Bell's Palsy

well, it has a name, Bell's Palsy is what i suffer from since my surgery, all the previous information i gave is still correct, but it now has a name. For those of you too lazy to research what you don't know i will enclose some pics of me and my condition. It is temparary, so i am not at all freaked by it. I am going to tell you i never want to experiance it again. I am going to have a long talk with my surgeon about this, if my risk of haveing it again is pretty good, then i will most likely not have my second CI done. I will stay with the one and use a HA until it no longer works. Well on to the pics Hope you enjoy them.

In The first pic is of me trying to smile, as you can see only half of my face works for this, my five year old thinks its hillarious; Which is good cause i don't want them to be scared of me cause of it. The second pic is of me trying to open my mouth all the way, my jaw is fully xtended on both sides but the lips are not moving with it. This makes it really hard to eat. The third pic is of me trying to close both eyes really tight, obviously i failed at it, i can close my eye just i have to do it lightly like when trying to sleep. and the final pic is of me letting you see my scar again, after 2 weeks it looks a little better, huh. well thats it for now, and just remember the next time you want to make fun of some one for looking funny due to a disease, it could be you that looks that way.

Problem Update

OK, got back from the doctors office. I have right side facial weakness, also a type of paralysis. My entire right face is numba nd paralized. I can barely smile, i am unable to flare my nostrol and i can only close my eye enough to actually sleep. Apparently it is some type of virus that was irrtated when i had surgery. The way it was explained was, its kinda like a chicken pox virus, one of those things that once you have it it never goes away. You imune system keeps it in check all the time, but when you have surgery, or some type of injury to the area of nerves where it lies dormate, then it can be reactivated so to speak. I have some virus in my facial nerves apparently that got pissed off when i got my CI. Now my face is paralized. Thankfully this is only temparary. My doc was kind enough to meet me at his office, when they are normally closed and he could have taken the easy way and said go to the ER, i will consult with them, but he didn't. I thought that was pretty cool. well other than less feeling in my face, which......oh you guys probably want to know how long huh? well he said anywhere from a couple days to a month or so. Well thats it for now, so i say in the most parlytical way so long.

Problem

well today started out with some events, I was having problems with my right side of face being limited with movement due to swelling. This morning my wife called the doc and he told me to meet him at his office, so i will be leaving to do that. He think it has to due with the swelling pinching a nerve or two and causeing my face to "fall asleep". I can still move my jaw, but the cheeks and lips and eye lids can't move much. my eye lid moves just enough to close lightly. My face is not numb so to speak, i can still feel everything all over my face. So the doc will decide if i have to be admitted or if i have to just go on steroids for this. Well its time to go face the doc! peace, and no i am not having a stoke people.!

new days ahead

well, to day was a bit of a diffreent day, went out with wife, kids were actually good and enjoyable, not over active and annoying. but as far as recovery goes i am feeling better and today was deffinetly an improvment, less pain and it lasted less time wise than the previous days. so that is good. well other than that thats about it for the day. so for now peace out!

doc visit

Well, i went into my docs today just to get my HA fixed, and ended up seeing my surgeon as well. I was almost out of the narcotics he gave me and wanted to see if i could get more. He looked over everything and said everything was in good shape, no blood pooled anywhere, no uneccessary swelling. everything was normal. He asked if i had been walking, and i said no not much trying to take it easy. he yelled at me and said he wants me to walk alot, i don't think it is cause of my sergery but more cause of my weight. but oh well, i need to do it any way. I got put on a different pain med regimen and started that today, he believes he can get me better quicker on it than on vicodin. well, other than that, my audi is chekcing on my cochlear equipment and i have to wait one more week before i see the doc again, and can get clearance to work. I hope i can it is driving me nuts having nothing to do. Well i guess its time for me to sign off and get some rest again. so until next time remember: being out of work makes you yearn for it, but once you get back you wish you didn't.

48 hours out

well after 48 hours of surgery being over, i have come to realize, not much has happened but the passing of 48 hours. My head is still swollen, and i am still unable to lift anything, but on the bright side i have gotten better at Guitar Hero 3. I neglected to travel anywhere today as yesterday really drained me, tomorrow i think i may try to go to the park with my wife and kids, see how works out. dunno know really gonna have to play it by ear. It stormed pretty good today which helped relax me and allow me to get some sleep. Well, i can only sit, lay and some time rollover, i kinda feel like a dog. lol. I wonder how long the swelling last for, cause it is getting on my nerves. i know its only been 2 days but how would you feel if your head was half swollen for two days? well i should go lay down know, maybe i will get a bacon flavored snack if i do?

The unvieling

The first pic is after the cup thingy was removed, the second is of the scar behind my ear.

