Maggie Davis' Bell's palsy story

The following are archived stories by those who have read maggie's story and wanted to share their experiences with Bell's palsy . . .

I am a 25 year old female from Memphis. About 6 years ago I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. It was horrible. I was told that I had a pretty severe case. I could not close my left eye and there was major drooping on the left side of my mouth. I remember that my boyfriend at the time was a nurse and he took me to the ER. I had never heard of Bell's palsy before that visit. They put me on Prednisone and Acyclovir (sp?). I was on the Prednisone for a couple of months. Within exactly 3 months I had gained 50 pounds. It was terrible. I was already depressed and extremely self-consious about the Bell's palsy, but now I had the weight gain to add to that. Anyway, it was going on about 9 or 10 months and I had not had any improvement with my Bell's palsy. I was seeing a neurologist and doing my facial exercises. The doctor finally put me on Celebrex, which is a drug for arthritis and also known to help bad cases of Bell's palsy. I don't know if it was time or if it was the Celebrex, but I started to improve. All in all, I believe I got about 80% better. I've still had to suffer with the lopsided smile that looks horrible in photos. It was one of the most emotionally and physically painful things I've had to go through. Well, now I am going through it again. Last week, I had been having ear aches, eye watering, and my taste buds were off. I didn't even think about Bell's palsy again for the second time, six years later. Although, it isn't as bad, I can't move the left side of my mouth or close my left eye quite enough. I am so upset that I might be battling with the Bell's palsy with no recovery. It took me such a long time with the first onset, that I am paranoid that my mouth will never go back to the way it was. That is the thing that bothers me the most. I have also been having a lot of really bizarre dreams about my face and eyes, being disfigured, etc. that I didn't have the first time. I feel like I'm too young to be having all these health problems (I also have severe asthma and was hospitalized in October for ten days with pneumonia/asthma).

I had Bell's palsy about 5 years ago at the time I was living in Boulder, Colorado. My left side of my face became in-operable while at work—my eye lid wouldn't shut and my nose ran on that side and I couldn't smile on that side either and it was progressivly sore in the cheek bone area. I didn't have drooling, but my lip sagged slightly. This all happened within a couple of hours while I was at work and I had gone to the restroom to see why my eye wouldn't shut. I went to the doctor after work that same day and he prescribed antibiotics and steroids to get rid of the infection, since that is what my doctor had said that my Bell's palsy was caused by, which puzzled me, because I didn't feel sick or different from any sort of infection and felt normal except for the left side of my face. Of course I didn't know what to think. I went and picked up my prescription and I went home and talked to my family. I was worried because I thought it may be a sign of a future stroke, or my face would not ever look the same again. I did have to tape my eye shut for several nights while I slept and I put prescribed eye drops that were more lubricated in my left eye during the day.

My parents and I talked about it and had thought I should go see my family chiropractor who I had been seeing since I was a little girl. Luckily I was able to get in the next morning to see him and he took some x-rays and also did a spinal adjustment. The next day, I went in again to my chiropractor and he put on surgical gloves and with his thumbs from the center of the inside roof of my mouth he pushed up and outward. It was painful but it was quick, and afterwards, he had a mirror for me to look into so that I could measure a difference. There was a line horizontally and another line vertical on the mirror, so that I could see the difference, basically he was moving the bones in my face; I had looked in the mirror before the adjustment as well. I did notice a huge difference and I was almost back to normal. I couldn't believe it and I was so releived and thankful.

I did finish the medicine cycle that my regular docotor had given me and I had gone in to see him again too the next week. I had asked him what he thought about me seeing my chiropractor, and he said it wouldn't make much of a difference and or that he had no scientific data to say that it would or would not aid in the treatment of healing my Bell's palsy, but if I wanted to see my chiropractor I could. I was confused and had decided to get a second doctor's opinion and they said the same thing, but remarked on how well my face looked after the first chiropractic adjustment; I had not finished my medicine completely that was origianlly prescribed to me. The first doctor had said I may never go back to completely being even or normal with my face and that there was a 90% chance of it never happening again to me.

I had gone in the next week to my chiropractor and he did the same mouth adjustment and when I looked into the same mirror again, literally I looked like nothing had happened to me. I did on-going weekly adjustments with my chiropractor for a couple of weeks and then on-going once a month treatments for a year and that included regular spine adjustments as well.

My chiropractor was a natural force for healing my Bell's palsy and I don't know what I would look like or feel like if he hadn't done those facial adjusments. My chiropractor said that my Bell's palsy was caused by the little nerve being swollen that goes through a small hole in my bone just below my left ear. The day before this happened to me I was walking my dog in the cold air without anything around my neck. My body being naturally cold gave me goose bumps and it could have caused the nerve to swell and of course with no room to grow it closed off the blood and or functioning of my facial expressions on the left side. I had not been to see my chiropractor lately due to being in college at the time and my back was hurting me some but at that time I was not sick nor did I have any other health problems when I got Bell's palsy.

