I’ve been diagnosed with what the ER doc advised were”classic” symptoms.
Started with numbness in my left facial area, progressed into drooping of cheek and
lips. Speech is also kinda lispy. No pain or motor issues.
Took a weeks worth of two meds with no improvement, have appt. with neurologist next
week but in the interim was hoping for some supportive comments

One of my best friends came down with it last year. It took almost two weeks for it to go away on its own. Now she laughs and makes jokes about it.

My brother had a spell of it. It eventually just went away, which I think is the usual result. I think it was over a matter of a few months. He said it was a bit of a nuisance, but not a big deal, really.

Good that you had it checked to rule out stroke. I've had a few dental patients that have experienced it. Trauma to the facial nerve, or even cold can bring it on. Usually resolves without treatment unless there is something compressing the nerve.

Daughter just went through it. Took a couple of months for symptoms to disappear completely.

I experienced similar symptoms some years back and received the same diagnosis. The symptoms gradually resolved completely over about a 6-week period.

I’ve suffered this condition. My doctor recommended large doses of vitamins B12 and B6. My symptoms lasted about three weeks. Good luck with your recovery.

quote:

Originally posted by crashcrew:
I’ve been diagnosed with what the ER doc advised were”classic” symptoms.
Started with numbness in my left facial area, progressed into drooping of cheek and
lips. Speech is also kinda lispy. No pain or motor issues.
Took a weeks worth of two meds with no improvement, have appt. with neurologist next
week but in the interim was hoping for some supportive comments

Drooping of one side of your cheeks is a motor issue. It's the facial nerve (cranial nerve #7) that controls your facial muscles (including the eyelid muscles) that's being affected. Bell's palsy course varies greatly, from quick resolution, to prolonged recovery. Some stay permanent, unfortunately.
Here is a pic (not me, of course) of a Bell's palsy. The entire right side of the face is the one being affected. Please, note that, if you are able to wrinkle your forehead on the affected side, while the mouth still being droopy, it is NOT Bell's palsy. It could be part of your central nervous system (CNS) being affected. Bell's palsy is NOT a CNS problem.

Hopefully, when you go to sleep tonight, things will just reboot and you'll wake up in tip top shape.

Be well.

Mine started Oct 1, 2017. It still hasn't resolved. I am waiting for the VA to place a small platinum weight in my eyelid so I can blink. I haven't blinked normally for 5 months and still waiting.

My rt eye dries out quite often. The eye patch is no fun. The nerve grows back at the rate of 1mm a day +/-. The Chiro has helped and I force my dead jaw to chew to hopefully keep the nerve stimulated. I grew a beard to hide the asymmetry of my face and to hide the droop.

Showering and washing find me taping up the eye and then wearing the patch to help keep it safe. It won't blink even in a sneeze. I have to concentrate and squeeze my eyes shut to simulate a blink.

Many thanks for your responses and well wishes.
Guess I’ll just have to be patient and see how it plays out.

Thank you,

Crashcrew

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckWall:
Mine started Oct 1, 2017. It still hasn't resolved. I am waiting for the VA to place a small platinum weight in my eyelid so I can blink. I haven't blinked normally for 5 months and still waiting.

My rt eye dries out quite often. The eye patch is no fun. The nerve grows back at the rate of 1mm a day +/-. The Chiro has helped and I force my dead jaw to chew to hopefully keep the nerve stimulated. I grew a beard to hide the asymmetry of my face and to hide the droop.

Showering and washing find me taping up the eye and then wearing the patch to help keep it safe. It won't blink even in a sneeze. I have to concentrate and squeeze my eyes shut to simulate a blink.

There are a number of ways to boost the body's overall health. Acupuncture, supplements, some "bioenergetic" devices. These methods may help the body develop enough resistance that the immune system can overcome the infection in the nerve.

I was completely paralyzed on the left side for 4 months. Doctor called it “profound and complete” if I remember correctly. I also had a lot of pain behind my ear when it struck.

I never got it all back. The left side of my upper lip still is completely paralyzed. And the entire left side is very suppressed. I also have Synkinesis after recovery - everything on the left side of my face is cross wired with my cheek. Raise my brow - cheek clinches a little. Pucker up - cheek clinches. It’s weird. I taped my eye shut every night for 9 months. I can blink now, but I think it opens at night because I often wake up with a dry eye. I use drops when needed.

It’s been almost three years. It’s an annoyance, but I was goofy lookin before, now I’ve got an excuse.

Here is a link that explains what to expect and treatment:

http://www.lifeextension.com/P.../Bells-Palsy/Page-01

I had a bad case last March. The FAA made me go to a neurologist who told me it would be at least 6 months and nothing could be done. An hour later I was at a really good acupuncturist and got off his table after another hour with 25% movement. After 4 treatments a few days later it was gone.

After reading thru this thread it seems like it affects different people differently. I worked with a guy that had it. It’s been close to 18 years, but it seems like he had the droopy face for a year or more. It affected his speech. It eventually went away. Sorry, don’t remember the details and I can’t remember him talking about not being able to blink. It affected his right side.

Mine was pretty severe (right sided) that came on as a massive headache and pain behind my right ear. Had a CT to confirm that it wasn't a stroke. My symptoms lasted 18 months to the day.

Unfortunately, I was left with a little right eyelid droop that worsens as I get tired and I still can't make a full smile. Outside of that none the worse for wear.

I was fifty, when I married for the second time. Just before our first date, my wife called and said she had developed this strange malady, half her face was swollen and "did I still want to go?" Thank heavens I said "of course". That was 27 years ago and she is the love of my life.

I had a bad case a couple of years ago.

Along with the facial paralysis, it paralyzed my right eye and I lost all sense of taste for three months.

The nerve is still having trouble and twinges so bad, I lose my balance sometimes.

Sounds like yours is really mild.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:Along with the facial paralysis, it paralyzed my right eye and I lost all sense of taste for three months.

Must have been more to it. You wouldn't completely lose taste (and definitely not bilaterally) from loss of one 7th cranial nerve.