Bell's Palsy

[daffodil]

Hi. Before being diagnosed with stage 1 hep c I've alays been extremely healthy. I've been on peg/riba tx for 16 wks, with 3-5 shots/week of Epogen for a month now. The nurse told me on friday that my PCR results were"borderline", to continue tx for 72 weeks, and to add 5 shots of Neupogen/week.
My #'s are: WBC-2.5   RBC-2.86   Polys(absolute)-0.6
PCR-5640,000 to start   PCR-259,000 now
My doc, although he seems to know his stuff, is way too busy shuffling patients in & out like cattle, never explains anything, forgets what meds I'm on when on the phone etc..
On friday I came down with a cold, by monday the whole right side of my face was paralysed.
I forced my way into doc's office, he sent me to a neurologist who said I'd caught a virus called Bell's Palsy,that I have a 90% chance of recovery. I'm now on Prednisone, eye patch etc.
3 questions, but first, thanks for your help, I don't know how I would have survived the past months without this forum.
1-Has anyone had, or heard of Bell's Palsey?  2-Was my noc negligent in letting my blood count get too low?  3-Does my viral load warrant staying on tx? Thanks, One eyed 1a!

[buttman]

I am a Helpititis B carrier and recently got Bell'sPalsy myself. My right face became all parilized. I used antiviral pills and 50mg Prednisone.

Is it commun to get both Hepititis B and Bell's Palsy?

[FlGuy]

I had it a couple of years ago.  Was on a biz trip out of the country. Scared the poop out of me.  Was not on treatment at the time.  They gave me no meds, just the eye patch.  Subsided and went way over the course of a few weeks.  Dang inconvienient.

[Forseegood]

Hi, all I can say is a good girlfriend of mine has it years ago, she had it for about a year? maybe less (doesnt mean everyone else will have it for that long) she doesn't have hep...it went away on it's own from what I can remember...I wish I knew more but that's all my experience with it, hope it goes away soon!

[meki]

Don't freak out --- but yeah - it is not common - but it does happen. I've had a co-worker and a family member who has had it.

It is bizarre --- a stroke like symptom set up ---- without a stroke.

90% of people have everything go away --- with no remainders of signs. Both my co-worker and my family member have no remaining signs of having had the Palsy.

I don't think it has anything to do with HCV or any of the Heps... Although - your immunities may have been running super low --- so when you came in contact with it --- or your body decided to let it happen ---- you had no defenses for it.

Here's hoping you'll recover to 100% and have a great day!

Meki

[FlGuy]

At the time, the doc said that Bell's Palsy is caused by an irritation of the 4th or 7th (forget) cranial nerve.  And the irritation (or inflamation (inflammation)) of that nerve can be caused by a virus.  In fact, in many people the onset of BP is preceded by some sort of ill-feelling, like the flu. But not always.  I would guess that it's probably not connected to hcv or tx, but I'm not sure.  The onset of BP is scary because you think you are about to stroke-out or something.  I feel for you, it sucks all on it's own but would be real annoying on tx.  The worst part is trying to drink and keep your shirt front dry.  Keep that eye moistened.

[GoofyDad]

yua said: The onset of BP is scary because you think you are about to stroke-out or something.

He's always worried about that golf game...... ya oughtta get a Muligan for playing with one eye.

And, BTW, always wash your hands after playing with One Eye....

[dancegirl54]

I have heard of more people getting this than ever before in the past 5 years. I live in New England, and if you get it here, you're tested for Lyme disease which can be a trigger for it. I don't know where you live, but that's one, of many possibilities

[Toby G]

Sorry to here that. I too got bells palsey durring treatment. Doctory at emergencyroom my regular doctor and hm hepitologist all said it  because interfuron lowered resistance to herpies (herpes) symplex virus (same one that causes cold sores) that it already in our bodys. it attacted nerves system in fase and nerve bundle swelled where it leaves scull cutting off signals. Roche Pharmasutical even followed up on it and ask me to release my records for FDA, they also said warning does say may cause nuralogical disorders and this is what they talkin about. Drug company would not say OUTRIGHT that meds resosible but did say it was not uncomman to see  happen to  hep patients and to cancer pacients on interfuron (in my case pegasys) Good news is it is almost healed, normal people , usualy heal in 3 weeks to 3 months I saw few results at 4 months and now its been 7 months and eye works completely and face about back to normal. Rub or massage area in direction of muscles 3 times a day, just to remind body they still there, pumps blood to them and reminds brain they still there , when you finally get some response practice exersising muscles 3 times day( blinking , puckering, etc. I did not know this till month 4 and saw emediate results when I started. Also did not quit treatment and am on week 44 now! Good luck!

[Toby G]

SOrry about typing errors, still a little hard to look at computer screen

[busymomof3kids]

Just wanted to let you know that Bells Palsy can also be caused by consuming anything that contains aspartame in it. This is also under other names including sucrulose, aspartic acid, nutra sweet, Equel & others. Please don't take my word for it though, google a search on side effects of aspartame or key words of aspartame/bells palsy & see the facts for yourself. It does a lot more than just Bells Palsy!

[FlGuy]

In my personal opinion, I think that aspartame is also responsible for global warming.  I can't figure why that stuff has such a following, it tastes so bad.

[CoWriter]

Since you started with a baseline viral load of 5,640,000 by week 12 you needed to have at least a 2 log drop.  That means that by week 12, your viral load should have been less than 56,400.

259,000 is not "borderline" and your doctor should have stopped your treatment.

[CockSparrow]

Not a bad post this it has lived on for 5 years.
Bit late with your advice Co. btw its a 1.39 log drop.
I was about to say the same thing till i realised how old the thread was.

CS