Problems with Cranial Nerves

[micchaelm700]

My SJS attacks the minor salivary glands in the cheeks. This irritates the cranial nerves causing some paralysis and minor difficulty speaking.

Anyone else experience something like this?

[olmphoto2]

The seventh cranial nerve affects much of the face.  I came down with Bell's Palsy, full paralysis on the left side of my face just shy of three weeks ago.  I think I have had minor attacks before with speaking difficulties included.  I read somewhere that Bell's Palsy can be seen more frequently in auto immune patients like us.  I can't close my eye at all by natural movement, have to tape it shut, use ointments (actually, some progress in that regard finally yesterday).  Yes, I sound like a drunk.  Words with M B F and Ps are fun ones!  Saliva and tear production decrease or cease with Bell's. Very bad for us Sjogies.  [Weird thing, true for me:  You might end up being able to hear better on the Bell's effected side as an effected muscle, the Stapedius, naturally  functions to dampen sound levels.]


Here is a Bell's Palsy info site that I found very helpful...

http://www.bellspalsy.ws/

[olmphoto2]

P.S. Reguarding the possibility of Bell's Palsy:  Many people experiencing BP don't at first realize that their eye is not closing.  There is a phenomenom with Bell's where the eye ball rolls upward under the upper lid where we attempt to close it normally.  Ask someone with you if you are in fact closing your eye all the way.  Also---are you eye brows particularly uneven when you go to raise them?  This can be a halmark sign of Bell's.

[Billydude]

I've had Bells Palsy myself some years back.   I often to this day have difficulty telling a story or something because I can't find the words and get stuck many times.   Story doesn't tend to flow very well when that happens.