For me to have an infection, I don't know, but I can't tell you how much I swear by my chiropractic care, because it did help me resume back to normal. I can't even tell the difference now from my left side of my face to my right, unless you get a ruler and a mirror and look closely at my face. I do believe in being healthy from the inside out and that definitely starts with my spine. I do eat healthy and get moderate excercise when I can. I do take a multivitamin and some extra B vitamins when I am feeling extra stressed out. I do also go in and get massage sometimes too. I hope that this gives anyone out there who has experienced Bell's palsy—or are currently—a little hope and to try and seek out what information is out there as far as other methods of treatment. I truly beleive that without my chiropractor I may have had it happen again or something worse.

I am a 24 year old female from New York City, and I have Bells Palsy for the 3rd time. The first time I was diagnosed with it I was 12 and it was the night before my 8th grade graduation ceremony. I was devastated. I was taken to the ER that night and wasn't given any medications. They sent me off on my way saying that it would go away. I don't even think that I was tested for anything. But thankful to GOD, it did go away. Then at the age of 18 once again the night of my brother's birthday it hit again. It started with a sharp neck pain but I thought it was nothing. I decided to leave it alone thinking it was due to all the dancing....the next day I wake up with more neck pain and that night we went out to dinner and my family noticed my smile to be assymetrical, which was a horror to me. I was taken to the ER that night and that was when I was treated with Acyclovir and Prednisone. I took these medications for about a week or so but they did all these tests to me all except the EMG (Electromyography) and NCV (Nerve conduction Velocity). They did HIV/AIDS testing, lyme disease—all possible tests—and everything came back negative. I thank God. And weeks after, it was gone with little/no visability. Now 24, I just got it again a few days ago. I noticed the taste buds fading but thought it was my mothers cooking...I left it alone and got on the phone and decided to talk to friends, and my ear started ringing. Once again I thought it was nothing since I had no pain. During the middle of the night I woke up sweating like there was no tomorrow. I got up, took a warm shower, and went back to bed. I woke up in the morning to brush my teeth and wash my face but my eye wouldn't close and I couldn't hold the water in my mouth. I went to the ER once again and they again did the same exams and everything was normal. I have a scheduled appt. to see a neurologist but it is annoying to have this again, and depressing. I was browsing online about it and found this site to be so helpful because there are days when I feel down in the dumps and feel like the whole world is staring

I also had Bell's palsy and still have a few affects from it. It started like an ear infection and sore neck and then I woke up one morning and the whole left side of my face was drooping and I couldn't move it. I also had severe head pain and equilibrium issues a lot like motion sickness. I had to stay down for 2 weeks while I did my conventional meds and then came back slowly to work after the 3rd week. The fact that I'm yoga instructor helped, it was also a good lesson for me and my students. It was very difficult to impossible to do very much my first week. Luckily, it was diagnosed early and I did go on steroids and antiviral med's for 2 weeks and since then I've taking herbs for brain and neural support to assist in the healing. The B vitamins really help to give you energy and to combat the sudden fatigue that comes with healing nerves.

I also do yoga and being a yoga instructor I had to guide my students through their practice as well as develope a practice for myself. I found for the first month side poses, power poses were near impossible and balancing I couldn't do. Now I'm 2 1/2 months recovered. My face completely came back after 4 to 6 weeks and the rest is just getting my nerve, balancing, stamina, normal movements like closing both eyes and alternating eye movements have come back. I also did warm, moist heat using a flax sock wrapped around my head, lots of rest, take my vitamins, herbs and light facial massage. i was told not to force the muscles to come back because often what happens is that the compensatory muscles take over and the healing is slower. You can't tug at the roots. Light finger tapping and light fascial using light upward strokes on the face was good. Lot's of prayer and determination, I knew somehow I will and am practically fully recovered.

The yoga practice was a gentle vinyasa flow using foward bend emphasis, no inversions or anything that put pressure on the head or neck because the nerves are too sensitive and need time to heal. Poses I found that felt good were pashimotanasana(seated fwd fold), child's pose, fish pose (easy fish), head over knee (seated), seated/ standing/recl twists, mountain pose with hands up, palms touch with upward arms and head back, grounding poses, yoga mudra, standing, wide leg and seated, cat/dog, goddess, 5 pointed star, wide leg stretches seated and standing. Gentle back bends using hand support, not full. Downward facing dog after about 3 to 4 weeks was fine early stages, not a good idea. When the equilibrium is off keep the movements slow and mindful. Bring squat/pranham as your equilibrium improves.

I'm just sharing this in case anyone who wants to do yoga and has bell's can be reassured that you can but with slow pace and even nostril breath ease up on ujayii. In experience, I believe the kundalini shakti is affected and that's why grounding poses are best. It's also good to walk barefoot on grass or dirt, and do butt squeezes, aswini mudra, kegel exercises. Pranayama: alternate nostril to balance right and left hemispheres, kabalabhati for grounding follow with meditation.

In all truth I've found it is a waiting game that can be frustrating at times but full recovery is possible with patience and proper treatment, being pro-active.

On January 27th, 2003, we received the following from S.B., of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...