OK, well today entitled a little traveling even though i am sure my doc would probably yell at me for it, but i was going insane. Their is so much to do at my house and i can't lift anything for now. so i had my wife drive me to work so i could give them an update, they practically threatened to fire me for coming up there when i should have been resting. well the next stop was to game stop, where i picked mme up some guitar hero III. been playing that and relaxing today. Then it came time to remove the bandage and let it get some air. it came off with no problem what so ever. and i continued with my game while my wife made dinner. My mom sat with me while my wife went to the store, as removing the tight bandage left me a bit light headed and dizzy. Well, i have put the bandage back on and am about to sleep. but before i let you go remember: just cause you place plastic bags over cast to keep them dry during showers doesn't mean this idea works on heads.

The Surgery in detail

The day began at about 10:30, upon arrival, i checked in with registration and was given paper work to take with me to pre op. As i arrived into pre op there were a few others waiting as well. I handed my paper work to the nurse at the desk and sat down with my wife. She read her book, and i listened to my ipod. we waited for what seemed like forever, but was only about 30-40 minutes. Once called back i given a room, where i was told to strip (for free of course). as i put on the butt gown i laid down and listened to my ipod some more. I think it drove my wife nuts that i wasn't giving her much attention, but i was about to undergo surgery on my head. Soon the nurse came in and took my BP and HR and then told me i had to get the menegitis vaccine. That was no problem, just a quick pinch in the arm. Here they put on my allergy braclet but spelled on of them wrong. Which was ok since it was a prescribed antibiotic they don't use anymore. At this point i waited, and waited, and waited. My doctor reserved the OR for 12:30 until 2pm. but i guess someone elses surgery took longer than expected or som one was late. cause i was taken to OR prep at about 1:45. From there things went much quicker. The anesethiologist came in and began giving me an IV, as the nurse took my BP again. after he was done the nurse said my BP was way to high along with my heart rate, she wanted to do it again. I told her its cause she did it while i was being stabbed with a friggin needle. of course everything went up. When she took it again it was fine. duh! Next i met the nurse who was gonna be in the OR with me (oddly enought my wife pointed out she was her friends ex wife, small world huh?) They took me into the OR and i attempted to look around and they all thought something was wrong, i had to explain how i have a pshycological need to be aware of as much of my surrounding as i can. its called situational awareness. at this point the trnsfered me to the very uncomfy and very cold cutting table. then gave me a blankt. At this point they strapped me down and told me it was so i don't role off. I was like I ain't moving and i don't plan to wake up either. Doc bartels came in and said HI, i reminded him i wanted a copy of the video he said they were gonna do. He then went to scrub and the anesethiologist took over, he hooked a few things into my then waved Bye bye, i proceed to say "Beam me up scotty!" (don't ask why i just did).

After surgery was over i began to awaken in the recovery room, apparently still intubated, that freaked me out. i remember grunting and kicking for this thing to be removed from my mouth NOW! It was. Upon that i was in and out of it, my wife was there with the nurse. After wards, my told me i was very chatty and shouted out "when can i have sex again!" I don't doubt it cause i know anesethsia makes me very blunt, and uncooth. Apperantly i threw up while in recovering and some of it went into my lungs causing scare, that i may get pnuemonia. They suctioned just about everything out, and sent my to short stay. There they me i was admitted for over night, Idon't think so, get me the doc that ordered that. and they sent for him. I got up almost imeadiatly and walked to the bathroom, but not before telling the male nurse to leave and close the door as the world did not need to see my privates when i uncovered. I did this and they brought me some water and some toiletry products in case. I waited for the doc to come, at about 7pm he arrived and checked me out again and cleared me to go home, after i explained that its normal for me to hack up green stuff from my lungs. With no sounds in my lungs a i breathed got dressed and waited for the, very kind and pretty nurse to discharge me and get me a wheel chair. As she went over the instructions i kindly told her i knew em all, and would not get my head wet for 2 days and then for 2 weeks i had to use cotton balls with vasaline. I told her i would treat it like my cast, just put a plastic bag over my head, as she started to say thats a ggood idea she realized, what i said and corrected herself saying wait thats not a good idea. I laughed. at this point my wife wheeled me out of the hospital and security gave me a ride to our car in the golf cart. On my way out of the hospital another patient and their gardian looked kinda funny at me so proceed to tell them i had a brain transplant and it didn't take. On my way home we stopped for dinner at olive garden and then at walgreens for my prescriptions. then it was home and at home, i basically went to bed.

well thats the detailed account of yesterday. so for now i will sign off until i add more of todays events tonight.

and for a final thought, People should know weird things happen all the time, i just happen to be weird all the time.

