Well I have quite a few things to report since my last post. Firstly last night I ate a full size dinner on a dinner plate. I was very pleased with myself because less than a week ago I was still eating a third of a normal portion on a side plate. Last night’s dinner was minced beef, boiled potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli. I know there is still a long way to go with my eating, but it felt like a small step in the right direction.
I have also not been coughing up mucus every morning this week, and I am very pleased about this. They told me at the hospital that this might be one of the permanent side effects. It may still be, but if it’s not going to be every single day then it makes it all the more bearable and manageable.
Then when I woke up this morning I immediately knew something had happened overnight with my ears. I heard the alarm clock for the first time and I could hear taps running and doors closing. The big test was the radio. It sounded very quiet, and muffled with an echo. But I could hear enough to identify the song being played. When I put my hearing aids in I had to turn down the volume. I don’t want to get my hopes up too soon but I am thinking that this might be the beginning of the fluid finally starting to drain from the middle ear.
I can also report that my hair has finally stopped falling out. So I have had a go at blow drying my hair. I am very pleased with the results. It looks so much better and I can cover up where the hair is regrowing at the back. This may sound like a trivial thing but it really lifts the spirits to have hair that doesn’t resemble something the cat dragged in.
The hospital have phoned and my PET scan is arranged for next Tuesday. An advice leaflet has just arrived including the bizarre instruction that I am to avoid horse riding for 24 hours beforehand.
The nurse has also phoned to say the date for replacement of the feeding tube is next Wednesday. I did try for a last minute reprieve by suggesting I could just drink the shakes instead of having them pumped down the tube. I was firmly reminded of what happened last time I was allowed to try this. (I failed miserably and ended up losing half a stone as I’d only have a couple of sips and then throw the rest of it away.)
Lastly I have decided that I do like the beard that my husband is growing! It really suits him and it now feels a lot softer. So I have told him it can stay. He was very pleased about this and was therefore kind enough in return to give in to my constant pleadings to get the electric blanket out. So I am looking forward to going to bed tonight and slipping my feet down into a nice warm bed. I was so cold last night that I had to keep my socks on.