About the middle of Sept. 2002 my boyfriend noticed food was tasting bad. After about a week his neck started to hurt and then developed into what we thought was an ear infection. Because it was our daughter's birthday he put off going to the Doctor. The next morning I noticed his right eye was not blinking when the other one was and we realized that the whole right side of his face was paralyzed. Still thinking it was just an ear infection we went to emergency as it was a Saturday. Well they whipped him in, stuck wires all over him and thought he had had a stroke. They finally came to the conclusion he had Bell's palsy told him to take Prednisone for one week, which he did.

Now he has full control of his facial muscles. Yahoo, you would think, but now he is in constant excruciating pain. He has a lump at the base of his skull which he says hurts under his skull and on the surface and stretches right behind his right ear and down his neck. He is presently being prescribed Tylenol 3 for the pain, taking B-Complex and Vit. C. He is deathly afraid of needles so acupuncture is out. Does anyone have any input on this or experienced similar problems? The Doctor and the Specialist don't appear alarmed but we are it has been almost five months and popping 6-8 Tylenol 3 will only lead to more health problems. Please help us. Thanks.

I got lymes borreliosis, seventh cranial, I had 22 of 40+ symptoms. Tried whey, ledum,and many other treatments. I no longer get rash or burning skin. ? don't know why. The bell's palsy stopped when i found i could take sulfur. One ounce of flowers of sulfur is about 4 tablespoons. I took one spoon after breakfast and one after dinner. The next day the same. It's an old cure for valley fever. I mixed it with powdered chocolate. also I use 35% hydrogen peroxide.diluted to 3%. This can be found by surfing the net. I still have ear ringing but will find the cure. I'm going to order black seed, boil it and use drops in the nostrils. this is an old islam treatment. type black seed to surf info on net. The sulfur info on net just type sulfur and read as much info as you find. I take a half spoon morning and night and the palsy hasn't returned. The cold and flu virus enters through the ear as well as other virus. It's a good idea to put hydrogen peroxide 3% drops in the ears to prevent or stop a cold. As many others i doctor myself. I don't give authority to some doctors drug experiments. and i would expect anyone that reads anything on the net to give it a full scan to find as much as they can for their own education.

The info for 35% to 3% can be found at www.sullivancreek.com/oxytech.htm also the info on what peroxide can do for us. I heard food grade has aluminum added by the government ? and it's better to buy 35%tech grade but i don't know.... blackseed grows in egypt. type www.blackseedusa.com/ read the info then click on the order now to see the package and price—one lb. organic 18.00 plus shpg. I haven't used this yet. because my problem was seventh cranial lymes I read where the islamic used blackseed to get rid of the brain flukes by boiling down the seed and putting 2 drops in the left nostril and 1 drop in the right nostril NEXT treatment, 1 drop in the left nostril and 2 drops in the right nostril NEXT treatment, 2 drops in the left nostril and 1 drop in the right nostril. END I'm not sure of the time between treatments perhaps we can find it by typing islamic blackseed treatment in the search engine. I' ll send another email when i find it again. The sequence of the above treatment tells me they knew of the balance or better (off center) of the anatomy. If you type the keywords hydrogen peroxide, blackseed,sulfur etc.etc. on your search engine you will receive lots of info to study on what these things do...I like to find where they have conducted experiments or used to cure in days gone by where they aren't selling anything. choose the picture you wish to see, see it in the real world and not in the mind, appraise it continually and make the affirmations day in and day out. anticipate its coming about, expectations abound, that which we seek we have found. accept it whole and deny that you know how, where or when, as you receive, receive,and receive, smile and do it again.

I have always been a very healthy person. However, prior to getting Bells Palsy, I had been under a great deal of stress for an extended period of time. Two days before I was diagnosed with Bells I had noticed that my neck hurt very bad and I was feeling a bit run down, and my glands felt swollen in my neck. But I was used to some neck pain since I had been in a car accident a few years earlier and had experienced neck pain on and off again since then. And then I realized I could not taste anything when I ate, it was as though my taste buds just gave out. This was a Friday night—by Saturday morning I realized I could not wink my right eye and when I went to brush my teeth the water dribbled out the right side of my mouth. I panicked and thought that I was having a stroke. By this time I was at my boyfriends house and he assured me I was not having a stroke. However, he took me to the doctor, where I was diagnosed with Bells Palsy. I am 33 years old and I felt like my world crashed; little did I know it was going to get worse before it got better. By Sunday morning I had total paralysis on the right side of my face, and my left side, wanting to compensate, pulled tightly up. I could not close my eye. I had to put drops in it every hour—Bion Tears—and tape it shut at night with Refresh P.M. night time salve. My speech was slurred and I had a very bad time trying to drink and eat anything. And my nerves swelled in my neck and around my ear and I was in constant pain—especially at night. I did not want to take the prescribed medical route, so I sought out the help of my chiropractor, who is nutritionally brilliant, and he began to treat me every other day. And he put me on massive amounts of L-Lysine, various herbs, and B Complex. I also sought out an acupuncturist who treated me every day, and was absolutely amazing. The other treatment I sought out on a daily basis was God. I spent an enormous amount of time on my knees praying, and had many people praying for me. Within 3 weeks I was completely healed! I am writing this because it was one of the hardest things I have ever endured, and I was told after the fact that I had a very extreme case of Bells Palsy and should not have recovered that quick. So to anyone experiencing this please feel free to e-mail me, and if someone is in my area I would be more than happy to recommend you to my Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, and, as well you know, you never need an appointment with God—He is always there ready and waiting to hear and answer your prayers.

