Bell's Palsy

Sarahsaver

Anyone here got or had Bell's Palsy? ( I have SUSPECTED Bells Palsy...according to the nurse)
Wondered what happened, did you have any tests or were you just left to get on with it.
Also anyone had an MRI scan privately? How much did it cost?
Thanks.

sad01

I had a mild case of bell's palsy, doctor prescribed steriods he said the sooner i was on them the better. He also requested an urgent appt at the physio dept but I got an appt privately the same week, she gave me facial exercises to do. The appt only cost £25 which i thought was money well spent. Hope this helps. Have you seen your GP?

DrFluffy

You saw a nurse? Not being funny, but make an appointment to see your GP and cut out the middle man... If you have Bell's you should begin treatment ASAP, and if you don't have it, then your GP needs to start thinking about what else it could be.

Sarahsaver

The GP came in to see me. He didnt have any appointments til tomorrow 'for emergencies'

Toothsmith

Doctor or dentist ASAP.

Bells Palsy needs to be treated with steroids and antivirals ASAP.

The numbness & paralysis can last for a period of time somewhere between days and permanent.

The sooner it's treated, the less likely it is to last for long.

DrFluffy

Make sure you go. Nurses are great - after years as one I'm sure one could pick up as much as most doctors. However, those that can prescribe can not prescribe everything, and do not have the backgrounds to work out what might be wrong if it isn't the obvious.

Not to say I think nurses are stupid - most could easily become doctors if they went back and retrained. What does irk me is the Governements increased use of nurses as diagnosticians - I worry about what happens to patients if their condition does not fit in to an algorithm, and the demise of both medicine and nursing as a result of blurred lines.

Hope things work out and what ever is wrong is delt with swiftly! xxx

Sarahsaver

THey were not in favour of giving me much medication wise as me and Mr Saver have been trying for a little saver. (nothing happened yet though ...)
I feel like carp. LOL Off to bed.

kittykirsty

I had a mild case of Bell's palsy about 3/4 years ago now. It was very slight, but the next day after i realised something wasn't right i went off to the doc. She gave me some steroids, eye drops and a patch to make sure i wasn't going to get grit in my eye at night (as my eye wouldn't quite close properly). :rotfl:

Only took about 4/5 days to clear up fully, and haven't, touch wood, had a reoccurence of it!

It was a bit embarrassing talking or eating as one side of my mouth just wasn't working, but it should clear up pretty quick if you start taking the steroids asap.

Sarahsaver

Did you keep on exercising/being physically active? I exercise 5 days out of 7 usually, gym and yoga. I will get depressed otherwise!

wolfehouse

my oh had bells palsy- quite a drastic case
it went away mostly by itself in the end but now he cries (and blows his nose) when he eats as the nerves grew back a bit askew.
he tried that nerve stimulation machine they have (like the 'exercise' machines from boots for your stomache but for your face) but i think there may not be enough proof to make the time and effort (20 mins 2x a day) worth while.

the dietician had to see him to discuss the pocketing of food on one side etc. and he had eye drops to keep his eye moist. he wasn't most pleased about the way he looked either and i think that was the worst part.
luckily it improved significantly over time.

bart7777

I have had a couple of spells with Bells Palsy(getting it more than once is a 1 in a million chance,oh lucky me,lol).Fortunately I have recovered quite quickly.The best advice I would give would be to do regular facial exercises for about 10 minutes per day,take multivitamins and try to do regular exercise.Don't bother with all kinds of private scans etc as they just want to bleed you dry!I would not try to do searches on google as I have come to the belief that the doctors do not have a clue what causes it and just hope that by the time the pills they have described you start to run out ,it has gone away.Another tip is to get your ears syringed for wax build up as this can impact upon the muscles that control facial movement,strange but true!You are in good company as George Clooney has had a bout of it himself.Good luck,Paul.