Bell's Palsy Experience - Amelia Gutierrez

Surgery performed by:   Dr. Allen Efron
Surgical Location:         Kaisier Permanente Medical Group, Redwood City, CA (USA)
Surgery Date:                June 26, 2007

I had my MVD on June 26, 2007 and when I awoke from surgery I was "SPASM FREE". On July 6th, 1 1/2 weeks later, the left side of my face was completely paralyzed. I could not drink out of a straw, it looked like the left side of my face just dropped. My eye could not close completely and my face was deformed again. Only this time, instead of the constant twitching, I now had no movement at all. I was devastated because I had been recovering so well from the MVD and I now was wondering if I had made the wrong decision regarding having the MVD surgery.

I contacted Dr. Efron, my surgeon, and he fit me in right away. After seeing me he said this was very unusual and that it could be inflammation of the facial nerve. Whatever the case, it was most likely temporary. I was his first MVD patient to come down with Delayed Facial Weakness/Bells Palsy. He put me on a high dose of steroids to reduce inflammation and scheduled a CT scan of the head just to make sure nothing else was going on. My CT scan was normal everything was ok, so he sent me home with my steroids and said it would take time to resolve.

I went to my follow up appointment on Aug 7th, one month after the weakness began, and my facial paralysis was still there. I felt great otherwise so I was released back to work. My Doctor said it would take time to recover from the facial weakness (Palsy) about two to four months. I am now on my third week back at work and it has been very hard because when I left for my MVD I was expecting to come back to work without the spasms and a normal face but instead, I am now dealing with a paralyzed face.

I am trying to be patient, but everyday that goes by I still can't smile completely, close my eye completely or raise my eyebrow. People tell me that I am improving every day, but it is hard for me to see it. My biggest fear now is that this facial paralysis will be permanent.

My only hope is reading the stories on this site of people that have recovered from the facial weakness. Hopefully one day I will be able to report that I too have recovered but, as of today, I still have the palsy on the left side of my face.

Permission granted the HFSA to post Bell's Palsy Experience on website.
Amelia Gutierrez, September 04, 2007

 

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