My husband was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy about 2 weeks ago, after an episode of intense ear pain that was initially diagnosed and treated as a severe ear infection. His doctor said his ear canal was so swollen, she couldn't even get the otoscope in his ear.
He has completed his antibiotics for what was presumed to be the ear infection, and has also completed his antivirals and prednisone for the Bells Palsy which developed 3 days later. He had a CT scan in the ER when his symptoms began, which was reportedly negative.
He is slowly improving, so far as the severe pain, the inability to close his eye, and the droopy mouth is concerned.
The problem now is that he is becoming extremely fatigued every day. He starts out the day relatively well, but by the time he comes home at 3 or 4 pm, he is extremely pale and exhausted. Its all he can do to simply fall on the couch and sleep. He is unable to do anything that he enjoys doing. This is absolutely contrary to his normal behavior.
Another odd symptom is that last night, the ear in which he had the original pain has begun draining clear fluid in fairly copious amounts. He continues to complain of mild pain in this ear. The fluid looks clear, but has an odd, almost "menthol" smell to it. No blood or pus. He is not using any product of any kind in the ear.
He has no vertigo at all. No loss of taste or smell.
Are these symptoms (the pallor, extreme fatigue/lethargy, and ear draining) something to be expected when recovering? There is a question if this is Bells palsy or Ramsey-Hunt, but as the treatment seems to be the same, no one is significantly trying to determine which he has.
Thank you.