I'm Belinda, a 25-year-old mother with a 7-year-old son. I will soon be 26 on Oct. 24th. I'm sharing my story of Bell's Palsy. Today makes it a week of having it and I am so surprised at how there are no studies to what causes it. I have been on the internet almost everyday to find out that Bell's palsy will just heal on it's own but I can treat it myself by giving myself facial massages, trying acupuncture and not to stress because some experts believed stress caused it which I don't believe even the fever blisters, what is weird, I didn't have a fever blister or was stressing. They gave me prednizone and antibiotics to reduce the swelling which I'm highly considering not taking them anymore because I see no difference and by doing my own research it states I'm better off without the pills and just exercise my face. I just pray and work out my face everyday hoping it will be gone by the morning. My suggestion to Bell's palsy patients is to make sure you get the necessary blood work done and see a neurologist to make sure symptoms such as diabeties, Lyme disease, ramsey hunt syndrome, HIV, and stroke are ruled out. Always get a second opinion.

Hi, this must be weird, I'm half way around the world away from all of you. I'm from Singapore (South East Asia) and i had my share of Bell's palsy on my 12th birthday. Now, I'm twenty and i still think its more of the how the world is worrying how people look that's still bothering me. I remembered (like what most of u have described) not being able to chew on the right side, spilling out water from the right side, and not smiling properly. People would say i still have a crooked smile. (i still do so i just give a dash of a smile) I remembered the specialist at my hospital not giving much advice or treatment about this except one where he had this tiny ballbearings attached to a wire, and they sent some electric waves to my face. Only god knows how painful that was but yeah it healed the palsy mayb about 70%. i can close my eyes now, thank God. If u are a family member of a person who is having bell's palsy or stuff, I cant stress enough on how important it is for people not to make fun of how we smile. heh, i cant even laugh too loudy otherwise the crookedness in my face is too obvious. People will ask and then it gets a little personal if its too much of a hassle. Being in Singapore, I dont really know who to approach for advise so that at least my crookedness will become less obvious. I will try one of those 10 (or 12) solutions recommended to us by a kind man in this website. may God bless you :). Just that, the face is the first thing people usually notice about us and i know beauty is only skin deep but u cant help to feel slightly inferior when socializing. (or is it just me) love em for what's inside of them. nur :)

My latest time to have Bell's Palsy was just 3 weeks ago. This is my THIRD time to experience Bell's. I must say things are great this time. I came across this sight looking for Research studies, as the last time as well as this time, I saw similar symptoms up to 2 weeks in advance of the onset of Bell's Palsy that I would like to think could answer some questions for the "Medical Experts". The first time I had Bell's I was only 9 years old. A teacher reprimanded me for spitting my milk out during lunch and for being a class clown when trying to read aloud and not being able to say certain words that began with B's or F's. It was when I got home and told my parents I couldn't drink and was having problems talking that they noticed my smile was crooked. 24 years ago they treated my with electrical stimulation. My Bell's went away after 4-6 weeks. The second time I got Bell's I was 29. It was a severe case, acute paralysis no movement whatsoever and I even lost the ability to see colors. It lasted, as far as noticeable paralysis for 6 months, I did not take any type of treatment. Only made visits to an ENT and an Eye Dr. My eye took longer to heal, almost a year and developed an ulcer and I have some permanent damage to the vision. ALWAYS TRY TO PROTECT AND LUBRICATE THE EYE! Now, only 4 years later at 33 I started having the symptoms coming on again. On April 10th I knew it was back for sure. On April 11th my Dr. and I discussed treatments I found on the Mayo Clinic and National Center for Facial Paralysis website. I agreed to take a Medrol dose pack (steroid) and Famvir, 500mg 3 times a day. After only a week there was very noticeable improvement and now as of 4/23 there is no more droop, only a slight symmetrical difference when I blot my lips, but my smile looks straight again. Only problem I am still fighting is a dry eye. I definitely use eye drops during the day and lubricated gel at night. I have an appointment with a new eye specialist next week and I hope there is no new damage and I hope that he will be able to convince insurance that the Ulcer caused by Bell's on my left eye can be corrected and covered under insurance.

