I can't believe it's been almost two months since I've last posted a 'physical' update...I've had progress, so here it is:
Eye = I don't use AkwaGel anymore. Days that I stay caged up in my little cavern, I barely use any eye drops as well. When I go different places, I always bring them with me and use them generously.
Facial Paralysis = My smile is getting more even, I can actually show teeth on the right side when I smile now! I still think I look pretty weird, but I think when I meet new people, they don't really think anything is messed up. When I laugh it is more obvious that the right side doesn't move as much, but it still improving. I am trying sandwiches again, but I split my lip on Wednesday, but it's happening less and less.
Voice = 100%! I can continue dreaming of making American Idol once again!
Mouth = My mouth is salivating almost equally now, no more food-loss issues(gross I know!). The sour taste is still really stupid, but a smaller issue compared to the rest.
Balance = It's hard to quantify. Sometimes I can go almost all day, and not even really notice anything, and then other days, it's more of a struggle. Certain scenarios affect it big time, like a lack of sleep, darkness, or a busy environment (grocery store, work, etc.). It's more annoying than debilitating I would say. Things like before I could just fly down a flight of stairs, and now I take one step at a time, with a hand on the railing. As my balance improves, so does my confidence in my balance and they go hand-in-hand in taking on new post-surgery obstacles.
Hair = I've had my second post-op hair cut, and both hair stylists get all weird when I tell them about my surgery. They get quiet and awkward almost. Whatever. It's just a ginormous scar on a 25 year old's head, right?
SSD = I am not 100% certain that I'm going to get a BAHA, but I am closer to making that decision. I couldn't hear everything that my little group was talking about at the 5k race this morning. When people in a group laugh, and you're like "huh, what?" is not a fun time. At work, I can usually hear what is said, but people have sat down in a chair on my right side, and scare the heeby jeebeez out of me because I never heard them sit down. Having another surgery sounds like torture right now, and I really don't want to have a titanium post in my head forever, but SSD really does stink. Does it stink bad enough to have another surgery? Hhhhmmmm...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Bridge Run
Mark showed no mercy, winning the 5K time of 26:39, while Luke D. and Dave M. kept the same pace with me and finished in about 27:29. It was an amazing feeling, knowing that 80 days ago I was in the OR getting my tumor removed. I am so grateful. My body felt really good, the worst part was my dry eye. I stopped several times to put drops in my eye; it was a little breezy and that is brutal for my eye. All in all, it was really fun. Except for Luke's shorts. If they were any shorter, he'd have been arrested for indecent exposure.
And because running my first 5k race after surgery isn't a big enough event for one day, I took my bike out for a ride for the first time post-op. I took it to a big vacant parking lot behind my house, and of course, as soon as I get moving a little, a SUV pulls in and drives through to the back and parks. Seriously! I had brain surgery, my balance is still suspect, and a random SUV pulls into an ENTIRELY VACANT parking lot when I first try out riding a bike???!?!!! Whatever. Other than that ridiculousness, I was a little sketchy first starting off. I think it was more due to the fact that I haven't ridden a road bike (harder to balance [due to skinnier tires] than a mountain bike) in many months. I rode around a few times, and then pedaled home. It was awesome. I feel like a 8 year old who rode a bike without training wheels for the first time.
In the non-athletic-news column, my face is continuing to get more movement back. My eye, unfortunately will still not close completely. It seems to be self-moisturizing a little bit, but still gets scratchy after being outside, or in particular air-conditioned environments. I'm still wearing the eye patch at night. My next appointment with Dr. Daniels is on Oct. 1st, and I am thinking he will suggest electric facial nerve therapy (or something, I forget what exactly he called it before).
The sour taste in my mouth is still hanging on, some days are sourer than others. (Did you know 'sourer' was a word? I did not!)
I still have moments where my balance is compromised. I get a little wobbly, especially in crowded areas. I noticed it today at the race. I would strain to hear what someone was saying while walking, and watching out for cars and people, and then stepping up a curb, and all the sudden it was difficult to stay 'steady'. When you stop and really think about what it takes to do something, there is like a billion steps to a seemingly simple task. And when an ability that you never had to concentrate on before is compromised (balance, hearing, and vision for me), well, no wonder why I still enjoy sleeping 12 hours a day.
And because running my first 5k race after surgery isn't a big enough event for one day, I took my bike out for a ride for the first time post-op. I took it to a big vacant parking lot behind my house, and of course, as soon as I get moving a little, a SUV pulls in and drives through to the back and parks. Seriously! I had brain surgery, my balance is still suspect, and a random SUV pulls into an ENTIRELY VACANT parking lot when I first try out riding a bike???!?!!! Whatever. Other than that ridiculousness, I was a little sketchy first starting off. I think it was more due to the fact that I haven't ridden a road bike (harder to balance [due to skinnier tires] than a mountain bike) in many months. I rode around a few times, and then pedaled home. It was awesome. I feel like a 8 year old who rode a bike without training wheels for the first time.
In the non-athletic-news column, my face is continuing to get more movement back. My eye, unfortunately will still not close completely. It seems to be self-moisturizing a little bit, but still gets scratchy after being outside, or in particular air-conditioned environments. I'm still wearing the eye patch at night. My next appointment with Dr. Daniels is on Oct. 1st, and I am thinking he will suggest electric facial nerve therapy (or something, I forget what exactly he called it before).
The sour taste in my mouth is still hanging on, some days are sourer than others. (Did you know 'sourer' was a word? I did not!)
I still have moments where my balance is compromised. I get a little wobbly, especially in crowded areas. I noticed it today at the race. I would strain to hear what someone was saying while walking, and watching out for cars and people, and then stepping up a curb, and all the sudden it was difficult to stay 'steady'. When you stop and really think about what it takes to do something, there is like a billion steps to a seemingly simple task. And when an ability that you never had to concentrate on before is compromised (balance, hearing, and vision for me), well, no wonder why I still enjoy sleeping 12 hours a day.
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