Overview

• Karina Whyte noticed numbness and a left-sided facial droop about 10 days after giving birth and sought emergency care.
• Hospital assessments ruled out an allergic reaction and stroke, leading to a diagnosis of Bell's palsy.
• She was prescribed a five-day course of steroids and now has slight movement returning, with ongoing issues such as a lisp, drooling, and eye dryness requiring taping at night.
• Whyte says the condition brought two weeks of pain and early isolation as she juggles a newborn and a toddler as a single parent.
• She posted footage of her paralysis on TikTok, drawing more than 100,000 views, as coverage cites NHS Scotland’s guidance on common symptoms and the condition’s typically temporary nature.