Kechika’s Experience of Partial Facial Paralysis, Oedema and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a thing of joy for many women, but it has its own hassles. While some women have it easy, some are not so lucky and for others, it is like they are going through the valley of the shadow of death.

It was really tough for Kechika, a guest on Marcy Dolapo Oni’s YouTube channel, who had partial facial paralysis, Oedema and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome during pregnancy. Thankfully, when her baby came, everything returned to normal.

Kechika started noticing some swellings on her feet in her third trimester,  she went to the hospital and she was told she had Oedema.

According to NHS, Oedema is a build-up of fluid in the body which causes the affected tissue to become swollen and it can happen in any area of your body.

For Kechika, the fluid built up in her legs, she was still managing with oedema when she was hit by partial facial paralysis, which started with a pain behind her neck in her fifth month of pregnancy.

“The following day, Tuesday, my face had just shifted to one side. I couldn’t blink, I couldn’t move my eyebrows and my mouth. If you didn’t know me, you would have thought that I have a deformity,” Kechika said, explaining that she was scared and confused.

Healthline says that facial paralysis is a loss of facial movement due to nerve damage. The facial muscles may appear to sag or become weak and can happen on one or both sides of the face.

Facial paralysis can come on suddenly or happen gradually, and it can also last for a short period or longer.

When Kechika checked up on what was happening to her, she said she realised that she was not supposed to massage the pain she felt behind her neck but her husband had helped her massaged it thoroughly.

Kechika said she had to treat the paralysis with steroids for two to three weeks at the hospital, else, her face could have stayed that way.

Kechika also suffered from Carpal tunnel syndrome, later in her pregnancy.

According to NHS, Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on a nerve in your wrist. It causes tingling, numbness and pain in your hand and fingers. You can often treat it yourself, but it can take months to get better.

“I couldn’t see my wrist bone, I couldn’t move my hand. I had to put a bandage and it hurt so much.”

Thankfully, when her baby came, everything returned to normal.

Will she go through it when she takes in again?