Bells Palsy

My flatmate got it at 20 - she had a bad cold and went skiing in -20 degrees. The doctors thought there was a connection with the extreme cold weather. She delayed treatment until she flew home and hospital here said she should have had treatment immediately. She is now 60. She never regained her usual facial state, but people who did not know her before would probably not notice anything. When she is tired her eye and mouth on one side do droop, but she is skilled at covering it up. Her best recovery was in the first few months, then it slowed right down.

I developed Bells Palsy when I was 14. It was the bad winter of 1963. It lasted for three months. My face did return to a sort of normal but my left eye will not open to the same extent as the right. Nobody notices.

When my eldest son (now in his 40's) developed it whe he was at uni'. His lasted about a couple of months and his face is normal

Our grandson developed this when he was only about 3. I understand that this is very young to have Bells Palsy, but he recovered slowly and surely. He is now 20 and you would never know that he had had a problem.

My DH had a Bells Palsy a few years ago. He did get over ot but it has left his face slightly drooped in the eye area on one side. He developed tinnitus which he thinks is a result of it. Otherwise he is fine.

My nephew suddenly got it at university. It was just time. It is much improved now and hardly noticeable.

DS had this a few years ago, his condition was so severe that he was initially admitted to hospital as a potential stroke. He could not close one eye and his mouth droop was severe. It took several months to show any improvement.

I suppose we will have to play the waiting game but glad it didn't deteriorate. He says his mouth isn't too bad although he is aware of it, seems to be his eye mainly
I think the people he mixes with are all rational sensible people so teasing and bullying shouldn't be an issue
Hopefully he will make a full recovery as he is normally healthy and has been since about 8 years old
I'm just worrying over nothing but that's a mums job X

No, it didn't continue to deteriorate, it was a steady improvement. It was a waiting game though. I'm not sure of the long term implications.

grannypiggy my mom had BP and made a full recovery. It took a good while (weeks) but she made steady progress (it got better rather than worse at any time).

Thank you Grannyboots, did it continue to deteriate before it got better ?
he's been told to tape his eye shut at night and been given a course of steroids but he has gone back into work today on the wards (he is a med student) so at least he's in the right place for advise. I'm concerned for any long term effects as he's so young but glad to hear you made a full recovery
I'm sure you have a lovely kind face X

Hello Granny Piggy, I had Bells Palsy about 5 years ago. It came out of the blue and I was off work for about 6 weeks. I had problems drinking and ended up using a straw for hot drinks as well. One eye did not close and one side of my mouth dropped considerably. On the positive side my face went back to normal. Well as normal as it can be!!