in my right eye was somewhat blurred occassionally during the
first two to three days, but that may have been due to tearing because of
the dry eye irritation, and the use of the eye medication.
The sagging forehead caused my right eyebrow to droop over the upper eyelid which, in turn, folded over the eyelashes and pressed them into the eye.
The folded over eyelid was really bothersome as it affected my ability to
see clearly especially when reading. At first, I resorted to lifting the fold with my fingers, but fearing an infection, I applied one end of the paper tape to the fold to lift it up and taped the other end to my eyebrow.
I did experience a change in the hearing in my right ear. When I made a
loud sound such as a cough, a sneeze, or a shout the sound seemed louder
in my right ear than in my left. Plus there was a hollowness to sound and a static or fuzziness somewhat like having water in the ear canal.
I did not notice any problems with my sense of smell. However, I did have a runny nostril on the affected side.
The burning sensation on the tip of my tongue went away after two days,
but the numbness on the right side remained, but it slowly decreased.
My ability to taste was most noticeably affected. Foods tasted more bland
than they normally would have. I also had difficulty moving food around in
my mouth when chewing. This often resulted in food dropping out of my
mouth.
Coping
Swallowing, whether eating or taking the prescribed medications, should
be done carefully to help prevent choking.
Drinking from any type of vessel whether it's a glass, cup, bottle, or straw is a sloppy endeavor. I advise anyone with Bell's Palsy to eat or drink in private, or risk receiving looks of disgust from tablemates and on lookers.
Speaking is greatly affected due to the paralysis of the muscles that control the upper and lower lip on one side of the face. The loss of control causes air to puff out between the lips making that side of the mouth flap when speaking. This results in "muffled", distorted speech.
Here is a simple solution I found that helped me. Gently press the lips on
the affected side together when drinking, eating, or speaking. This keeps
food and drink from spilling out and aids in swallowing. When speaking this technique helps by directing your efforts to the non affected side of the mouth which results in clearer speech. When the paralysis decreases this will become more difficult to do as the facial muscles regain strenghth.
Noticeable Improvement
The symptoms seemed to stop progressing after about three days from
their onset.
The Prednisone seemed to take effect after the second dose. That was
when I noticed a slight tingling and twitching of the muscles in my brow
and cheek. Two days after that I felt twitching in my upper and lower lip.
These sensations indicated to me that I was regaining control of my facial
muscles.
It took about ten days for me to make a full recovery. My physician informed me that I should consider myself lucky, as some people don't always fully recover from Bell's Palsy.
So, should you experience the above symptoms after an injury, surgery,
or a viral infection such as Flu, Chicken Pox, or a cold sore, contact
your physician, or health care provider ASAP.
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*The above article is not meant to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice. It is simply a description of events experienced by one individual
during the course of a common illness.
