My name is Megan. I’m a 48-year-old mother. Prior to the COVID vaccination I was working full time as a teacher, exercising three times a week and committed to various activities. I was living my best life. I had no health issues whatsoever, other than a cold here and there, just like everyone else.
I got the vaccine because I was strongly encouraged by family and work colleagues. I was more or less being told that this was the right thing to do. This gave me a false sense of security, that it was ‘for the greater good’ and that it was ‘safe and effective’.
I got the Pfizer vaccination on August 11th 2021. I felt nothing immediately except for pain at the site of jab. However, four days later I was at the gym and my instructor suddenly pointed out something didn’t look right in my face. I went and looked in the mirror and noticed the left side of my face was drooping. I was frightened and had no idea what was going on. I went home immediately.
My husband was home and I showed him my face. He thought I was having a stroke, so I went to emergency. On arrival, I presented my symptoms and after waiting a few hours, I was seen by a doctor who performed a physical examination. In the discharge summary he stated that I couldn’t close one eye fully, that I had difficulty chewing, a left side facial droop, weakness affecting all branches of facial nerve, including my forehead. It was also stated that I had had the Pfizer vaccine four days earlier and that I had no previous medical history.
He prescribed prednisone and eye drops because of my leaking eye and said that I would make a full recovery. I went home, followed directions and saw my GP roughly two weeks later. During this time, I was experiencing severe debilitating migraines through the back of my head and down my neck. My face was extremely sensitive to touch. It felt like blunt force trauma to my head and face. The steroids were causing me depression, I couldn’t taste anything and my hearing was oversensitive. I was dribbling on the drooping side of my mouth and because my eye wouldn’t close, it was constantly leaking. I also had slurred speech which made teaching difficult. Eventually I had to take some time off work.
On presenting my symptoms to my GP, she diagnosed me with Bell’s Palsy. My doctor knew that this was a vaccine injury after she had done her own research and examination of me. It was obvious to her, but because it was the early stages of Bell’s Palsy, there was not a lot she could do. It’s considered to be a ‘watch and act’ because it’s supposed to be a temporary condition. She wrote down that I had developed Bell’s Palsy following the first Pfizer vaccine.
My symptoms progressively got worse over the next several months. I ended up in hospital again due to the extreme pain I was experiencing. The doctors prescribed amitriptyline for nerve damage pain. I didn’t take it because it’s an anti-depressant and it doesn’t always work. I was afraid of the side effects and so sorted out natural ways to heal myself instead. I tried acupuncture, a little bit off physio and herbs, which have given me some relief, but not a lot. The pain is still there every day. I have had migraines and brain fog every day for over a year now. However, I have managed to physically balance my face out a bit more. I would be considered a third stage Bell’s Palsy as opposed to stage one, which is the worst.
Currently I’m left with involuntary facial spasms, twitches and tics. I’m always fatigued due to the pulling on my face. It’s physically draining, because one side of my face is always working much harder. I have an appointment coming up with a neurologist, who can either give me botox or nerve transfer surgery, which I will not be doing.
Because I’m down to casual hours now, I had my doctor fill in a form. She stated that there was no way to know how long this will go on for. I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel yet and with my continuous treatments, my financials are suffering. One thing I have managed to turn into a positive is that I have started a Facebook group dedicated to people suffering from Bell’s Palsy induced by the COVID vaccine. It’s fairly new, but I already have a number of people who have joined. They are dealing with the same circumstances. The most common thing I have heard thus far is that with most people, it started exactly four days after their jab. The group is called Bell’s Palsy Adverse Reaction Group. If you are experiencing this, you are not alone.
OMG ! This is me ! I was also told that my bell’s pausie had nothing to do with my Covid vaccine and yes it started three four days after my shot. Even now the doctors tell me it has nothing to do with my vaccination. It’s been over a year and although I have gotten better, I still dribble and my eye waters constantly. I hate going out as people think I have had a stroke. Thank you so much for sharing your story xxx I live in a small country town and don’t hear about things.