Hey my name is David Gould. I am a 16 year old Scots lad from Glasgow in the UK. I first found out I had bells palsy on Christmas day. The way in which I fould it out was quite funny. I was sitting in my room with a packet of Pringles and I noticed I couldn't taste anything at all. So I just put it down to being a bad packet. But then I ate Christmas dinner and the same again—I couldn't taste anything. So then I tried to whistle, but I just produced wind. Then I couldn't shut one eye without shutting the other. I wasn't thinking what the hell this was. It wasn't scary but the thing that got me was drinking. I couldn't drink without making some reference to the Niagra Falls. When I went to sleep and woke up in the morning my eyes were completeley crusted. I was so amazed just due to the fact that I found out that only 1 in 5000 will get this Inflamation or virus. On my road to recovery I had about 7 sessions with my Phisio Dr. We started out with an Electronic pulse generator or tensing machine. What happened is 2 wet pads were applied to my face, one on my corner of my eye (just on the skin) and the other on my jaw. Then the machine was set to generate pulses which stimulated the 7th cranial nerve. Then I got Microwave treatment. After that I found I healed but not 100%—maybe 70%, but not 100%. It has been over 2 years now and I am still at 70%. I have a weakness in my eyes and mouth.

Hello, I'm a 31 year old father of 2 and husband of 1. I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy on 6/18/2001. I discovered my facial problems on the morning of 6/15/2001 when I began to rinse my mouth out after brushing my teeth, the water kept spitting out the right side of my mouth, I couldn't keep it in. I didn't really think a whole lot about it at the time time so I just continued on with my day (off to work I went). As the day wore on at work I began to notice more signs of facial problems, (couldn't close my right eye, or smile on the right side). Now I recently (within two weeks) had my two lower molars removed by an oral surgeon, and at the time they showed me a video of possible nerve damage that could occur, so naturally I began to panic, thinking this is it, I'm going to have permanent nerve damage. Never hearing anything about Bell's Palsy before, I contacted the oral surgeon, and he asked if I was having any pain or noticeable inflammation, possibly from infection to the molars being removed, which I do not and never have had any such pain or infection in regards to the molars being removed. So he told me to keep a warm compress on it over the weekend and to come see him first thing on Monday (6/18/2001) morning. That's when I was told it was Bell's Palsy, which after finding out what Bell's is was a bit of relief to know that the facial problems wouldn't be permanent. I then was prescribed the drug of choice (prednisone) from my medical doctor. I've been on the drug now for only 4 days as of this letter date. I do have a question for those or anyone that was also prescribed this drug and chose not to take it. Why did you decide not to use the drug? Please e-mail and let me know. If there is good reasoning behind it then possibly I should discontinue the use of the prednisone also. Well that's it—that's my story, I would like to say to all of you who have participated on this site or who will participate in the future, Life is tough, but we will survive, stay focused, stay positive (albeit maybe difficult at times), everything's going to be ok. May God be with all of you.

I have had Bell's for 7 weeks now. At first I had severe nerve pain. That went away. I have taken Prednisone and Valtrax. I have seen a little improvement, but my eye still does not close. When I try to smile it gets as far as my 2 front teeth showing. Today I went for follow-up to neurologist. He said I would improve some, but never 100%.

I am a vocalist. The Bell's had affected my singing. I am freaked out and feel like my one joy—singing—is over. My one great attribute—my smile—is gone. I know it is not cancer or losing a limb, but I am devastated. I could use some support or direction.

I'm 22 years old and woke up two weeks ago with my face feeling funny. My eye felt twitchy and when putting on my makeup I somehow looked different but couldn't figure it out. I asked my husband and he didn't notice anything wierd so I thought I was losing my mind. When I was at work I noticed that the left side of my face (especially my lip) were feeling numb-like I had novacaine), my left eye was watering like crazy and irritating my contact lenses. Coworkers were starting to notice the droop. I was very scared that I was having a allergic reaction or even worse a stroke. I immediately called my MD who assured me there was nothing to panic about and that it sounded like it was Bells Palsy (which sounds awful-when you're a normally healthy person!) I went in the next day and she officially diagnosed it. She put me on Prednisone and prescribed "Aggressive" physical therapy. I'm now finished taking the medication and do feel that it did do some good. I also have regularly been attending my PT sessions. They do electrical stimulation. massage, and facial exercises. For the most part I look back to normal except for when I smile and that seems to be improving every day. Something like this really makes you think how lucky you really are - there are so many horrible diseases and disorders out there that people have to live with forever. I'm having trouble living with this for only 2 weeks! It really makes your self-esteem go down the toilet. There is hope though! I guess you have to try and keep a sense of humor about the whole thing.

During homework time with my 10 year old daughter (almost 11), I noticed that she was playing with the left side of her face. After a lengthly conversation about the "how longs" and "where does it hurt?", I was at a bit of a loss. I did notice that her eyes did not seem to be working in unison and thought maybe, that she had fallen victim to a concussion or something of the sort from a recent hockey game. We opted to get some medical advice from our family physician. We were fortunate to get in to see him the very next afternoon. Following a lengthly examination and discussion, our doctor felt that she was suffering from Bell's palsy. What was that I wondered? As a elementary school teacher who has worked with a variety of special needs children, I focused on the word palsy and was sure that she was inflicted with a cousin of cerebral palsy and that this was the beginning of a life long road.

