While medical science, our hospital systems and the entire profession is mostly hidden from our pleasant everyday lives, let’s recognize and salute the constant hum of activity, brain power, energy-output and pure love for humankind radiating from cutting edge research projects through to the mopping of crap off of linoleum floors. I say, Hurrah! for each and every person working in this field, many on-call 24/7.
I remember little of the first days after surgery by design. I could hear, quite distinctly, better than before the surgery in spite of the missing right ear, but time meant nothing. There were flashing lights and searing pain but efficient people questioned, poked here and there and took it all away. Pain management has evolved and pinpoints each nuisance. After it’s over the medications keep us from remembering. Can’t beat that!
I knew enough from my daughter's and Mark’s voices that all went okay. My greatest challenge was the knifepoint being thrust through the center of my right eye and I was seeing multiple images. The meds came, I slept. By day three my vision was pretty good. Seems the scar tissue from the Gamma Knife Radiation had worked its way around my optical nerves. I had no apparent facial spasms or paralysis . This is the first time in two years not to have at least a dozen a day.
My family was always with me to be sure nothing went wrong. With so many pressures on hospital staffs it is critical you and your loved ones keep someone with your interests at heart nearby at all times. I pity the people in this world who do not have a super support system.
My transition to life with no right inner ear happened sometime over the next four days with help from the RN specialists. They sat me up. Many patients fall right over, unable to balance. I did great. I did the same once I was able to stand and then walk. Wobbly, yes, but balanced! I was a STAR! Thank you yoga. I hadn’t realized just how pervasive my “spinning” and “dizzy” issues had been but now realize I had compensated for years.
I worked with Physical Therapists, dieticians and pharmacists. The teams of doctors were in and out mornings and evenings along with the professionals assigned to the neurosurgery hospital wing. I did exactly as I was told. The aids, housekeepers, food servers, each and everyone were courteous and caring.
By day six, Monday, I was pretty lucid in spite of my pain cocktails and ready to get some sleep. Hospitals are not places to sleep or rest.; too much noise and too much activity. I passed all the tests required to leave…like pee and poop (big items in the process). I had eaten very little, (anyone who knows me knows I am a champion eater) not that the hospital food was bad, but something happened to my taste buds. Nothing tastes good. I consider that a bonus. I could afford to loose a bit of weight! I would have preferred a spa trip, but this is what was given to me so I’ll take it.
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