neurological health issue

[Faith]

Hello everyone,

A week ago I picked up an inflammation of the right eye and a backache, that only effected me at night, when I was lying in my bed and trying to sleep. I bought eye drops and a soothing ointment for my back. While the backache disappeared after a couple of days, the eye infection remained. Since Sunday I recognized a growing paralysis of the right facial muscles. My general practitioner prescribed specific eye drops, which are helpful, and told me, that I would most probably suffer a peripheral facial palsy that seems to be caused by that eye infection. The facial nerve has been effected. It wouldn't be that bad. But who knows? I want to consult a neurologist to be sure. There are a whole lot of possible causes and the diagnosis of my general practitioner might not be that reliable when it comes to neurological issues. He also would prescribe cortisone if I insisted. He thinks, that it might very well self-heal after some time.

I really hope it doesn't get worse or remains that way! The right eye can still be closed but it's already a little difficult to chew or smoke. The muscles have become a little weaker every day. I don't want to end up like Two-Face.

My diet: low-carb-high-fat, no sugar, no dairy products, no gluten. But sometimes I exceed six bread-units by accident. There is also the possibility that there are sometimes hidden gluten- and diary-substances involved (by accident). I haven't perfected my diet yet.

Question is: Since there are so many possible side effects, should I use cortisone? Is there anyone who has experiences with cortisone, with that peripheral (or central) facial palsy or with neurologists?

 

[Horseofadifferentcolor]

I'm not sure if this will help or not. I read somewhere about someone getting an eye infection and was told to use honey. I have tried this on two of my animals and it worked. Honey is a natural antibiotic. The guy was traveling overseas I think and had tried everything from the doctors and the honey did the trick.

 

[Faith]

Hello Horseofadifferentcolor :)

The eye infection is getting better. The facial palsy is what worries me, since the facial nerve has been effected and this issue has a life of its own. The effection may have caused it. Thank you anyway. I've also heard that honey may be a good household remedy.

EDIT: added a few sentences

 

[Lilou]

Did your doctor think you were coming down with Bell's Palsy? That is what it sounds like. From my research, it seems to be caused by the Herpes Simplex virus, infecting the 7th cranial nerve (facial n.). Standard treatment is steroids, but if you can get Acyclovir 400 mg (an anti-viral), I would take that 5 times a day for 1 month. Also, DMSO 50% applied along the nerve to combat inflammation would be helpful.

Acyclovir is a bit pricey, but after having had Bell's Palsy, I'd sooner take anti-virals than steroids. It is self-limiting, but usually gets worse before it starts to improve and takes 4-6 weeks to mostly resolve. I didn't take steroids and anti-virals were not on the market at that time. It mostly resolved in a month, but I have a bit of weakness on the affected side.

It usually starts with a mild ear ache but I suppose it could enter the nervous system thru the eye. Your eye may be feeling odd because you are not completely closing the eye when blinking and sleeping with the eye open. This will cause the cornea to be dry, desiccated and swollen. If it is severe, you may have to tape your eyelid shut at night.

It is a very scary illness to have, but it does improve greatly over time. Good luck. Hope you can source some Acyclovir.

 

[Laura]

Have you read about the neuroprotective effects of the ketogenic diet? Or how being in ketosis can help the body fight off pathogens including viruses? I'd be reading that Ketogenic Diet thread with my good eye if I were in your situation.

 

[Gaby]

The problem of facial paralysis is what Lilou said, if you can't close your eyes it can get damaged. In that case it has to be closed, like having a pirate's patch until it resolves. Standard treatment is cortisone therapy and it starts to resolve it within a few days, but the therapeutic doses entails all the side effects of cortisone therapy.

You could try a non therapeutic dose, something in between a low dose and a standard therapeutic dose as I explained here:

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,28799.msg367264.html#msg367264

It is a protocol from the book Life Without Bread.

But I second the advise here, put some DMSO cream that works very well with viral infections and do the ketogenic diet, it is the one thing that can help you out.

 

[Faith]

Thank you all. Those are valuable advices :)

Yes, Bell's palsy is pretty much like it. The previous eye infection and the fact that even frowning is onesided indicates that diagnosis.

I`ve started to read the ketogentic diet-thread. Like the LWB-thread it is kind of huge. It will take a while to get through. In what ways does it differ from the lutz-diet other than to additionally avoid sugar, lactose (diary products) and gluten, while consuming animal fat and certain vegetable oils? Especially when it comes to ketosis, which I am aiming for, what is the carb-threshold? Until now I thought it would be six bread units. Although I read the book "LWB" I still need more information about the diet parameters and how they effect the body. That's why I'm reading the LWB-thread. I'm not a fast reader, especially when the info is communicated in scientific English.

