It all started five days after the birth of my first-born in March 2022. I remember having a weird headache on the left-hand side, as though my right eye was funny.
Then on the 6th day, at around 3am, I woke to feed my son. Like normal, I did this whilst eating a cereal bar, only I couldn’t chew. I went to the bathroom to see the right side of my face had dropped. Panicked, I called the maternity ward who told me they couldn’t help and to ring 999.
The ambulance men were brilliant, doing tests to ensure it was not a stroke and explaining to me a little about facial and Bell’s palsy.
At the hospital, I didn’t get much more info, other than it was from my traumatic birth and to take some antibiotics for 10 days then to go see my GP. I kept reading online about exercises etc but none of this was advised to me.
After the 10 days, I went to the doctor, still drooping and still numb to be told it was now just a waiting game and I remember bursting into tears feeling like no one knew how to help. I strongly believe my facial palsy was a big factor into my post-natal depression.
After 6 months, the majority of my muscles were back, apart from the corner of my mouth and some strange twitching and pain around my eye. Returning to the doctor, again, they told me there was nothing they could do and I began to cry. I think this then resulted in my neurology referral. The doctor’s words were, “I’ll refer you but I’m unsure if they will take it”, but luckily they did.
Three months later, I was sent an appointment for neurology. Like the GP, I was unsure they knew much about how to help.
Trying to blow a kiss
When I chewed on my right side, my right eye tried to close. When I was tired, all around my eye twitched. When I blew raspberries on my son or ate on the affected side, my eye involuntarily closed and my eyebrow tensed. I also had random crocodile tears and still the asymmetry around my mouth. I had headaches around my eye after reading or working for a few hours.
The neurologist was a student, with Doctor Google open, reading from his computer screen about facial palsy and synkinesis. He waited for the main neurologist who confirmed the student was right and that there was nothing which could be done. I asked about exercises or vitamins – anything to give me hope or some relief – to be told there was nothing and that it was common for pregnancy/labour palsy to not fully heal.
I was discharged from neurology that day believing that this was it and that it would only get worse. This is when I found Facial Palsy UK and was given some hope. I began to read and research treatment and how unfortunately the NHS is not as aware as one would hope around the condition. I now had hope I could find further support to help with the healing process.
My symptoms were identified as synkinesis in January 2023, a condition in which nerves regrow incorrectly after facial palsy, causing involuntary muscle movements.
The impact on my daily life has been significant:
- I avoid eating in public due to loss of control on one side of my face.
- I feel anxious about having my photo taken.
- I experience daily pain and discomfort.
- My self-esteem has been deeply affected.
- Despite the physical symptoms, one of the most difficult aspects has been the lack of understanding from others. Comments such as “only you can see it” minimise the lived reality of chronic pain, muscle tightness, and anxiety.
Through Facial Palsy UK’s guidance, I learned how to advocate for appropriate care and secure a referral to a specialist.
After a long wait, I was finally seen by a specialist neurologist in October 2025, who began treatment with Botox injections on the affected side. This treatment hasn’t eliminated all my symptoms but it has significantly improved my quality of life. By the time I got the injections I was also suffering from severe headaches and cheek pain. Three years later, the headaches are less frequent and less severe and the cheek pain has reduced. I also have more control over my eye movements.
Although symptoms worsen as I approach my next treatment, receiving care and being heard has restored hope and reassurance that my condition is being managed.
Living with facial palsy and synkinesis has had a profound emotional impact:
- Constant anxiety that it could happen again.
- Feeling the need to control photographs by carefully positioning my face.
- Frustration at the invisibility of chronic pain.
- A sense of isolation due to lack of public understanding.
- Embarrassment and loss of confidence from not being able to control my own facial movements.
I wish more people understood how embarrassing it can be when your face does not respond the way you intend. Everyday actions: eating, smiling and blowing a kiss to my child can trigger involuntary movements that make me feel exposed and self-conscious.
This experience has also influenced major life decisions. The trauma and ongoing nervous system impact contributed to my decision not to have another child, as I cannot risk going through this again.
My experience highlights several important issues:
- The need for better postnatal awareness of facial palsy.
- The importance of early referral to specialists.
- The psychological toll of “invisible” conditions.
- The life-changing impact of patient advocacy organisations.
Facial palsy is not just a temporary physical condition — it can have lasting neurological, emotional, and social consequences. One of the hardest aspects is hearing that my face “isn’t that bad” or that others can’t notice it, when I am battling the pain, discomfort, and loss of control every single day. Comments like these, though often well-intentioned, can feel dismissive and isolating. What may appear minor to others is a constant, lived experience that affects my confidence, my choices, and how I move through the world. Being listened to, receiving appropriate treatment, and finding specialist support transformed my experience from one of fear and helplessness to one of cautious hope.
After first developing Bell’s palsy in March 2022, it took me over three years to find a specialist, so I spent a long time dealing with people not understanding the condition and its lasting effects.
Disclaimer: Please note that views expressed are person’s own and should not be considered a recommendation of particular medical treatments, therapies or surgeries. We would always advise you seek advice from a health professional with experience in facial palsy who can assess your individual needs.