It's over

well i had the surgery. I went in at 10:30 and waited until about 2p to get on the or table. everything went well, except after i threw up and apparently some of it got into my lungs, so they had to watch me for some time. They tried admitting me over night but i was like hell you are. After some time the doc came in and cleared me to go home. i was pretty much ready to go all dressed and all. During the discharge instructions they told me not to get it wet, i said ok, i will just put a plastic bag over my head when i shower....the nurse said good idea....wait don't do that! lol it was funny. I am home now and in pain, but taking meds for it. it shold be ok after a while. now i need to get some sleep. i will try to give a more detailed account of the events tomorrow. along with another update.

/when they said i couldn't get my head wet for two days, does that mean i can't have sex?/

Pre OP

well, to day began kinda weird, went to bartels office for my physical check up, they remodeled their ofice so it was kinda crazy. I was used to the same set up for 17 years then all of a sudden its different. Its nice but different. got all my stats taken, and was of to see the doc. He came in looked at my MRI, and said all looks good, except my left ear (to be implanted later) looks like it will be harder to implant than my right. I didn't pay too much attention to it since my right is being done not my left. Well after all was said and done there, The doc told me they will be filming my surgery, for education and teaching purposes. I told him i am ok with that as long as i get a copy of it. Imagine a copy of my CI. how cool! well i then traveld over to pre op and registered, and got all the good info i needed, no food after midnight, blah blah blah! well the cool thing is my surgery is at 12:30pm, and i have to be there by 10:30am. and tomorrow i turn BIONIC. Hehe. I told my kids i was going to the hospital to have them cut my ear open and put a robot in there so i can hear. My youngest said "me too?". i had to laugh. well 11 hours to go and then 28 days before activation. i think i am gonna need some anxiety meds or something cause i don't want to wait 28days! but i gotta, well i need some sleep now or i may be tempted to drink.

remember: jst because a child is an innocent creature, doesn't mean they are innocent!

day 1 of pre op

ok well today went interestingly well. I had to have an MRI on both ears so Dr. Bartels could verify the nerves still worked or what not. Upon getting there i had to wait 2 hours just to get back into the second waiting room. From there things went much faster, kinda.....after removing all metallic objects and my hearing aid i proceeded into the room with MRI machine. They asked if i was claustraphobic and i told them no, i will be fine. Upon putting the helmet type mask on my head i began having shortness of breath, then they crammed my over sized body into this little hole made for five year olds. I wanted out. I told them they best get me to sleep or some kind of open MRI machine. Well they decided on Valium, after the first 30mg of it, they attempted to shove me into the hole again, only thins time the valium hadn't calmed enough. My nerves were even more shot. So another 15mg of valium went in me. Now this HELPED, lol, i was not only sleepy but relaxed more than ever, i closed my eyes as i layed down and tried to sleep. well sleeping wasn't happening but i was relaxed enough they where finally able to get the pics of my head they needed. As i dizzily made my way to the waiting room, i was forced to pace back and forth, to prevent myself from sleeping, while i waited for the CD of my head. Then i went home. That was the longest four hour imaging appointment i have ever had. And tomorrow I go to the doc for more pre op stuff, yeah! well atleast this time they won't be shoving me into a little hole.

Well until tomorrow remember:
Just cause when you where 8 and weighed 100lbs you survived an MRI with no problem, doesn't mean you can do it again in the same size hole at 25 and 300 lbs.

The Beach

OK, Well this has nothing to do with my cochlear, so o speak, but i feel like bloggin so....you should feel like reading! Neways I have one week before my surgery. I am getting aprehensive, I can't wait but on the other had i am currently on vacation enjoying the beach with my kids; So i will wait. I get home from this littel vacation in Madeira Beach on monday, Tuesday i go back to work for one day, but i have to make sure the guy replacing me knows what to do. On wed i have the pre op stuff, i hope that don't take long cause i wtill have to finish building a shower before the 19th. After the 19th i can't lift anything for 2 weeks, then for 2 more weeks it's nothing over 10lbs, then for 2 more weeks it's nothing over 30lbs. then i can finish the shower. so six weeks of wieght restrictions. But until i get back on monday will be trying to enjoy my weekend at the beach. (I hate the beach)! But oh well, my kids enjoy it and i enjoy seeing them have fun. We are staying (thanks to my in laws) at the Sandy Beach Resort across from St. John's pass. It is a nice little resort, but you can smell the canadian left overs from the winter some times. In fact i even ran into one today, and no they didn't have any bacon on them. (I asked). It is interesting being here, i honestly may miss it. but next year i will be able to talk to my cousins, and family better. Now its kinda hard since my HA doesn't help with the loud eccesive noise from kids, or the wind. but the CI is supposed to help. well it is time now to take the kids down for their even swim, if the storms don't get here first. until i meet with you all again remember:

The chance of running into some one you know greatly increases when you are with some one you don't want to be seen with......