NNUH yesterday afternoon.
"I really feel sorry for you, you have been unlucky twice" said my surgeon Mr Prinsley referring to the removal of my lower left jaw and cheek in order to remove a cancerous tumour and the loss of hearing in my right ear following my mastoidectomy.
"Thank you" I replied "I'll admit I do sometimes think of my head as being like a rotten apple having you cutting out the bad bits here and there" I joked.
It was comforting to know that he cared.
"Your right ear" he continued "is what we refer to as a 'dead ear' (nice). The disease from the cholesteatoma that we removed damaged not only your hearing but also those parts of your inner ear that manage your balance. In your case balance is therefore managed mostly by your left side. So your current problem is more likely to do with the recent infection affecting your left ear and the balance mechanism"
No wonder then that I have been so wretched with this infection - I only have half the normal balance equipment I should have and the bits I have got left have been buggered up with infection.
We turned the conversation to recovery. He commended me on my changes in diet to tackle this infection and help to fight off other potential lurgies and he assured me that I would get back to (near) normal but couldn't say how long it would take.
"Is there anything else I can do?" I asked. "Do as much as you can within reason this will retrain the brain and left side balance mechanism" he replied "and eyesight has big impact on balance so (and my dogs are going to love this) spend time walking outside looking at the horizon" - Fortunately there's plenty of horizon in North Norfolk.
So reflecting on my hospital visit while I sat in the rush hour traffic on the way home three things came to mind. 1) I have spent enough time in and out of hospitals over the past four years (I could probably get a first class honours degree in human biology) 2) I will recover and not to forget that there are people worse off than me and 3) . . . How bloody lucky we are to have the NHS.
Onward and upward.
Here is today's (bargain) painting:
Tulips in a White Milk Jug
Oil on Linen Panel
8" x 6"
SOLD
and framed it looks like this (and measures about 11" x 9"):
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