So Ketosis, small doses of prednisone and the DMSO cream seems reasonable. Acyclovir might also work you say, hmm. Do you think it's possible to cure this disease by ketosis and DMSO alone?

I can still close the eye when I'm going to sleep. When I am blinking, the eye doesn't close completely, but almost. Today I'd say the palsy has not increased. My mother is concerned that it might also be borreliosis. I'm going to call the doctor to tell him that they shall scan my blood sample for any signs of borrelosis, just to be sure.


EDIT: added last sentences

 

[Faith]

On the receipt I already got from the practioner it reads prednisolone (slightly different spelling) 10 mg, 50 pills. Is that a therapeutic dose?

 

[Alana]

Thank you all. Those are valuable advices :)

Yes, Bell's palsy is pretty much like it. The previous eye infection and the fact that even frowning is onesided indicates that diagnosis.

I`ve started to read the ketogentic diet-thread. Like the LWB-thread it is kind of huge. It will take a while to get through. In what ways does it differ from the lutz-diet other than to additionally avoid sugar, lactose and gluten, while consuming animal fat and certain vegetable oils?

NO vegetable oils! Read the entire thread and the studies sited therein. It is not as long as LWB.

Especially when it comes to ketosis, which I am aiming for, what is the carb-threshold? Until now I thought it would be six bread units. Although I read the book "LWB" I still need more information about the diet parameters and how they effect the body. That's why I'm reading the LWB-thread. I'm not a fast reader, especially when the info is communicated in scientific English.

If you want to simplify things, KD can be 0 carbs, moderate protein consumption (25 grams per meal average), and lots and lots of animal fats - no vegetable oils at all! - including daily consumption of bone broth to help with the transition. But you have to understand why you are doing all these, what symptoms you might experience, how to transition smoothly, etc, so do the required reading first. You can stop the vegetable oils right now however, with no adverse effects.

Edit: fixed quotation boxes

 

[Faith]

NO vegetable oils! Read the entire thread and the studies sited therein. It is not as long as LWB.

Maybe I used the wrong term. I meant olive and coconut oil. But of course I'll read it anyway. I'm sure it answers many of my questions.

EDIT: added two sentences

 

[Faith]

You gave me some valuable infos and suggestions to work with. So I think I know what I have to do. Thanks for your help .)

 

[Gaby]

On the receipt I already got from the practioner it reads prednisolone (slightly different spelling) 10 mg, 50 pills. Is that a therapeutic dose?

It is a therapeutic dose, but among the low range.

If you can't close your eye completely while blinking, you ARE already compromising your eye. If it is getting red, it is better to cover it up.

I've met people who took a much higher dose of prednisolone than the one you were prescribed, plus the acyclovir and still never recovered completely from facial paralysis. But you can get a hold of the damage this virus has caused in your nerve's mitochondrial DNA with the ketogenic diet. Know that 6 bread units is still a lot of carbs. Do read the ketogenic thread, you definitely want to get a hold of this. Knowledge protects!!

Viral infections are getting nastier by the minute around all the world.

 

[doublea1535]

A week ago I picked up an inflammation of the right eye and a backache, that only effected me at night, when I was lying in my bed and trying to sleep. I bought eye drops and a soothing ointment for my back. While the backache disappeared after a couple of days, the eye infection remained.

I've met people who took a much higher dose of prednisolone than the one you were prescribed, plus the acyclovir and still never recovered completely from facial paralysis. But you can get a hold of the damage this virus has caused in your nerve's mitochondrial DNA with the ketogenic diet.

Does it matter if it's a viral versus a bacterial infection? I don't see that forget-me-not clarified it was viral. I guess it's typically not known, and in that area of the body assumed to be viral?

 

[Faith]

It's not clear, what it is. I spoke to the doctor by phone and he wants me to go to the neurological outpatient clinic for making an MRT of my head. :/ If I understood him correctly, the blood test showed no signs of an inflammation so far. I'm not sure. I need to ask him again. It scares me a little. It's also getting quite expensive. I try not to imagine all the bad things, that might happen. Those machines and these medical technocrats scare me.

 

[Gawan]

I'm sorry to hear that forget-me-not!

It's not clear, what it is. I spoke to the doctor by phone and he wants me to go to the neurological outpatient clinic for making an MRT of my head. :/ If I understood him correctly, the blood test showed no signs of an inflammation so far. I'm not sure. I need to ask him again. It scares me a little. It's also getting quite expensive. I try not to imagine all the bad things, that might happen. Those machines and these medical technocrats scare me.

What about the health insurance? Or is it something they don't consider important to cover the costs?

Take care and remember pipebreathing from time to time.