Bristol Palin Shares Concerning Health Update 23 Days After Facial Paralysis Diagnosis

Bristol Palin has opened up about her ongoing struggle with facial paralysis, sharing an update through Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old reality TV star, originally from Wasilla, Alaska, addressed her fans while sitting in her car, wearing a green sweatshirt, accessorized with gold hoop earrings, and with her hair pulled back.

Last month, Palin revealed that her doctors suspected she had Bell’s palsy, a condition that causes temporary paralysis or weakness in the facial muscles, as all of her medical tests came back inconclusive.

Unfortunately, despite trying various treatments, she admitted that her condition has not seen much improvement as she entered her third week of symptoms.

“We’re on day 23 of this, which is just crazy,” she shared on Wednesday. “I still can’t move the entire left side of my face. It’s really hard to blink. I can’t even blow out a candle. My sisters make fun of me a lot because I look crazy.”

Adjusting to Life with Facial Paralysis

Palin, who is the daughter of former Alaska governor and 2008 vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, detailed the lifestyle changes she has made in an effort to improve her condition.

In her Instagram Story, she said she has been undergoing acupuncture, massage therapy, oxygen chamber treatment, and red light therapy. She has also significantly reduced her consumption of processed foods and caffeine.

“I’ve pretty much cut out most caffeine,” she explained. “I still drink one cup of coffee in the morning, but I’m trying to clean everything up—just trying to be as healthy as possible. Since this started due to stress, I’ve been working on removing anything unnecessary from my routine.”

She added that her main goal now is to reduce stress so she can feel lighter and healthier, preventing further physical reactions like the one she is experiencing.

“I’ve been sleeping really well, sticking to my routine—just doing everything I can to help my body heal.”

Speaking Out About Her Struggles

Although discussing her health battle publicly makes her uncomfortable, Bristol felt it was important to keep her followers updated to avoid any unnecessary speculation.

“I hate talking about stuff like this,” she admitted. “The only reason I want to post about it is so that when people see me in public, they don’t think something crazy happened. At least this way, I have some control over the narrative. But everything is okay.”

She ended her video with a hopeful note, saying, “Praying for a breakthrough or some healing soon.”

Bristol Palin’s Personal Life and Motherhood

Bristol is a mother to three children: son Tripp, 16, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Levi Johnston, 34, and daughters Sailor Grace, 9, and Atlee Bay, 7, from her marriage to ex-husband Dakota Meyer, 36.

In January, Bristol first revealed her condition publicly, stating that her doctors suspected she was suffering from Bell’s palsy after she underwent a series of medical tests due to the sudden onset of symptoms.

“I woke up nine days ago with a strange little sensation on my face—my mouth was pulling [to the left], and it felt just a little off. Within hours, the entire left side of my face was paralyzed and completely frozen.”

She explained that she was unable to blink and had zero movement on one side of her face.

Famous Figures Who Have Faced Bell’s Palsy

Several well-known celebrities have also battled Bell’s palsy, including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, former Bachelorette star Emily Maynard Johnson, and wrestling announcer Jim Ross.

Bristol Palin’s Rise to Fame

Bristol first came into the national spotlight in 2008, when her mother, Sarah Palin, ran for vice president alongside Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

She was just 17 years old and pregnant at the time, a revelation that quickly became a media firestorm. She and Levi Johnston appeared together at the Republican National Convention, where their relationship and pregnancy drew intense public scrutiny.

Despite attempts to maintain their relationship, Bristol and Johnston eventually split after multiple engagements.

Controversy Over Teen Pregnancy Advocacy

In 2009, Bristol took on an advocacy role as a spokesperson for teen pregnancy prevention, signing a $262,500 deal with The Candie’s Foundation.

During an appearance on Good Morning America, she stated, “Abstinence is the only way you can effectively prevent pregnancy 100 percent.”

She added, “It’s the safest choice, and it prevents not only teenage pregnancy but also a lot of heartache.”

However, her role as an abstinence advocate sparked backlash, given that she was a teen mom herself.

Marriage, Divorce, and Personal Struggles

In March 2015, Bristol revealed she was engaged to Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient and former U.S. Marine. However, they called off the engagement before ultimately marrying in 2016. The marriage was short-lived, and Meyer filed for divorce in 2018.

Bristol chronicled many of her personal struggles in her 2011 memoir, Not Afraid of My Life, where she described Levi Johnston as “a mosquito” who “stole her virginity” after she had been drinking alcohol.

During a Good Morning America interview in June 2011, she clarified, “I’m not accusing Levi of date rape or rape. Looking back as an adult, I just think it was a stupid decision. I should never have been drinking underage, and I should never have let myself get into that situation.”

Legal Battles Over Custody and Child Support

In November 2013, Johnston filed for joint custody of Tripp, claiming it was in the child’s best interest, as Bristol had previously been granted full custody.

Bristol responded by alleging Johnston had fallen behind on child support payments, owing a staggering $66,000. She also claimed he had not been actively involved in their son’s life.

Reality TV and Public Image

Beyond politics and personal drama, Bristol has made a name for herself in the entertainment world.

She gained national attention as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars, later starring in her own reality series, Life’s a Tripp, on Lifetime. In 2018, she joined the cast of MTV’s Teen Mom OG, further cementing her place in the reality TV landscape.

Despite the ups and downs, Bristol Palin remains a public figure, navigating personal hardships while continuing to share her journey with her audience