Bell's Palsy and Unexplained Fatigue

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi i have had bells palsy twice now the last bout was a few weeks ago but for a few months i have been suffering with extreme tiredness i can sleep up to 15 hours a night and still feel the need to have a nap during the next day.this is affecting my life. i have heard i could have a vitamin b12 defficiency as this helps with fatigue and also the nervous system (bells palsy) would b12 jabs from my doctor be a good solution for me??

First of all, I will answer your question regarding Bell’s palsy. It is the most common facial paralysis affecting the facial nerve. It has been speculated that it is caused by Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but it has not been proven yet. The treatment for Bell’s palsy consists of antivirals and steroids. Vitamin B12 (and Vitamin B6) can help improve symptoms of Bell’s palsy. Regarding the Vitamin B12 deficiency, I think it is best to check your Vitamin B12 blood levels first before having Vitamin B12 injections. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin. It means the human body cannot make Vitamin B12; it has to be ingested – the source being animal products and dairy. This is the reason why strict vegetarians can develop Vitamin B12 deficiency over time. It is true that Vitamin B12 deficiency can present as fatigue, but I would also suggest to have your thyroid hormones checked as hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) can also cause fatigue and hypersomnia (increased sleepiness). I also suggest to discuss options with your doctor first before doing any tests. I hope this helps.