Bristol Palin reflects on trying to look normal after facial paralysis: 'Maybe it's a sign'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Bristol Palin has opened up on her battle with facial paralysis, revealing the unexpected and distressing condition that left her struggling with movement on one side of her face.
Despite the initial shock, Palin has managed to maintain a positive outlook, even injecting humor into her situation.
In a lighthearted Instagram Story post on February 4, she quipped, "If I just keep my mouth shut, I look pretty normal, lol. Maybe it’s a sign."
Bristol Palin's facial paralysis diagnosis
Bristol Palin shared her journey through a series of Instagram Story updates, detailing how she woke up with an unusual sensation that quickly progressed to full paralysis.
She recalled the moment she realized something was wrong, explaining that it started with a "weird little sensation" in her face.
Within hours, the entire left side of her face became numb and paralyzed.
"I couldn’t really blink my eye, definitely had no movement on the side of my face," she shared.
Bristol Palin seeks medical answers
Concerned about the rapid progression of symptoms, Bristol Palin sought medical attention immediately.
Doctors conducted a CT scan and ran various tests to determine the cause, but the results were inconclusive.
Medical professionals suggested that she may be experiencing Bell’s palsy, a temporary condition causing sudden weakness in facial muscles.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is often linked to stress, lack of sleep, or viral infections.
Despite not feeling particularly stressed prior to the diagnosis, Palin admitted that it might have played a role.
"There’s nothing that I was super stressed out about, but I think it was brought on by stress," she said.
Bristol Palin's hope in recovery
Palin also provided an update on her progress, revealing that she has started to regain sensation in her face.
"This is such an improvement from what I was looking like," she said, adding that she has been experiencing some pain in recent days—an encouraging sign that her condition is improving.
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"Praise the Lord," the 34-year-old daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin remarked with relief.
Bristol Palin is exploring alternative treatments
In addition to traditional medical care, Bristol Palin has turned to alternative medicine to aid her recovery.
She emphasized the benefits of Eastern medicine, particularly acupuncture, which she credited for significantly speeding up her healing process.
"If you know anyone that has any of these symptoms, I would highly suggest going more of the Eastern medicine route as well," she advised.
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"I’ve been getting acupuncture multiple times, and that’s helped tremendously," she added, according to Us Weekly.
