Bell’s palsy is a form of facial paralysis that causes weakness or total paralysis on one side of the face. It occurs when the nerve that controls facial muscles becomes inflamed and compressed – possibly due to an infection, but the exact cause is unknown.
Symptoms include facial drooping affecting the eye and mouth, drooling, difficulty speaking and altered taste. Many people will fully recover within nine months but some may suffer long- lasting paralysis.
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Susan Baldock, 57, shares her story about how she recovered her confidence after having Bell’s palsy:
“My symptoms developed 20 years ago. I’d noticed that my throat felt slightly sore that day, but I dismissed it and went with my husband for a date night. Over dinner he looked at me, horrified, and said he was taking me home because my face had begun to droop. We were both worried. I went to bed thinking I’d be okay after some sleep. I woke up and my eye, cheek and mouth had dropped on one side, and I could hardly talk. I thought I’d had a stroke.
My doctor saw me quickly and he diagnosed Bell’s palsy and immediately sent me to the hospital for physiotherapy. Possible causes ranged from a virus to stress. I was signed off work, and didn’t go back for almost a year while I tried to get better and recover my speech. I still can’t say my Bs, and have to show a card with my surname on to strangers so that I’m understood.
I was told my face would eventually return to normal – but it never did. Over the years I’ve undergone surgery seven times to try to regain movement. One operation involved taking nerves from my leg and muscle from my armpit in an attempt to get nerves in my face working. In another, fat was used from my tummy to rebalance the symmetry. Nothing worked.
I became increasingly self- conscious and would often hide my face. I’d cover my mouth when I talked because I’d dribble, and I wouldn’t maintain eye contact with others. I also found it hard to chew or drink, and I had difficulty expressing emotions – I really missed being able to smile. When I went back to work, things didn’t go well and I ended up leaving. It was a difficult time.
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The NHS prescribed botulinum toxin injections to lift and improve the droop. I went to the clinic every three months over a period of 10 years, but eventually stopped going. Each time someone different administered it, and the results weren’t consistent and generally disappointing.
I then made the decision to seek treatment privately. I’d already spent £10 000 (R236 078,60) on an operation to remove skin that was hanging from my jawline. I’d also paid to have my teeth fixed, as I was aware they were on show because my mouth was constantly open. My husband had seen how much my self-esteem was affected, and he supported me using our savings on the treatments.
With the practitioner that I found, the real difference was that she had a huge amount of empathy for my situation, and made me feel seen and heard for the first time. She spent a lot of time looking at my features and carefully positioned the botulinum toxin in the upper, mid and lower section of my face, concentrating on areas where the Bell’s palsy had impacted me the most.
When I looked in the mirror after our first session, I cried with happiness. The results were beyond what I could have imagined, and I felt like my old self for the first time in years. Since having regular top-ups, my confidence has grown and my life has improved. I’ll never look like I used to but I no longer want to hide away.”
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Feature Image: Pexels
