Not great update

I've had plenty people say they've checked the blog and not seen much and wonder.

Well, I'm bad, sorry.

My update isn't actually as good as some.   The swelling/fullness/puffiness in the entire side of my surgery side is REALLY getting to me.   Enough that I've scheduled an appointment with the neurotologist.   Seems like it is getting worse everyday and it worries me because of the additional swelling I had in my brain after surgery, plus they were thinking I had a mastoid infection...possibly, and it almost feels like the facial paralysis is coming back.  Just odd.       Yeah, I'm only 9 weeks out, but I have found all these symptoms started getting worse after all the steroids, pain meds, and the antibiotic I was on all wore off.    

When it comes to the brain, and all those nerves that these surgeries can effect, etc. it does worry me more.   I literally get an actual swelling that runs down the side of my face from my cheek bone to up above my ear and a ways into the middle of the incision area.  It is about 2" thick in width when it does it.   It throws my speech off some at that time too, and increases the fullness and pressure in my head.   Makes my ear inside painful.     I have been told I'd take longer for healing, but I've been doing nothing to overdo it, etc.  

Good news is the only time I really notice the tinnitus is when that swelling/fullness hits it tends to get high.  Sometimes I notice a little when it is totally quiet.      Still doing rehab for my neck and back and that helps greatly.   I don't use prescription pain meds for weeks now and usually o.k. with over the counter if needed (no med helps with the fullness/pressure/swelling pain though).    Rehab also helped my balance a lot too.   That does go off though with those other symptoms too.   

Mentally not always in the greatest place.  I honestly thought I was gonna be one of those surgeries that worked out just fine and had my hearing, etc.   WRONG, way off.   Oh well, dealing with it as I can.  

I think Trenton is having the hardest time with it because he wants me back volunteering at school.   I told him I'm not used to the deafness on one side yet, and those other symptoms hit witout warning, so not a good idea.   It's hard enough being around more than one person, I can't understand what's being said, etc.  Plus if the noises get too loud it makes me sick feeling.

As for driving, thanks to the darling snow and the fact I'm not a good winter driver AND these symptoms flaring whenever, I haven't even attempted it.   That is working out o.k. though, things work out just fine.

Hopefully that gives a few updates.    

Thanks for thinking of me and the continuing prayers, etc.
Denise