Since I last posted, I had a very productive meeting with first of all a specialist in the ENT Department followed by a visit from someone from the speech therapy department.
I was referred by Dr. Cave in view of the fact that my voice has shown signs of strain. The |Consultant put a camera up my nose(charming). The voice box showed a haematoma. This was a cue to send for the dictionary. Haematoma is a collection of blood in the tissues which causes bruising. Apparently this has caused the voice box when I speak to move both side to side and backwards and forwards. The good news is that this condition is likely to heal itself. We had a useful discussion at which having plenty to drink was emphasised. Whilst I can have tea and coffee with caffeine if I want, this shouldn't count towards my daily intake of fluids.
Last Monday I was visited by a speech therapist who announced that she wanted to observe me eating a sandwich. This is not as daft as it sounds. She noted that towrds the end I was struggling to swallow at one go. She is sending me a list of exercises to do and I am due to see her at a Hospital Clinic on 8 June.
Both practioners emphasised that they didn't want me to give up the Radio work. I would add that I found both people were very good at speaking politely in plain language.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Monday, 16 May 2011
One of the things I have tried to avoid this past two years plus is to feel sorry for myself. Let's face it there are loads of people who have problems who can't do anything about them and I have not been in that category.
I mention this because last week I found myself in danger of a bout of self pity. This would be silly as I have to take responsibility for some of what has happened.
Since getting the stronger drug prescriptions the number of acid attacks has fallen but still I could not guarantee trouble free nights. A week ago the alarm bells rang. I woke up in the early hours with a mouthful of bile, heartburn and a throat that felt it had been given a going over with sandpaper. Normally when I have had such attacks I sorted them out by sitting up for an hour and sipping water. This time it didn't work. I found myself coughing violently(again) and feeling cold shivering uncontrollably. Eventually feeling very wobbly and also short of breath I did get some sleep and thankfully we were able to get an appointment with the GP.
The Doctor checked my chest for infections and found none. He reckoned all that had happened was down to the acid, which he explained had gone down the windpipe causing discomfort and coughing. He checked my notes and put antibiotics on my repeat prescription. The idea is that I should keep a supply in the house so that if and when coughing started I wouldn't have to waste time making a Doctor's appointment. He then tackled the question of Gavescon. I had to confess that I tended to take it intermittently depending on if I had indigestion. He echoed others(including Ev) in saying I needed to take it last thing every night. Thus Gavescon was also put on the repeat list.
Since then I have been taking anti biotics and the cough has improved though it has not yet gone. One of the side effects of those pills is diarrhoea as I found to my cost in a public space. All sorts of thoughts go through your mind at this stage. I am 70 this year, is this the start of incontinence etc. I needed to calm down.
Just to add to the jolly state of things I have had a grumbling tooth for a while and in the course of a routine check up the Dentist told me it has to come out and that will happen on 1 June.
Like I said at the top of this entry, it's very easy to get things out of perspective. As for the runs I am reminded of the old saying "it's often difficult to appreciate when the bottom is dropping out of your world when the world is dropping out of your bottom."
Though I was not able for reasons that I hope are clear to take part in the Island walking festival Ev was. She raised some much needed cash for the Island Hospice. Altogether some 11,000 people took part. Despite a lot of negative publicity the Island has a lot going for it.
I end with I hope a nice image. Last Tuesday whilst taking Ev and a friend to catch the ferry it was a beautiful cloudless sky, the Solent looked a lovely shade of blue and there sailing less than a mile off the Pier was the Queen Mary 2 on her way to New York. It was a great sight.
I mention this because last week I found myself in danger of a bout of self pity. This would be silly as I have to take responsibility for some of what has happened.
Since getting the stronger drug prescriptions the number of acid attacks has fallen but still I could not guarantee trouble free nights. A week ago the alarm bells rang. I woke up in the early hours with a mouthful of bile, heartburn and a throat that felt it had been given a going over with sandpaper. Normally when I have had such attacks I sorted them out by sitting up for an hour and sipping water. This time it didn't work. I found myself coughing violently(again) and feeling cold shivering uncontrollably. Eventually feeling very wobbly and also short of breath I did get some sleep and thankfully we were able to get an appointment with the GP.
The Doctor checked my chest for infections and found none. He reckoned all that had happened was down to the acid, which he explained had gone down the windpipe causing discomfort and coughing. He checked my notes and put antibiotics on my repeat prescription. The idea is that I should keep a supply in the house so that if and when coughing started I wouldn't have to waste time making a Doctor's appointment. He then tackled the question of Gavescon. I had to confess that I tended to take it intermittently depending on if I had indigestion. He echoed others(including Ev) in saying I needed to take it last thing every night. Thus Gavescon was also put on the repeat list.
Since then I have been taking anti biotics and the cough has improved though it has not yet gone. One of the side effects of those pills is diarrhoea as I found to my cost in a public space. All sorts of thoughts go through your mind at this stage. I am 70 this year, is this the start of incontinence etc. I needed to calm down.
Just to add to the jolly state of things I have had a grumbling tooth for a while and in the course of a routine check up the Dentist told me it has to come out and that will happen on 1 June.
Like I said at the top of this entry, it's very easy to get things out of perspective. As for the runs I am reminded of the old saying "it's often difficult to appreciate when the bottom is dropping out of your world when the world is dropping out of your bottom."
Though I was not able for reasons that I hope are clear to take part in the Island walking festival Ev was. She raised some much needed cash for the Island Hospice. Altogether some 11,000 people took part. Despite a lot of negative publicity the Island has a lot going for it.
I end with I hope a nice image. Last Tuesday whilst taking Ev and a friend to catch the ferry it was a beautiful cloudless sky, the Solent looked a lovely shade of blue and there sailing less than a mile off the Pier was the Queen Mary 2 on her way to New York. It was a great sight.
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