November 16, 20169 yr Author I just went beck to work on Monday. up this morning with the left side of my face sagging and I couldn't move it or shut my eye. ER rd is Bell's Palsy, grade 5, which is the worst it can be. Got ex of antiviral and prednisone and "most likely" I will recover my facial movement in a few weeks to six months. Crap. Called in sick because, aside from looking hideous, my speech is very hard to understand and filed FML for four weeks. Can't swallow so back to full liquids. Did I already say crap?
November 16, 20169 yr Oh, that sucks. I don't have anything to offer but my sympathy. I have had friends who suffered episodes of it, most went back to 100% normal, one friend has a slight residual droop to his mouth but it's not noticeable unless you look for it.
November 16, 20169 yr I work up this morning with Bell's Palsy.I had it 6 years ago after my daughter. I will pray for your recovery asap !!! Sent from my Z981 using the BariatricPal App
November 16, 20169 yr So sorry to hear this. I work in the medical field and I've had patients with Bell's Palsy. Couple of suggestions: #1 call your surgeon and tell him/her that you've been put on prednisone. This can be very hard on your newly healing stomach. #2 As a Speech Pathologist, thin liquids can cause more choking hazards than thicker liquids/soft foods. Please be careful with what you drink too.
November 16, 20169 yr What causes this? So sorry this happened to you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
November 16, 20169 yr I have 2 friends who suffered Bell's Palsy, one as a child and one as a teenager. Both recovered 99%. The teen, a female type 2 diabetic at just 16, was morbidly obese and about 19 when it happened. My other friend, a male, was quite a bit younger and metabolically healthy. It's a lot more common than you probably believed until this morning. Fingers crossed that you have a speedy recovery.
November 16, 20169 yr @@Aggiemae, that stinks. The good thing is that you'll get past this. The experiences of people I've known who had Bell's were exactly as @@theantichick described. It's great that @@Armygalbonnie was able to give you reliable tips.
November 16, 20169 yr @NikkiRT It is often a viral attack. Can be from the same family as chicken pox and herpes. Definitely mimics a stroke but it eventually resolves. It can last a few weeks to several months, but with the symptoms slowly improving.
November 16, 20169 yr @NikkiRT It is often a viral attack. Can be from the same family as chicken pox and herpes. Definitely mimics a stroke but it eventually resolves. It can last a few weeks to several months, but with the symptoms slowly improving. Thank you. Scary stuff! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
November 16, 20169 yr Author The tip about thickening liquids was very helpful. I think I just need a little love. I've been an RN for over 35 years (yikes!) Retired from public a health and currently work as a nurse/socialworker. I know I wasn't having stroke when I went to the ER I just wanted to start treatment ASAP to get a full recovery. I just didn't realize how sever my event was until the ER Dr explained. In the past three weeks I 've has the gastric sleeve, a steroid injection into five cervical joints, my favorite chicken died of cancer. Sometimes all the knowledge in the world isn't enough. I have multiple health issues due to an auto immune disorder and prednisone has been know to make me manic so right now, as my blood sugar is 290, I am sweating and my eye is blurry from the moisturizing gel... I'm going to my GP to get a as insulin RX and (hopefully) some adivan. I just want someone to hold my hand, stroke by brow and whisper "there there now..."
November 16, 20169 yr So sorry to hear this... As stated above, it is often a viral attack on the 7 th cranial nerve- the facial nerve. In my experience, any of my patients who experienced it did well on anti virals ( think acyclovir which is used for herpes simplex ) prednisone and anti inflammatories can help alleviate the symptoms. Bells Palsy is self-limiting. When it resolves, that is typically it. The grade does have an impact on lasting effects. Since you are under a doctors care now for it, rest and treat as s/he prescribed. Should you find that you have lasting and noticeable facial droop, know that we now use Botox to help lift the sagging. Not what you want to hear now, but file that tidbit of info away should you need it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
November 17, 20169 yr Author What causes this? So sorry this happened to you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App In my case it's very likely lyme disease. I had it in 1986 and was pretty sick but because I lived in N Ca it went undiagnosed for several months before I saw the small bullseye rash on my back right under my bra line. The treatment took almost 3 months. Back then they didn't do post TX titre (maybe there wasn't even a test for limes). My GP increased the prednisone to 100mg a day for ten days and if the titre comes back positive he will send me to an infectious diseases specialist because of autoimmunity issue and the blood count I had house "sticky" platelets which I have because I had malaria when I was in my 20s's so with the I increased stickiness he suspects something is brewing. Crap. There is no connection between the WLS or the cervical spine injections I just had.
November 17, 20169 yr Author Thanks lisa merges !!! I was planning an an eye lift before 1/17 because with two joint replacements and the gastric sleeve I met my max deductions and because my heavy eye lids are interfering with my vision my insurance actually approved it. Hopefully I will be recovered enough to do this very vague n, self indulgent thing in the next 6 weeks. I was so happy to be back at work but I am trying to be happy about 4 more weeks off except I was thinking that people would notice the weight loss as much they saw me everyday. I don't like to be the center of work place gossip.
November 17, 20169 yr I just had it a month ago right before surgery. Don't worry it will get better. Take the antivirals and steroids the doctor gives also on you tube there are a couple of videos to exercise the face that helped me... Good luck Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
I work up this morning with Bell's Palsy.