It has been 2 days since her diagnosis and I, my daughter's main advocate, have become considerably more educated on the topic of Bell's palsy. I have spent a few hours searching the internet for information, but have yet to find anything valuable related to young children. I am overwhelmed with the effort many of you have put into your own recoveries and will seek the same for my daughter, but my concern lies with her developmental stage of life. We have only just begun our time with Bell's Palsy and it is my hope that we can find age-appropriate information to support our daughter's situation.

i can't begin to imagine your concern for your daughter. i do think that much of what i used for my bell's palsy and some of what others used could well be appropriate for her, however.

my granddaughter is nearly nine. if bell's palsy were her condition, now, i would proceed as i had with myself, perhaps lowering the dose of B-12 in jections and using half dropperfuls of tinctures and so on. my doctor was receptive to what i asked him to get for me. i directed the treatment and with the help of others who told their stories, and I'm sure, a little grace, the palsy was gone completely in three weeks. no, i am not a doctor, but my experience with using many kinds of herbs and healing practices for the good of my family and my community encourages me as to their simple, age-old curing ways.

From Gloria....

I was diagnosed with Bells' Palsy on Wednesday, March 25. The symptoms came on similar to your's. When I lost control of the left side of my face during work, I immediately went to the hospital (thinking I was having a stroke). Following a few tests and a visit from the attending Neurologist, I was informed that the good news was - no stroke - but I had Bell's Palsy, something that I had heard of but knew nothing about.

They gave me Prednizone, a few instructions and sent me on my way. After reading about Prednizone I decided to not take it and go for a more 'natural cure'. The following day I sought information on the net and within 10 minutes found your site. It's now 13 days and I'm 90% healed. My vision remains slightly blurred but my eye is closing on its own and I'm able to blink almost completely.

Thanks you so much for sharing and caring - I believe it was your program that made the difference. I'm not certain of what following treatments helped the most. Perhaps it was the combination....
• Acupuncture (within 48 hours of diagnosis 3 times/week)
• Chiropractic (2 times per week)
• B12 - I used it in sublingual form.
• B Complex - High stress formula.
• Essential oil facial massage - geranium and juniper
• Elder Berry tincture
• Tahitian Noni Juice (1 ounce in the AM and PM)
• St. Johnswort
• Echineacea with Goldenseal ( first 5 days) 'Lighter diet
• Ginger Tea ( Green Tea w/Kombucha in the AM)
• Herbal compresses (cold and warm)
• Lacri-Lube (PM) Bion teardrops (during the day)
• Meditation visualizing my face back to normal along with prayers from family and friends.

I am a 33 year old father of two young boys and husband to a wonderful and caring woman.
When I woke up on Saturday morning May 1st, 1999 I had a slightly odd feeling on the right side of my face but I did not pay much attention to it because I was very busy in assisting my karate instructor setting up and running his annual martial arts competition in our town.

As the day went on I noticed it was getting much worse—the symptoms were: drooping of my mouth; an odd feeling on my tongue when I would try to eat; sounds were much louder on my right ear; and my right eye was not blinking properly. Other than that I was not feeling any pain whatsoever. I thought maybe I just needed some rest so I took it very easy the next day on Sunday.

On Monday May 3, 1999 I went to work and had the same symptoms and after work I went to see my doctor and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy and was prescribed prednisone for 1 week.

I have never heard of Bell's palsy before and was very confused, as two different doctors were telling me different opinions on how or what causes it. I went on the internet and there was a wealth of information and here I am one week later and slowly but surely progressing.

I have stayed on 60 mg of prednisone a day, acupuncture 3 days a week and vitamin b-12 in sublingual form. Also, I use lubricant drops for my eyes and at night I apply lubricated eye gel, then duct tape my eye shut as any other tape just rolls off my eye.
My wife has been extremely supportive and is very attentive to make sure I am taking my medications and eye drops. She also does all of my facial and cranial massages.

I was so pleased to find this web site so I could hear how all of you were affected by Bell's Palsy and what you did for treatment.

It was October 1983 the first time I came down with Bell's. I was only 20. Like all of you it came on sudden and I had no idea what was happening. I do remember having a bad cold and ear ache and the next AM I woke up and the left side of my face was droopy. I immediately went to see an Ear Nose and Throat Physician who told me I had Bell's associated with shingles. Ouch!! It was very painful. They did many nerve tests on me weekly. After 8 weeks and no improvement, they did a facial nerve decompression surgery on me. To do this day, I don't know if it helped or if I just improved on my own. ~~ Then in 1990, when I was 8 months pregnant with my 2nd child, I developed Bell's Palsy on the right side. After consulting with many OB/GYNS they put me on Prednisone and the Bell's went away after 6 weeks.

