Woman ends up with half her face paralysed after being diagnosed with encephalitis

Having headaches can make your life a living hell. Chronic migraines sometimes stop you from even getting out of bed, let alone go to work or school. While there is no known cure yet, many people have to live with the illness their whole lives. However, it is always necessary to check that your headaches are not a symptom of another illness. A woman from Sussex learned the hard way—here's what happened.

Vicky Chadwick suffered from regular headaches

Vicky Chadwick, a 53-year-old woman from West Sussex, has chosen to share her story in the hope that it can raise awareness, and push more people to visit their GP if they feel something is wrong with their health.

She began having recurring headaches in November 2023, which was often accompanied by dizziness. After falling from her bike that same month, she was taken to the A&E, where doctors ran a CT scan that showed nothing wrong with her brain. Only two days later, her face began to swell, and she lost her ability to speak. After several trips to the hospital, Vicky was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, and she was given medication, which did not work.

Thanks to a lumbar puncture, doctors finally diagnosed her with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which by then had started to infect her brain, causing severe encephalitis. Vicky told the Mirror:

They said it’s very rare, but if they were able to diagnose me properly earlier, it would have helped my prognosis. People don’t understand the symptoms, other doctors were called in to try and diagnose me, I just feel like there needs to be more awareness of this kind of illness.

What is encephalitis?

Encephalitis is a very serious infection of the brain, usually caused by infections such as shingles, but it can also be brought on by insects like mosquitoes or ticks. The illness should always be taken seriously as it can lead to the patient's death. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can seem like those of the flu, like headaches, fever, fatigue, and weakness. However, after a few days, they usually take a turn for the worse, and include a stiff neck, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and the inability to move certain areas of your face and body. So, what should you do if you experience any of these symptoms? Well, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Get medical care right away if you experience any of the more-serious symptoms associated with encephalitis. A bad headache, fever and change in consciousness require urgent care.

Fortunately, Vicky is getting better thanks to her medication, and she is expected to make a full recovery.

Read more:

This man complained of severe headaches, doctors discover 150 insect larvae in his nose

Mother raising awareness about dangers of persistent headaches after her 19-year-old passed away

Woman complained of consistent headaches, what doctors found in her brain was terrifying

Sources used:

Mirror: 'My face is paralysed from an ultra rare infection doctors had never heard of before'

Mayo Clinic: Encephalitis