Five weks post-op--wow! Two more weeks and I'll be going back to work. Since I last wrote, I have been making good progress. I've been cooking at least twice a week now and was able to clean my whole house. I am walking at about two-thirds my normal pace and although I get off-balance less often I zig-zag a lot still. I was finally brave enough to put the telepone receiver up to my right ear and sure enough I could not hear a thing. That was a bit depressing, but I'm alive and otherwise healthy so I will work with that. My facial paralysis is gone and my eye is blinking an closing normally.
I still have some "opportunites" for improvement: my taste buds are still off --- I keep trying different things to see what I can taste. So far fruit, cooked soft vegetables, chicken wings , spicy shrimp, pasta and rice work well. The right side of my face is still numb. It is hard to swallow things like thick bread/buns and thick meats so I avoid those for now. We have two alarm clocks and I can't tell which one is ringing --- it sounds like mine when it is actaully my husbands. Sleeping on my back is the best placement right now since my the right side of my head is still numb and a little sore and if I lay on my left side, I cannot hear. I believe most of these irritants will improve over time.
My goals for the coming week are to resume walking my normal path outdoors -- including the hills. I know I won't start at my normal pace, but my goal is to complete the three mile path first and then the four mile path. We'll see how it goes.
I wish you all well and thanks again for your support!
Bridget