All these years I have done the facial exercises, a lot of hoping, wishing and praying. ~ In 1993, I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester to see if there was anything they could do to improve the assymetry in my face. Basically no, but they did suggest cosmetic surgery. At that time I wasn't ready to do that, but..... in January 1999 I found a wonderful Plastic Surgeon and he did do some reconstructive surgery. He lifted the left cheek up and the right eye lid up. Like a mini-face lift. (I won't name off the medical terms.) I still have some scar tissue that needs to heal, but I do notice a slight improvement. I may go back this summer for more surgery as my surgeon wished he would have lifted a little more here and there. He also talked about Botox. injections. You may have seen or heard people having these injections instead of an actual face lift - it reduced the wrinkles. There was NO pain involved in the surgery: before, during or after.

My insurance company denied me at first saying it was "cosmetic surgery". Most insurance companies do not pay for that. I fought and insisted it was reconstructive surgery due to a medical illness. They agreed and did pay for most of it.

Good luck to you all. I pray for you all that you will heal beautifully. Remember.... keep smiling!

April 19, 1999 I got a call from a friend at about 9:30am. I had been sleeping, and when I hung up the phone I noticed that my left eye was not closing when I blinked. I ran to the bathroom to look at my face. I also felt that "novacane feeling" of desensitization and could not smile on the left side. I was frightened! I called my mom, because I had been exposed to pink eye (she got it from my little niece) and I have never had it. She said that could be it, so I called my doctor. I rarely get sick and don't usually go to allopathic docs. Yuck! They said over the phone that it sounded like Bell's Palsy. Yikes! They prescribed prednizone. I didn't want to take it, and didn't until I saw an acupuncturist and he told me I needed it. I have had multiple acupuncture visits, the last 3 he used electrical stimulation of the facial nerve. I'm at 97% recovery as of today. I have one more electrical treatment tomorrow. It has been effective, but not a lot of fun!

I have also used cranio sacral treatments which I found to be tremendously relaxing and helpful. I had lots of muscle movement with my first two treatments. I would recommend cranio sacral to anyone with BP! I have also done self massage with arnica, taken 2 to 3 grams of timed released Vitamin C daily and Echinacea. I also took an antiviral med. Aclovir (forgive the spelling!). I regret taking the prednizone. I saw my chiropractor Monday, May 10th and he told me that the prednizone had caused my adrenals to be functioning below desired levels. This compromises the immune system as well as messes up hormone production. I'm on a natural supplement to bring back my adrenals. I have also been going for walks and doing yoga almost every day since this started, I feel that has helped a lot. Of course, I don't go out without a hat and a scarf or turtleneck on! Everyday since I woke up with it, I have given it up to God and asked that it be replaced with perfect health!

I do not own Bell's Palsy, so it is free to leave my body completely! I tell my face I love it and what the nerve does for me is very valuable. I tell my adrenals that I love them and see them in my mind's eye as surrounded with universal healing light and functioning perfectly. I also greived for my face, and I think that's an important point - to recognize and honor what has happened. I did not buy in to being told that I had Bell's Palsy. I considered it a temporary situation and that I would have 100% recovery. Our minds are so powerful and when we combine our will with emotion, the results are amazing. I wish I had found this website sooner! I'm glad to be able to share this with others. God Bless!

I recently contracted the herpes zoster virus, in the form of Ramsey Hunt Syndrome. It culminates in facial paralysis like Bell's Palsy. After my conveniently timed annual visit with my neurologist this morning, he suggested something that I think is quite valuable. As I have no ability or reflex with my eyelid, I would be unable to prevent an object from flying into my eye. He suggested that I wear glasses to protect myself from such a mishap. I am surrounded by many smart, caring people who have come up with many suggestions to help me now. But no one had suggested the eyewear to protect my now vulnerable eyeball. And I did not see any reference to that on any of the material on your website. So, I wanted to pass on that information to whomever it may help. Thank you.

an email responding to trigeminal neuralgia question via reference to Bells Palsy. (If folks have help for lloyd, they can contact him through me — maggie).

dear lloyd—i received your call for help through kevin o'connell (jennifer did a book with me a few years ago). on thanksgiving day last year, i was struck with bell's palsy. i use herbs, homeopathy, etc. all the time so i went to the internet not to read doctor's suggestions but every account i could find from folks who actually had bell's. before long i noticed certain procedures and remedies kept coming up again and again. i wove this information with what i already knew, took action, and within three weeks the bell's was gone. if you haven't read trigeminal accounts, i suggest you do that. the healer is you. trust what sounds right to you. to read details of what i did to help heal myself go to the caregiving page on my website. you'll find a link to me telling my bell's palsy story. i think what i say there might help you. both conditions are nerve conditions if i'm not mistaken.
something else that helped, i'm pretty sure, were prayers and good wishes from friends. once before—when we were experiencing some tension in our family— i called for a prayer circle. family members from all over the country formed a virtual healing circle and asked that our family heal in ways that were for the higher good and that any good that came from this healing extend to others who suffered in any way. this worked very well and was not the only time that prayer worked so beautifully in my life. please understand that for two thirds of my life i hardly prayed at all!

i wish you such blessings, lloyd. i've had facial neuralgias off and on for years (mostly off) so have experienced a hint—and just a hint—of what you are enduring.

