Facial droop

[Blags]

I am 3 wks post op retro sigmoid and I feel like my mouth is drooping more now than initially after surgery and my eye seems to be blinking slowly which I didn't notice after surgery either. Anyone else have this?

[LakeErie]

I did not experience your exact symptoms, but were you on a course of steroids following your surgery? Sometimes when you stop steroids after a week or two, the nerves react because the steroids had been working to reduce cranial nerve inflammation and swelling.
If that is the case, then post-op symptoms can become more pronounced for a while until the nerves recover. In my case, the complications were voice and throat related, and worsened after ending a course of steroids that started in the hospital and continued after discharge. This has happened in other cases as well that I have read about on other sites.

[Blags]

I was on steroids for two weeks, I have been off them for 11 days. Perhaps that is it. I put in a call to dr bc now my face is numb and I notice that my eye is very slow to blink vs good eye and I can feel it pulling in corner when I do blink. I am hoping this is all normal progression.

[millie]

This is very helpful to me.  I am nine days out of translab.  My last steroid pill was WEdnesday.  My face is still drooping and today I thought it might be a bit stiffer-maybe that is why.  I see the doctor Monday to have the stitches removed from behind the left ear-he will tell me then.  I will post under my site under post op translab Millie October 17th, okay guys?
When I awakenin the a.m.  my  left eye A.n. was on left side) seems to work a bit better.  I can close it better today than two days ago; I am using lots of drops and a cream at night.  I have to remember to force blink it extra but my eyebrow is not raising yet.

[Blags]

Dr put me back on steroids till Monday- after 2dose numbness is better. Also no headache today so I probably still have swelling.

[debraclark]

Blags I am 4 weeks post op retro sigmoid too. I also have the facil droop which got worse after I completed my steriods. When I went back to surgeon to get staples taken out they put me back on steriods for a week. Face got a little bit better, and still is getting better but I still have the problem with my right eye and dribbling sometimes from the side of my mouth when I eat or drink. I just have to be patient. I also get the headache and head pain but I am now in VT Therapy and they are working not only on my balance but my neck and neck muscles from the surgery. They explained to me that is what is causing alot of my pain and head fullness. All the best to all of us in our recovery's.

[Denise S]

YES! I did NOT come out of surgery with any facial paralysis or eye issues.  But, about 2 weeks post op my side of my face started drooping & my eye not blinking & closing right.  My hubby came home from work and said I looked off and soundy slurry, like stroke symptoms.  Talk about FREAK OUT!  Called my dr (3 1/2 hr away) and the out me on high dose steroids cause I was having the swelling/inflammation like mentioned above.....Delayed Facial Paraylsis.   I think it lasted about a month it so, took a bit but eventually most got back to 'close' to normal, except my tears on that side have never worked since.    Odd!

THANKFUL you were able to get ahold of your dr and get on steroids again!!!!  Hopefully it will heal up & go away quickly & completely!!!

Wishing the Best
Denise (MI)

[millie]

Thanks for the info.  I am hoping to see Doctor on Monday for suture removal and see what he says about the droop but Hurricane Sandy may screw me up because I am 70 miles east of NYC on the island.    Hmmm.   In God's hands.
Good night guys Millie

[alabamajane]

Millie,,
Good luck with visit to Dr Monday,,but if you are that close to NYC,,, I doubt you will be able to go to visit,,,, still appears H. Sandy is on her way up there!!and I think I would get off any island before she comes,,,,just my two cents worth of unsolicited info!!
We deal with hurricanes quite a bit down here and a cat 2 if that is still what she is,, is nothing to mess with,,,and the NE quadrant is always the worst winds and tidal flooding,,,,,sending best wishes for you and all in the path of this hurricane! Keep us updated as you can,,, thoughts and prayers,, Jane

[millie]

Thanks Jane-been thru hurricanes before-I even like storms but not this time! 
We are high up but some folks on the street are actually talking about going elsewhere.
We have lots of tall old oaks.  Hmm. 
Doctor's practitioner emailed me to say the stitches could wait a few more days.
Thanks Jane-Mil