Bells Palsy

[dandee43]

I am wondering how many people with Bells Palsy had the flu shot before they got the Bells Palsy. I think that is what brought on my Bells Palsy.
Sue

[FRC23]

If any of you have Bells Palsy after a flu shot, you should be evaluated. Flu shots have been known to cause what looks like Bells Palsy, but is actually a manifestation of cataplexy (random muscle weakness or paralysis which can be widespread or isolated) which happens in narcolepsy, which flu shots have been known to cause. Most recently, the H1N1 vaccine caused a swath of narcolepsy cases. 75% of people with narcolepsy never ever get diagnosed in their lifetime.

I found out I had narcolepsy by bringing my weird bells palsy to the attention of my doctor, who then referred me to a psychiatrist, who then referred me to a sleep center, who diagnosed me. A lot of weird problems I'd had my whole life suddenly made sense.

It doesn't look how you think it looks. Look it up and find out what it actually looks like and manifests as.

[Des_a_rae]

I sure hope it clears up.  I don't want to be negative here but my husband woke up one morning and thought he had had a stroke. He was only 32 at the time and he's 37 now and still has that numbness on his left side of his face.  Dr.'s told us it was from a viral infection. He had started to have an earache the night before but we didn't find an earache odd. So the doctors told him it normally clears up on it's own but in my husbands case it hasn't yet. They said in rare cases where it don't let go on it's own some have to have surgery. Sure it's gotten better, but he still can't smile without that one eye closing. He's really self conscious about it which I would be to.  I just let him know and being honest about it that it doesn't bother me one bit. I loved him before and I love him more now. Again I sure hope it gets better :). Take Care.

[thelittlesister]

My sister is an in the hospital after having a very bad cause of Bell's palsy , cant move both sides of face, throat and tongue swallon, which came on week after having a tetanus shot, is this common?. The doctors are telling here that it could take 6 months for her to get well..

[sbusby]

I had a flu shot after having been sick with a virus (5 days prior), and within 3 days had Bell's Palsy!  I don't think the medical field is upfront at all with this connection.

Sandie in Denver

[leslie55555]

This happened to me!  Had the flu shot and 72 hours later came down with Bells Palsy

[ireneo]

I have a friend who developed Bells Palsy just during her pregnancy but it cleared up after her baby was born. Wikipedia does a nice job of describing Bells Palsy and the causes. Flu shots are not mentioned.