Bell's Palsy Support Group

My incredibly sweet 13 year old daughter woke last Sunday with complaints of her eye being dry and not being able to smile properly. She was taken to the ER and diagnosed with Bells Palsy. She is a very happy girl that smiles more than I've ever seen anyone smile and now she is embarassed to laugh and smile. It's heart breaking to watch your child go through something like this. She is in great spirits and I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude but I'm scared. Any/all advice, comments, etc. would be appreicated. Of course, I am doing my due deligence by researching the condition and providing her with the best western medical care.

just quickly: the eye...be sure that it is taped shut when she sleeps (if it doesn't close) get non preservative eye drops...I use Tears Naturelle...

guard the eye when she is outside...be sure that no dust gets in it..

I have tried everything...3 years into Bell's ...HOWEVER, your granddaughter is young and in all probability...it will be of minor duration.

I tried acupuncture ...it relaxes but I don't think it changed anything...If possible, have her see a neurologist...what I've found out with Bell's is that each case is individual...nothing really brings it on...and nothing will make it disappear...

Your love for her is so essential now...I used a straw to drink liquids for a long time...that helps...and I taped my eye shut when I slept for about 7 months...then it seemed to close more on its own.

Let me know if any other suggestions. (I am a grandmother and always worried that my 8 year old..who was 5 when Bell's started, would never remember who I used to be...nevertheless, she looks

at me now and says "Nanny, you are so beautiful." the love grandchild to grandmother is something magical...S

It is imperative that you get her tested for Lyme disease. Find a lyme literate doctor. If you have trouble I can lead you in the right direction.

Well I don't exactly have "Bell's Palsy" but I have the same thing. Right sided facial palsy. However mine was from a brain tumor I had removed 5 months ago. The neurosurgeon promised me that my facial movement would return within weeks but it's been 5 months with only slight improvement.

It can be hard being out in public and it's hard feeling normal again but the important thing for me was having friends who treated me exactly the same as before. It must be harder because she is a child but you have to see that she is exactly the same as before so that she doesn't feel like an outcast. After all, it is just a cosmetic condition and as long as she is healthy that is all you can ask for. It is just a silly superficial thing and you have to help her see that. She will have friends who will notice and she will have friends who don't because they genuinely see her the same.

That was the most important thing for me was not being treated differently. If the doctor checked her out and she is healthy just remember that it is a cosmetic superficial condition and it doesn't change the way she looks. Maybe she can't close her eye properly and maybe she can't smile the same but she still is the same. Help her see that.

It wasn't comfortable for me to tape my eye shut at night so I used the thick eye OINTMENT (not just gel or drops) in my eye at night. It helped protect my eye. Also I got saline nose gel because my nostril was also drying out on that side. And she should wear sunglasses outside if she can't close her eye to protect her eyes from the sun and wind.

Good luck and let her know there are many people with this condition and she is still the same girl.

Hi I'm Stephanie and I too have had Bell's. My 1st Bell's episode was in Dec 2005 and it presented on the right side of my face. Unfortunately 6 months later in June of 2006 the Bell's came back, this time on the left side of my face, my infectious disease specialist said she had never seen or heard of Bell's presenting itself on opposite sides within 6 months of each other. Then in April of this year my Bell's came back for a 3rd time back to the right side for a second time.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be going away, which is why I'm learning to live with it again. I suspect it will come back again and when it does it'll suck. Talk to her doctor about medical treatments, they're usually started within the first 72 hours so it's too late for that but there might be other medical options. My neurologist has always immediately put me on a 10 day course of anti-virals (valtrex) and steroids (prednisone). Maybe talk to the doctor about that if it comes back.

One thing that really worked in helping to regain muscle function in my face were facial exercises prescribed by a speech therapist. She had me smile and hold it for 3-5 seconds 50x a day. Try that and hopefully she'll start seeing improvement.

S

Praying for you to get better. Just stay in good spirits, I know its rough, but I feel you will be ok!!!

I had Bells and make sure she gets plenty of rest and keep positive!..Its hard going through this as a young women, I know its harder for a child, I took B12 vitamins and did a lot of facial exercises and I was feeling better after 3 1/2 weeks. I restored completely at 2 months, everyone is different and heal at their own pace. Praying for her speedy recovery!.

I was 27 at onset, I can't imagine going through that as a teen. I have had many people say they don't notice anything different. A positive support system is so important. Some people do recover completely, and she is young, I'll add to the prayers that she completely recovers!

At any age, Bell's is a real kick in the heart! Esthetically, with twisted face, eyes watering, mouth not articulating correctly...it is awful...Having courage helps...nothing really helps sufficiently...I think a loving and supportive family and friend environment is essential. S.