Bell's Palsy

[Paulypee]

just have a question that needs to be answered. I have a friend and she had been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. Being that this is a neurological problem, would this cause a false reading in a herpes specific IgG test????

Please I need to know...

[FRC23]

See a sleep center. Recurrent "Bells Palsy" is actually very characteristic of narcolepsy with cataplexy. In fact, often times, it's not "Bells Palsy," but cataplexy. Viruses and some vaccines (namely the H1N1) can actually precipitate this, but it can happen seemingly in random fashion, too.

It doesn't look the way you think it looks. Common misdiagnoses are depression, epilepsy, and migraines. I struggled for years to find an answer, and was misdiagnosed several times. I had it with just sleepiness during the day and what looked like insomnia at night for probably about 15-20 years before I ended up with more serious symptoms of narcolepsy that actually included cataplexy (random muscle weakness that can either be isolated, or widespread).

The cataplexy manifested first in my face, as what looked like episodes of Bells Palsy that came and went when I was tired, stressed, or even when I was happy and smiling.  But when I paid closer attention I realized I got weakness and twitching (not uncommon) in my other muscles sometimes too, though I chalked it up to clumsiness until I paid attention. I also had issues with my vision randomly and sleepiness.

I went undiagnosed for about 15-20 years, until I finally saw a sleep specialist and she nailed the diagnosis right away. The vast majority of doctors have absolutely no idea what it is or what it looks like, and no routine lab tests, MRI, CT scan, x-ray or anything of that nature will detect it. 75% of people with narcolepsy never get diagnosed in their lifetime.

I was tested for epilepsy, migraines, MS, all kinds of things. But nope, it turned out to be narcolepsy!!

Get seen by a sleep center!

[FRC23]

See a sleep center. Recurrent "Bells Palsy" is actually very characteristic of narcolepsy with cataplexy. In fact, often times, it's not "Bells Palsy," but cataplexy. Viruses and some vaccines (namely the H1N1) can actually precipitate this, but it can happen seemingly in random fashion, too.

It doesn't look the way you think it looks. Common misdiagnoses are depression, epilepsy, and migraines. I struggled for years to find an answer, and was misdiagnosed several times. I had it with just sleepiness during the day and what looked like insomnia at night for probably about 15-20 years before I ended up with more serious symptoms of narcolepsy that actually included cataplexy (random muscle weakness that can either be isolated, or widespread).

The cataplexy manifested first in my face, as what looked like episodes of Bells Palsy that came and went when I was tired, stressed, or even when I was happy and smiling.  But when I paid closer attention I realized I got weakness and twitching (not uncommon) in my other muscles sometimes too, though I chalked it up to clumsiness until I paid attention. I also had issues with my vision randomly and sleepiness.

I went undiagnosed for about 15-20 years, until I finally saw a sleep specialist and she nailed the diagnosis right away. The vast majority of doctors have absolutely no idea what it is or what it looks like, and no routine lab tests, MRI, CT scan, x-ray or anything of that nature will detect it. 75% of people with narcolepsy never get diagnosed in their lifetime.

I was tested for epilepsy, migraines, MS, all kinds of things. But nope, it turned out to be narcolepsy!!

Get seen by a sleep center!

[Dr Sharma]

Hi angdon, you need to be investigated for trigeminal neuralgia and temporal arteritis. Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve disorder that causes a stabbing electric shock like pain in parts of face. Various possible causes are multiple sclerosis and pressure on the nerve from a swollen blood vessel. Pain may be triggered by touch, sounds, chewing and light touch on face. Certain blood tests, MRI brain and trigeminal reflex testing apart from a neurological examination are required. Medicines like anti seizure, muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants. Temporal arteritis is inflammation and damage to blood vessels supplying head. Symptoms may include jaw pain during chewing, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, throbbing headache on one side of head or back of head and scalp sensitivity. Consult a neurologist with these concerns. For 6th cranial nerve palsy to maintain binocular vision, Fresnel prisms are used. These prisms are attached to the patient’s glasses or to plano glasses if there is no refractive error. Other management options include use of botulinum toxin, injected into same side medial rectus, which helps prevent the contracture of medial rectus. By removing the pull of the medial rectus, it may serve to reveal whether the palsy is partial or complete by allowing any residual movement capability of lateral rectus to operate. The recovery may take 9 to 12 months of wait and watch period after which management will be either conservative or surgical. Consult your ophthalmologist also for further advice. Hope this helps. Take care.

[angdon]

Hi all realy need help    6th cranial nerve damage to my right eye , i get pain in my right side  of face and feel like its swelling i also have pain in right side of face and get alot of sensations in the right side of my face .However , i have been told i have bells palsy on my left side ?but i can move my mouth i dont feel alot of sensation but it doesnt feel numb etc. these pains get so bad with headache and feel loads of pressure at back of  my eye. The hospital feel i should see a neurologist evan after a mri which was clear my doctor does not and reffered me to a physiotherapist?nothing for pain actualy disregard ed i was in pain .

does this sound like bells palsy to you?

[tonia35]

i've had bells palsy twice first to the right sid eof my face most severe no taste no movement eye stuck open complete palsy.also accompinied by severe pain in my face and upper ear lope.in about 3 months i got 90% back. then 10 months later it happened again first the painthen within 24 hrs complete severest palsy to the left side. this is very uncommon i was 24 when first palsy set in.with in months i was diagnosed with arthritis i was sick alot always getting innfection from my students . my health went down fast.so many joints in pain i was diagnosed with planta fisitis, arthritis, carpel tunnel,trigemineal neralgea, poly neropathy,and hyper tension all by the age 26.this has been 10 yrs now i'm still battleing pain all over aches and never feel well.i do not have ins. so i dont get to the doctors but is there anyone who has similur issues? i also have lumps inn feet,arm and hips.

[Lcagee]

Did you ever get the lumps diagnosed?

[Paulypee]

Well I know that my friend did have chicken pox when she was younger.  She had a few things going on with her such as... inflammation of the cartilage, postular hypotension (drop of BP when standing or sitting) and the Bell's Palsy.  She went to have a checkup and did the STD tests and she came back positive for HSV I and II.  When I asked the Docs they dont have a clue if these neurological problems can cause a false reading. It seems like no one knows.

[eshenry]

It is thought that Bells Palsy can be related to Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

[patsy10]

So if your friend ever had herpes..... a cold sore-herpex simples type 1, or type 2 herpes-genital, or herpes zoster-chicken pox then the igg would be positive for past infection depending on which herpes was checked for.  Does that make sense?   I've seen people get Bell's palsy from a recent cold sore on or around the mouth.  I would definitely get checked for  lyme disease as well.

[Paulypee]

It was positive.

[patsy10]

Was the false reading negative or positive?  Almost everyone has a positive Igg for herpes which means exposure or past infection.  IGM is current infection.  

[patsy10]

I don't know about causing a false reading but lyme disease often causes Bell's palsy.