Not panicking much, daughter1111 has Bell's Palsy

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christie1111 · #1 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:29 pm

Okay, panicking a little.

Anyone with any experience especially with a youger patieint would be helpful. She is 16.

It will affect her trumpet playing for sure. But she will want to march anyway.

They said it should resolve itself, but the time can vary.

Poor thing.

Rexer25 · #2 Post by **Rexer25** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:32 pm

I know it won't help much, but my step-sister had it a few years ago. It did resolve itself, but she wasn't 16, so I don't think I can be much help. She is just going to need some extra love, but I don't think that will be a big problem.

Prayers for you and yours.

Bob Juch · #3 Post by **Bob Juch** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:35 pm

christie1111 wrote:Okay, panicking a little.

Anyone with any experience especially with a youger patieint would be helpful. She is 16.

It will affect her trumpet playing for sure. But she will want to march anyway.

They said it should resolve itself, but the time can vary.

Poor thing.

I'm sorry to her that. Did she ever have chicken pox or Lyme disease?

Prednisone and an anti-viral may clear it up in just 2-3 weeks.

silvercamaro · #4 Post by **silvercamaro** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:42 pm

Thou shalt not panic. It won't do any good, anyway. I'm sorry your daughter has to go through this, but it will go away with time. (The uncertainty of how much time, of course, is a concern to your daughter and to you, but it will go away.)

I confess that I recently have encountered a couple of kids whose medical problems are not going to go away easily or perhaps ever, so from that perspective, I am greatly relieved for your daughter. Please don't think I'm being unfeeling, but on the grand scale of things that can happen, Bell's palsy becomes more of an annoyance than a tragedy.

christie1111 · #5 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:46 pm

silvercamaro wrote: Please don't think I'm being unfeeling, but on the grand scale of things that can happen, Bell's palsy becomes more of an annoyance than a tragedy.

No, you are never uncaring and I am very happy it is a temporary viral infection thing.

It is just hard on a 16 y.o. girl.

But it seems on the mild side. We are, of course, hoping it doesn't get worse.

The Dr. wants to hold off on the steroids at this point because it is mild. Apparently there are side effects which could make things worse. But we are to keep im informed if things worsen.

5LD · #6 Post by **5LD** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:53 pm

My hubby fell asleep on the LIRR last year with his arm at a bad angle and managed to damage a nerve. He couldn't move his fingers on his left hand independently (and he plays piano for fun and types for a living). Similar thing. They called it Saturday Night Palsy (as in get drunk, wife/girl passes out with head on your arm and you wake up several hours later with nerve damage.)

It took about two weeks but hubby regained all motion and strength in his hand/arm. It was very scary when it happened and we freaked a bit. But it was just inconvenient/uncomfortable for about a week. Sounds very similar to what your daughter is going to go thru except hers is more visible -( altho hubby did have something similar to Bob Dole hand for a few days.) Wishing her a speedy recovery!

Edited to remove the several house later and make it make sense.....

tanstaafl2 · #7 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:53 pm

Be sure she protects her eye with lubricant's if the lid doesn't close well.

In addition to Lyme's disease it can be caused by several other viral causes like Epstein Barr virus (mono), Varicella zoster (chickenpox and "shingles") as well as possibly the most common cause, Herpes simplex I (cold sores, not the other one!). It likes to hang out in the nerves in a dormant state and can be reactivated by stress amongst other things.

If it is a mild case (if there is still a little movement of the muscles for example) I might suggest not treating as it typically resolves spontaneously.

christie1111 · #8 Post by **christie1111** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:57 pm

tanstaafl2 wrote:Be sure she protects her eye with lubricant's if the lid doesn't close well.

In addition to Lyme's disease it can be caused by several other viral causes like Epstein Barr virus (mono), Varicella zoster (chickenpox and "shingles") as well as possibly the most common cause, Herpes simplex I (cold sores, not the other one!). It likes to hang out in the nerves in a dormant state and can be reactivated by stress amongst other things.

If it is a mild case (if there is still a little movement of the muscles for example) I might suggest not treating as it typically resolves spontaneously.

Exactly what we were told! Thanks for the confirmation. Quite likely the most common one, she does get cold sores. Her dad gets them, somehow I do not.

She was told to continue to take Tylenol and to use Natural Tears. She can close her eye completely as it seems to be affecting her lip more. Some runny nose/teary eye, but not the full left side of the face.

Can you suggest a range of how long the typical mild case takes to resolve? I know it can vary quite a bit.

