Last weekend 33 year-old former Celebrity Apprentice contestant and PR Guru Roxy Jacenko took to her Instagram account to share that she was suffering from Bell’s Palsy – a mysterious medical condition that affects over .02% of young women globally each year.
Jacenko, who is expecting her second child with banker husband Oliver Curtis this month, posted a headless shot to Instagram with her daughter Pixie (yes, the adorable and successful two-year-old) captioned “Headless shots for the moment — with my buddy @pixiecurtis — bells palsy is something I hadn’t even heard of till now. Let’s hope I shake it soon. Xx”.
Since Roxy posted the picture, a lot of people have been asking – what exactly is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy seems to affect mostly young people of both sexes and according to Better Health Victoria, the disease more likely to affect pregnant women – particularly those who are going into their third trimester or final weeks before their due date.
While nobody knows why Bell’s palsy occurs, it is often referred to as ‘a face stroke’. The disease weakens the muscles on one side of the face, usually due to swollen facial nerves, due to infections or autoimmune responses.
Dr Brian Morton, chair of the counsel of general practice for the Australian Medical Association (AMA) told news.com.au that he believes young people are more ‘susceptible to infection’ due to stress.
Roxy, who in the last year has appeared on Channel Nine’s 2013 Celebrity Apprentice, written her second novel, and launched the career of her two-year old daughter told Mamamia that she is now ‘on the mend and almost back to normal’.
I was very lucky that the steroids reacted swiftly as did the acupuncture and its really very minimal and unnoticeable now – I can see it, but I doubt many other would notice unless I pointed it out. Gives you a fright that’s for sure – I am glad my Mum and Husband phoned for the doctor when they saw it.
Although there is no known cure, Roxy told us that she was treating her Bell ’s palsy with medication and acupuncture.
Call me crazy – and don’t think seeing your face look crooked isn’t confronting but I guess I look at it and whilst it bothered me, I also rationalised it. I mean you look at people with illness such as cancer and you think – well heck, my face is a bit wonky BIG DEAL – it’s not making me sick, it’s not life threatening and with medication and treatments such as acupuncture and Bowen therapy – its FIXABLE.
There are a lot of people around us who this isn’t the case for and they are suffering serious illness which can be terminal – whilst Bell’s Palsy is not pretty it’s just one of those things and you can either sit and feel sorry for yourself, or get on with it!
Editor’s note: While Roxy Jacenko was able to recover quickly from Bell’s Palsy, others are not quite as lucky and live with the illness for many, many years. For those sufferers, “getting on with it” isn’t really an option and our thoughts are with them.
Do you know anybody who has suffered from Bell’s Palsy?
Top Comments
My husband had it about 6 months before our wedding. It was scary and stressful, we had no idea and still have no idea what caused it - even after seeing a neurologist and him being in hospital the week before Christmas 2012.
It took 2 days for me to drag him to the hospital - and lucky I did! We were sent straight in, and hubby was put on steroids. He was off work for a total of 6 - 8 weeks. He couldn't drive, was super sensitive to light (natural, fluorescent lighting, tv, iPad, phone). We didn't really go anywhere for a couple of months as he felt quite uncomfortable. He was unable to eat properly as his tongue and mouth wouldn't work the same, he couldn't close his eye properly so we had to tape it shut at night and use eye drops and cream. He also lost hearing in one ear for a few weeks, which also put his balance off. It also aged his eyes about 10 years, and he had to get glasses, which were not needed before the Bell's attack.
We were told it may come back, it may not - and even now, I can still see the effects that the Bell's had on his face when he is tired or unwell.
My husband had it about 6 months before our wedding. It was scary and stressful, we had no idea and still have no idea what caused it - even after seeing a neurologist and him being in hospital the week before Christmas 2012.
It took 2 days for me to drag him to the hospital - and lucky I did! We were sent straight in, and hubby was put on steroids. He was off work for a total of 6 - 8 weeks. He couldn't drive, was super sensitive to light (natural, fluorescent lighting, tv, iPad, phone). We didn't really go anywhere for a couple of months as he felt quite uncomfortable.
It also aged his eyes about 10 years, and he had to get glasses, which were not needed before the Bell's attack.
We were told it may come back, it may not - and even now, I can still see the effects that the Bell's had on his face when he is tired or unwell.