Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, recently shared her experience with facial paralysis on Instagram. The 34-year-old woke up nine days prior to her post with a strange sensation in her face, noticing her mouth pulling to one side. Looking in the mirror, she realized something was wrong.
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Palin documented the onset of her paralysis through a series of videos. In one clip, timestamped at 10:30 a.m., she wakes up and observes her face, commenting that everything feels like it’s pulling to the left. Just a few hours later, at 5:00 p.m., the paralysis worsened significantly. She demonstrated the delayed reaction on the left side of her face, describing the entire side as numb and paralyzed.
Over the next few hours, the entire left side of Palin’s face became numb and immobile. She struggled to blink her left eye and had no movement on that side of her face. Palin described the experience as “crazy” and “so bad.” She immediately sought medical attention.
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Doctors ran tests, including a CT scan, but found no underlying cause for the paralysis. They prescribed steroids and other medications, suspecting Bell’s palsy as a possible diagnosis. Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition causing weakness or paralysis in the facial muscles, often attributed to infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, or toxins. Palin’s doctors suggested lack of sleep or stress as potential triggers in her case.
In addition to traditional medical treatment, Palin turned to Eastern medicine for relief. She underwent multiple acupuncture sessions, which she credits with significantly speeding up her recovery process. Palin shared that acupuncture has tremendously helped her regain sensation and movement in her face.
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Palin’s videos documented the progression of her symptoms, including a dry eye due to difficulty blinking and pain in her nose. By day eight, she noticed improvement, regaining some sensation and experiencing pain, which she recognized as a positive sign of healing. She expressed gratitude for the progress, acknowledging the experience as a reminder to be thankful for a normally functioning face. Palin reflected on her tendency to be critical of her appearance, stating that this ordeal has given her a new appreciation for her health. She concluded by expressing gratitude for the improvement and a renewed appreciation for a healthy face.