Thanks again.

tlynn78 · #9 Post by **tlynn78** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:00 pm

Christie-

So sorry for daughter1111. Like being 16 isn't tough enough, sometimes, bless her heart. May it resolve quickly and may she be strong til it does.

t.

tanstaafl2 · #10 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:34 pm

christie1111 wrote: Can you suggest a range of how long the typical mild case takes to resolve? I know it can vary quite a bit.

Thanks again.

Highly variable but most people regain nearly full function in a couple of weeks, sometimes less. Many people I have seen report that it feels "different" compared to the other side long after it appears that they have regained full function. Kids tend to do better than older adults so she will most likely recover quickly!

fantine33 · #11 Post by **fantine33** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:07 pm

** Added in edit: I happened to think that a parent might get alarmed reading this, even though I was attempting to be helpful and saying it wasn't nothing but a thing. Rather than deleting everything other than 'get a drool pad!', I will just say that I had nerve problems in my neck since I was a kid, so I'm sure that my case really didn't have any similarities in origin to that of your daughter's. And even with the nerve problems, it still went away, so she'll be back to being a regular Red Nichols in no time. Although I still think a chiropractor would not be a bad option and might be able to hasten her recovery. Hopefully Moon will see this post and actually give an educated opinion rather than my "I just know it works" opinion. **

I had it longer than a few weeks, but I was an adult (and it was a nerve thing) so maybe that makes a difference. My smile is still a little lopsided (although I prefer to think of it as charming rather than off kilter, ha!) and I'm a bit more susceptible to numbness but it's not anything major.

A chiropractor can help a lot. In fact, I've been going for something unrelated since June or so and whacking the old cervicals back into place have helped my facial numbness and tingling issues immensely, even though this (the palsy thing) happened years ago.

Besides the eye drops (Snoopy beat me to that one!) a drool pad while sleeping is also helpful.

Beebs52 · #12 Post by **Beebs52** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:11 pm

Gosh, I hope this goes away quickly and she's back to her ownself soon. How obnoxious and what sounds like painful. Vibes from here!

a1mamacat · #13 Post by **a1mamacat** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:40 pm

So sorry to hear this. Hope she feels better soon.

moonie · #14 Post by **moonie** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:35 pm

Christie,

There are effective ways to treat Bells Palsy. Please take Fannie's advice, or email me at moonltrs@aol.com, and I'll give you the scoop on this.

Moonie

mellytu74 · #15 Post by **mellytu74** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:45 pm

Christie --

Adding my good wishes.

Melly

JBillyGirl · #16 Post by **JBillyGirl** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:51 pm

Thing kind of thing shouldn't happen to people. Especially 16-year-old people. Sending healing vibes and prayers for a quick recovery. Hang in there.

peacock2121 · #17 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:19 am

My younger sister had Bells Palsy at around that age - maybe a bit younger. I already disliked her, as she was tall and thin and legs up to there - by then. She had to wear an eye patch, as she could not close the one eye. I loved it, as she looked weird and I could make fun of her.

Much to my displeasure, it only took about 2 weeks to disappear, then she was back to being tall and blonde and stacked and all that.

I hope it takes less time for your daughter.

christie1111 · #18 Post by **christie1111** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:56 am

moonie wrote:Christie,

There are effective ways to treat Bells Palsy. Please take Fannie's advice, or email me at moonltrs@aol.com, and I'll give you the scoop on this.

Moonie

Email sent.

nitrah55 · #19 Post by **nitrah55** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:54 am

I had Bell's when I was around 16 or 17. I got shock treatment (electrical plate under my chin, jolts felt like I was being socked in the jaw.) Maybe they don't do that anymore.

Wore a patch for a few days, as not being able to blink was uncomfortable.

Went away in a week or so.

Good luck to your daughter.

christie1111 · #20 Post by **christie1111** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:47 am

nitrah55 wrote:I had Bell's when I was around 16 or 17. Maybe they don't do that anymore.

Wore a patch for a few days, as not being able to blink was uncomfortable.

Went away in a week or so.

Good luck to your daughter.

She can blink and close her eye so this is a mild case. We are watching that it doesn't get worse.

Week or so sounds good.

No, I think we will skip the shock treatments! Sure they were for the palsy?

WWTBAM Bored

Not panicking much, daughter1111 has Bell's Palsy

Not panicking much, daughter1111 has Bell's Palsy

Re: Not panicking much, daughter1111 has Bell's Palsy