Just received this from an unknown reader. Just goes to show how the onset of Bell’s palsy might be subtle and patient’s frequently think they may be having a stroke.

Personal Regards,

Nitin Sethi, MD

A patient’s story follows…..

well i am on my first full day and my storie goes like this.
starting yesterday at about 7:30 am I started to learn a new appreciation for life. It all started on Saturday night I felt a sinus headache coming on and later a pain in the left side of my neck & ear. I then proceeded to get a few Excedrin and a cup of hot coffee. I had a great time at a Halloween party that night woke up on Sunday felt fine other than a little sinus pressure. So I proceeded to take some Tylenol multi symptom sinus medicine which I rarely take because I hate man made drugs! Went to bed woke up Monday and felt some pressure in my left side of my face, had some breakfast, kissed the wife and kids goodbye and was off to my hour drive down to West Palm Beach. Got to work and felt a little sleepy, I ended up sleeping for like the first hour at work. Then sally called me up to the front office for something and when I got there she said “what is wrong with your face” of course I laughed and said “nothing more than normal why is it killing you LOL” she said
no your left eye looks weird and your face looks swollen . Well to cut it shout I was having a severe allergic reaction to the Tylenol multi-symptom medicine. So I called the doc and they said to take some Benadryl, so I did. Shortly after I noticed I started to have a numbing in my left side of my face. I could not close my left eye by its self and when I took a drink of water it streamed down the left side of my face. I went to the mirror to find that the left side of my face was droopy and is seemed to be paralyzed. I was freaking out by now of course thinking I was having a stroke. I went to the doctor and found out that between a pinched nerve in my neck that was a result of a dislocating rib under my shoulder blade and a Sinus infection I had damaged my 7th cranial nerve resulting in a condition called Bell’s palsy.