I lost my smile on the 4th of october 1991. That's how i remember it and that is what Bells palsy means to me .

I had just come home from having my second son ,we had been out for the day and i came home and thought wow my face feels kinda numb so i thought a shower will fix that up when i come out from the shower my mother inlaw said "Karen the right side of your face is not working"!!! ...... I was at the doctors so quick. And he said its "ok its bells palsy because you are breast feeding i dont think we need to use drugs ok" !!! its been 9 years, I have my taste back but still no smile. I wish i had known more about this bp at the time. I hope you can help young people that need questions answered because 9 years ago i would have done anything to know more

a years-ago response to my own request for information when I was suffering from the condition — maggie. . . .

Got your message and was looking through my books. (Of course, we can't prescribe or diagnose, but if it were my problem, research has shown that the blend of Valor is always the first line of defense in cases of nerve problems. Place on bottom of feet, neck of big toe (representing the neck), and on the brainstem. As Dr. Young has said, there's no wrong oil and no wrong places to put it — only better oils or better places to put them. If you don't have what you want, use what you have. But make sure they are 100% pure, therapeutic oils.

One book I have reads, "Bell's Palsy is an acute inflammatory reaction in or around the seventh, or facial, nerve. It can become paralyzed and thus affect those areas which it supplies. There is usually pain and paralysis of muscles controlling facial expression, eye lids, the corner of the mouth. When these muscles droop, that whole side of the face looks distorted. Medical treatment involved placing a splint to hold up muscles, massage to muscles and pain relief medication.

"If one could oxygenate the area, increase circulation, reduce inflammation, detoxify any heavy metals or other residues around the nerve, one may find relief. Once swelling and inflammation decrease, often the tissue will be able to perform its normal function."
Besides the blend of Valor, suggested oils are Juniper, for better nerve function, Cedarwood for nervous tension, Geranium for nerve regeneration, Jasmine for nervous exhaustion, and on and on. For virus of nerves, clove and Frankincense are recommended. To be brief, any Young Living oils will oxygenate the system, and if you put them in the problem area (watch out for some of them on the face — some are a bit caustic), they will have some benefit.

I have also heard that a good reflexologist can do wonders for Bell's Palsy, with frequent treatments.

My friend has been diagnosed with Bell's in March, 2000, but in addition to the facial paralysis, she has numbness in her legs, feet, hands, etc., which seems quite rare. She has had CT scans & MRI and thank god, MS has been ruled out.

IF ANYONE CAN OFFER ANY INSIGHT OR SHARE A STORY OF NON-FACIAL AFFECTING BELL'S, MY FRIEND WOULD BE GRATEFUL.

Right now she is very alienated, depressed and ALONE. Please advise any information or advice by email.

I am a single 25 yr old woman who has had Bell's Palsy since I was 2 years old. I never really thought much of it until I got older and kids would make fun of me when I attended school. I never thought of it as a handicap or a disfuction of any sort. It was just something that happened and I have no knowledge of the time it happened. My mother seems to think that it happened when I was 2 and I became very sick. I had a really high fever (somewhere around 106). I don't recall that time and I'm not sure if I was taken to hospital or anything. However, I have dealt with this situation for 23 years. My case is not as severe as others. My eye does not droop, I haven't lost in taste, I don't have salivation problems. As a matter of fact everything is normal until I smile or laugh. I have some puffiness in my left cheek but other than that, nothing. When I was 14 (I think!), I went to visit a neurologist and he told me that it could be corrected. However, the consequences were not (!!!) something I wanted to deal with. He told me that they could take a nerve out of my leg and put it in my face. I was not happy with this simply because I would have a huge scar on my leg from where they would remove the nerve. I have been through rehab treatments, facial exercises, and electro-stimulation treatments and nothing has changed. If anyone knows of a neurologist that specializes in this and could maybe help me in correcting my Bell's Palsy please contact me. I do not want to go through any painful treatments or drastic operations. If minor surgery could help, I would like to know. I am ready to see myself with a perfect smile instead of a slightly crooked smile. Thanks for any help!

I discovered I had Bell's Palsy. The morning after, my wife had surgery, from which I almost lost her. December 1996 (Thank God, she is fine now.) Nevertheless, when I consulted my Doctor he calmly stated I had Bell's Palsy. As he perecribed a steroid, he said the effects would only last about three to two weeks. Well its been four years now and I have yet to make a full recovery. Though I must admit, 60% is not bad. But I long to play my Alto Saxophone. But what I guess what hurt the most was seeing the pain and suffering my wife and son have gone through. The emotional effects of my roller coaster ride these past four years have been a constant strain on my family relationships. But what really hurts, is when my son carefully massages my face and asks when is his "old" daddy returning. (He and others refer to my boyish "trademark" smile.) At first, I felt betrayed and often wondered, why me? I truly believe it happened for a reason, though the periodic pain still lingers! And the smile has not returned. It is a good feeling when you can go for months forgetting about you have "leftover" traces of Bell's Palsy. The only regret I have, is I have yet to be photographed with my family.

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