Sunday, July 25, 2010

Lotsa nothing

This is a good report, insofar as there's really nothing much to report. My nose still has some swelling and therefore congestion, but it's much better and improving by the week. My bite is still off (I can't really bite carrots or chewy bread) but again, much better and I'm no longer in pain.

I'm particularly happy to report that I'm beginning to get feeling back on the right side of my lips. I was concerned that the nerve damage was permanent, but I guess that just takes a really long time to heal. It's already been 5 and 1/2 months since the accident on February 15 (hard to believe!), and my lips are still numb. But there is some sensation there, where there hadn't been before.

Happy (and very lucky) me!!

Thank you for all of the support through my recovery. I know it helped!

--K--

Thursday, July 8, 2010

follow-up with the ENT surgeon

Yesterday I went to Boston to follow-up with the ENT surgeon. It was a nice day to visit Boston and an easy trip to and from the T.

This surgeon has been amazing. I never had any bruising. Whereas I had read on the Web that people experienced pain when the packing was taken out, that didn't happen with me. So I wasn't nervous in the least about this appointment and was looking forward to having "crap in my nose" (this is the often-used medical terminology) removed so I could breathe more easily.

The surgeon pulled out some gunk (I'll spare you more detail). He also snipped a few of the stitches that he could reach. I thought they were supposed to dissolve, and maybe they are, but they're not really coming out very quickly. Mucus then gets caught on them and blocks my airways, which is the problem I was having treated in the first place. That being said, I can still breathe a lot better now than before the surgery, stitches notwithstanding.

Anyway, I could breathe a little better after he removed a few of the stitches. I imagine I'll feel better still when the swelling is reduced and the stitches that are farther back fall out (or dissolve or whatever happens to make them go away).

The surgeon said that things were looking good and that I should feel significant improvement in 6+ weeks. So far, everything he's told me has pretty much been on the mark, so I should feel much better on August 18, 2010.

--K--

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Sad news unrelated to the accident

Today we had to say goodbye to Rocky. He was a rescue Shih Tzu that came into my life when he was about 7. I'd never had a dog before. He was a wonderful companion and friend. I think he spent the first part of his life in a crate and very alone, but he spent the second half surrounded by people and love and begging for (and often getting) treats.

Anyway, the poor little guy (now nearly 12) had had chronic heart disease but out of the blue developed severe liver problems. This Monday, he stopped eating and drinking. While I would have preferred to allow him to die at home, in familiar surroundings, the lack of fluid in particular was starting to become clearly uncomfortable if not painful.

So we brought him to our very compassionate vet and said goodbye to him this afternoon. I'm sure he is snagging treats from God as I type this.

--K--