Hi, I´m a female patient of 42 years old and I want to say hi to this community.
I have been operated 2 times of Cholesteatoma in my left ear. The first was on December 2005, and the previous symptons were hearing loss (I only heard a strong internal noise) and dizziness. The surgery of my middle ear was successful, although I woke up with facial palsy during just a few hours.
The second one was on December 2015, exactly 10 years after. The previous sympton was a progresive facial paralysis on my left side. Initially I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, but the therapy didn't work and my condition got worse. After many exams, I was diagnosed with a Cholesteatoma in my internal ear, in an unusual area where my facial nerve was being compressed. When I woke up of this surgery, the paralysis was total on my left side. I couldn't close my eye, eat without spilling, smile, speak in a modulated way. My eye was killing me, because it was constantly dazzled and irritated. I couldn´t see normally.
A first neurological prognosis indicated my palsy was permanent, only treatable with cosmetic surgery. But I realized I was slowly getting better. How could be that possible? Look images of my progress here: bit.ly/1WLybJB
I looked for a second opinion, and a new ECM indicated my facial nerve was reinnervating the muscles of my face. Now I have symptons of synkinesis, I have some involuntary movements between the eye and mouth.
I'm still hopeful, I´m doing exercises and facial massages in front the mirror, every day. I know I will never recover a 100%, but any little progress is a gain for me. See some recent images here: bit.ly/1WejDDG
Please write a comment if you had or have a similar disease. Best regards for all of you. 
Hello, thank you for posting about your experiences. Cholesteatoma is a rare cause of facial palsy and this is probably why you haven't had any replies yet. I do know a couple of people who have facial palsy due to this cause. How is your recovery going now? If you have particular questions I could ask the people I know if you like?
Hi Karen, thanks for your reply!
I would like to make contact with those who have suffered a similar illness, and also give a message of hope, because recovery at the beginning seemed so distant and uncertain, which for me was a surprise achieve some improvement. Today I am re-educating my face and have appeared symptoms of synkinesis. I would like to reduce as much as possible the synkinesis and improve the symmetry of my movements. Do you know if I must reduce chewing by the affected side? (to avoid the increase of eye's synkinesis when I move my mouth).
You would need a facial therapist to give you a bespoke exercise plan. Whereabouts are you located?
Hi Karen,
My name is Rob and I have been through hell with a Cholesteatoma all my life. I say all my life I am 57 and was diagnosed when I was 52. Since the first operation which took 8.5 hrs I have another 6hr operation since, my consultant did say it was the worst he had ever dealt with and had been there for many years, I had had 5 operations previously for ear infections and the Cholesteatoma was missed each time.. Only recently my face palsy has developed(literally over night) and is causing problems to my eye and mouth. I am currently having eye surgery, and am about to see a facial surgeon privately to try and lift my mouth, what are your thoughts on this, thank you
Hi Rob, you should be able to access this help via the NHS if you are a UK citizen. If you want more info please email our support team on support@facialpalsy.org.uk or give us a call on 0300 030 9333 and we will do our best to help signpost you.