Bell's palsy The other morning I woke up to find my mouth was droopy and I couldn't close my eye properly on the left side.
My GP said it was Bell's palsy and that it would clear up, but I'm scared I'll be left looking like this.
Bell's palsy can be scary, but the good news is that it's neither a serious nor a permanent condition. Every year about one in 2,000 people get the condition and it can occur at any age, although it's most common in young adults. Approximately 90 per cent of sufferers recover fully and there is help available for the 10 per cent who do not make a complete recovery.
What caused my face to change overnight?
Your face looks and feels different because the muscles on one side have become paralysed. This is thought to occur due to a viral infection in the facial nerve controlling these muscles. The facial nerve travels from the brain through a very small opening in the base of the skull near the ear. Infection causes the nerve to become swollen and it fits less easily through the opening - preventing it from working properly.
Symptoms can come on quickly or, as in your case, overnight, causing a weakness on one side of the face. The corner of the mouth drops and movements, such as smiling and frowning, are difficult, giving rise to a lopsided look.
My doctor put me on steroids, why was this?
A course of steroid medication is often used in the treatment of Bell's palsy as it can help reduce the swelling of the nerve allowing normal functioning to return. Alternatively, anti-viral treatment may be used to help clear the virus thought to have caused the problem.
Can I do anything to help my recovery?
The most important thing to do is look after your eye carefully, especially if it cannot close fully. You should take care to protect it from dust and grit and until such time as it has fully recovered, you could wear a patch over it at night.
You may need to use artificial tears to prevent the eye drying out. Using oil or cream, you should massage the muscles of the forehead, cheeks and lips.
Exercises such as screwing the eyes tightly, smiling widely and frowning will also help the facial muscles recover their mobility.
Continue your usual activities but ensure you get plenty of sleep and rest. And remember, this problem will settle with a bit of time.