Bell’s Palsy Ending (updated, 5/24/14)

It started May 2nd, and now in the third week, it seems to be ending. The first week, (Friday to Friday), the whole right side of my face was completely paralyzed. Nothing moved no matter how much I tried. No smiling, no blinking, difficulty eating, drinking, and talking. It was very distressing. Because I couldn’t blink my right eye, when it dried out, I had to manually close it with my fingers. This got so bothersome while trying to do my job on a computer, I ended up just taping the eye lid closed for much of the day while at work. I also had to tape it closed over night when I slept. Though my face didn’t droop very bad, it was noticeable if you looked at me straight on.

About mid-way through the second week, I noticed I could make my right cheek twitch a little. By the weekend, I could actually make it move a little. Not much, but enough to make my dimple on that side. My right eye still didn’t blink, but I was happy to be seeing some improvement.

Now, mid-way through the third week, my face is about 80% back to normal. I can blink, and work and sleep without taping. My smile is improving. To casually look at me, you wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with my face. Only someone familiar with my face, (me and Wifegrit, for instance) can find any remaining droop when looking straight on at my face. Although, when I laugh big, I can feel, and others can see, there’s still a little paralysis left. The right side of my face doesn’t yet grin as big as the left side.

At the rate I’m recovering, I expect by this weekend, (beginning of the fourth week), all this will be completely cleared up. I am so extremely happy this turned out to be so short-lived. I was very scared this was going to last for months. Wifegrit is convinced this quick recovery is because I immediately went to the doctor and got prednisone and antiviral meds into me within a few hours of it starting. From what we’ve read up on Bell’s palsy, this may be correct and the best way to deal with it.

When this is all 100% clear, and my face is working at 100% again, I’ll update this post with the date. If anyone finds this post while searching for info on Bell’s palsy, I want them to know it can be relatively short. It’s worrisome to have it suddenly happen, but it isn’t necessarily a terrible, long-term condition. As soon as it happens, go to a doctor, get meds, and start them immediately. Don’t worry too much. It’s annoying and troublesome, but it does go away, sometimes soon.

Update: Three weeks and two days after it started, I can happily say my Bell’s palsy condition has completely resolved. Looking at my face in the mirror, both eyes are normal, my smile is equal on both sides, (including dimples :-) and I seem to have 100% normal functionality with both sides of my face. I am officially fully relieved and happy this thing is gone.

Bullgrit