I'm needing some helpful advice on how to overcome a health condition, it's a rare condition called Bells Palsy. Has anyone heard of it ? for couple of days I had an ear infection which worsened overnight & then waking up with Bell's palsy it is a
paralysis of the facial nerve causing muscular weakness in one side of the face, causing one side of the face to droop which makes it hard to talk proply as one side of my nerves have paralysed. I have also had when younger and again as a teenager and now ten years on it's triggered off again , as my ear was swollen and inflamed it was enough for my nerves to collapse and droop. On one side I can't shut my eye proply , I can't smile ( face droops down ) I can't raise both eyebrows, and on one side it feels numb. Bell's palsy can last anywhere up to a few weeks to months on end sometimes even lasting permanent in some cases.
I guess I'm finding it hard now to get out in public as I'm embarrassed of the way I look and afraid of what people will say when I go to talk to them and I slur and my mouth droops down so very noticeable ., I have lost all my confidence , took time off work untill I heal completely? it's just really shattered my confidence in being able to get on with every day duties that i normally would do instead I find myself hiding away in the house and not going out unless I absolutely have too.
Has any other mum out there suffered with Bell's palsy? What did you do to overcome your anxiety & to push urself to get over it?? I'm on medication from the doctor it basically just helps with helping in aid of the swelling to go down around the nerves. I sleep with eyedrops and an eyepatch so the side that doesn't close shut won't dry out or get infected and I sleep with a hot water bottle on my face , the warmth helps with the pain on my effected side.
Im just hoping for a miracle that I don't have to have it for months and hoping that it recovers asap
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks xx
How to overcome health condition?
How to overcome health condition?
Posted in:
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression, Self Care
3 Replies
I have absolutely heard of it. I have never had it though. Keep doing as your doctor advises.
A friend of mine had brain surgery a few years back so she looks like she has Bell's palsy permanently. She goes out, does everything she would have done before. Nobody cares! They are too busy with there own lives to really notice.
I have a disabled son who looks very different and my experience has been is nobody gives a shit. People who look different are out and about everywhere these days. Gone are the days of asylums and hiding away.
I can guarantee the only people who will talk about your face are people who you know and that's because they'll want to know what happened so you just explain very simply that you have Bell's palsy. But people at the shops etc couldn't give a shit what you look like. Honestly. And if someone does that says more about them than it does your face.
Please don't lock yourself away. Being stuck at home can make you crazy.
My ex had it, I know of a few others who've had it too; and there's also a famous American sports announcer who has it and has had a number of relapses (Jim Ross is his name, he's a wrestling commentator). It's one of those things that's hard to say how long it will last. I would suggest that you see someone to talk about it. I can imagine that it is taking a toll emotionally as well as physically but you need to find ways of coping so that you don't feel you have to lock yourself away when you have a relapse xxx
Keeping u posted on update- It's been day 4 since having Bell's palsy, and there's been a lot of tears this morning it never is easy not been able to talk to your kids proply or to simply smile at them. They have been supportive but it's just not fair. I'm praying that I will recover in time for my husbands birthday party in 4 weeks it's already been organised and with 30+ guests coming I want to feel comfortable in my own skin And feel like I'll be able to enjoy myself with out feeling down. This is just a little vent to get off my chest.