Well, it’s
been several weeks since I was ‘Struck’ with Bell’s palsy, and I’m glad to be
reporting that after the initial shock, and horror or the situation I found
myself in, Things have really started to show amazing signs of improvement. I
have started to feel movement in my eyebrow, nose and lips, I’ve been almost
able to drink out of cups, or wine glasses without the use of a straw. Eating
isn’t a depressing affair in which I bite my lips, chew the inside of my mouth,
or simply choke on the food..It’s even started to taste normal again.
I’ve still
got to tape my eye closed at night! And blinking isn’t a full affair at
present, but these steps, I think are quite substantial in the road to
recovery.
I decided
to face this affliction head on and take all and every advice I was given, and
work hard on it. (The thought of having to defer for a year due to illness was
something I wasn’t, and still not prepared to do..) I’ve had to defer my
driving test until September, which was a cause of bitter disappointment to me.
My left eye was constantly watering, so reading was almost impossible, never
mind driving. But I had to face the reality that not only would I have been
facing my driving test with an unfair disadvantage, it would have also been
quite dangerous, to myself, my instructor and the general public. I took advice
on dietary supplements (something I have to be careful with, as I’m on quite hard-core
medication for HIV.) embraced Acupuncture, Tai Chi, and a general slowing down,
and a ‘mindfulness’ of the new reality I found myself in.
I have
faced the reality of having to slow down, and embracing this new reality. For
the last month I have been unable to even read, never mind look at the next
double modules I am facing in the next academic year. So I have spent the month
enjoying the summer, taking time and watching the season, the sea and everyone
about me..I had to avoid the Brighton Pride as I was being affected by loud
noise, and as my vision wasn’t great I had a tendency to stumble and fall over!
A few days
ago the first set of Module books arrived. (This is always an exciting time.
Most OU students I’m sure would agree with me here!) And this has coincided with
a huge leap in my recovery, so I resumed the pre reading that I had set myself
for the course, and I’m glad to say that it all seems to be going in the right
direction.
This whole experience
has taught some very valuable lessons, and although I’m aware it isn’t over
yet, was quite a scary experience, as well as terribly depressing. I know that ‘things
could have been so much worse’ (my fears were that I was having a stroke!) and
the month of not being able to talk, has facilitated a new understanding of
listening, being grateful for the power of speech, something that we all take
for granted, so when one is faced with the reality of not being able to speak,
it comes as quite a shock..I often found myself going to bed early rather than
engage in conversation as it was so tiring and depressing! (It’s still not
right, but at least I no longer slur my words..although people still look at me
strangely!) Health is a thing we all take for granted. And only when we are
taken ill do we truly realise how lucky we are to be in good health. I as much
as anyone, maybe more than others due to my HIV status am aware of this, I am
now in my 4th Year being positive, and soon will be joining the
ranks of the ‘Long term survivors’…consider that less than ten years ago HIV
survival rates were statistically lower, and the prognosis wasn’t very good at
all.
I’m still looking
forward to my final year of studies this year, Double bubble is still a bit
intimidating, but having seen this illness off, I’m now feeling confident again
and I am reasserting my drive, and have even started to think about post-grad
options. The excitement is back, with the thrill of learning, positive thoughts
and mind. So now it’s time to get my head down, work on recovering fully, and
facing down those TMA’s!
Making improvement..
Well, it’s been several weeks since I was ‘Struck’ with Bell’s palsy, and I’m glad to be reporting that after the initial shock, and horror or the situation I found myself in, Things have really started to show amazing signs of improvement. I have started to feel movement in my eyebrow, nose and lips, I’ve been almost able to drink out of cups, or wine glasses without the use of a straw. Eating isn’t a depressing affair in which I bite my lips, chew the inside of my mouth, or simply choke on the food..It’s even started to taste normal again.
I’ve still got to tape my eye closed at night! And blinking isn’t a full affair at present, but these steps, I think are quite substantial in the road to recovery.
I decided to face this affliction head on and take all and every advice I was given, and work hard on it. (The thought of having to defer for a year due to illness was something I wasn’t, and still not prepared to do..) I’ve had to defer my driving test until September, which was a cause of bitter disappointment to me. My left eye was constantly watering, so reading was almost impossible, never mind driving. But I had to face the reality that not only would I have been facing my driving test with an unfair disadvantage, it would have also been quite dangerous, to myself, my instructor and the general public. I took advice on dietary supplements (something I have to be careful with, as I’m on quite hard-core medication for HIV.) embraced Acupuncture, Tai Chi, and a general slowing down, and a ‘mindfulness’ of the new reality I found myself in.
I have faced the reality of having to slow down, and embracing this new reality. For the last month I have been unable to even read, never mind look at the next double modules I am facing in the next academic year. So I have spent the month enjoying the summer, taking time and watching the season, the sea and everyone about me..I had to avoid the Brighton Pride as I was being affected by loud noise, and as my vision wasn’t great I had a tendency to stumble and fall over!
A few days ago the first set of Module books arrived. (This is always an exciting time. Most OU students I’m sure would agree with me here!) And this has coincided with a huge leap in my recovery, so I resumed the pre reading that I had set myself for the course, and I’m glad to say that it all seems to be going in the right direction.
This whole experience has taught some very valuable lessons, and although I’m aware it isn’t over yet, was quite a scary experience, as well as terribly depressing. I know that ‘things could have been so much worse’ (my fears were that I was having a stroke!) and the month of not being able to talk, has facilitated a new understanding of listening, being grateful for the power of speech, something that we all take for granted, so when one is faced with the reality of not being able to speak, it comes as quite a shock..I often found myself going to bed early rather than engage in conversation as it was so tiring and depressing! (It’s still not right, but at least I no longer slur my words..although people still look at me strangely!) Health is a thing we all take for granted. And only when we are taken ill do we truly realise how lucky we are to be in good health. I as much as anyone, maybe more than others due to my HIV status am aware of this, I am now in my 4th Year being positive, and soon will be joining the ranks of the ‘Long term survivors’…consider that less than ten years ago HIV survival rates were statistically lower, and the prognosis wasn’t very good at all.
I’m still looking forward to my final year of studies this year, Double bubble is still a bit intimidating, but having seen this illness off, I’m now feeling confident again and I am reasserting my drive, and have even started to think about post-grad options. The excitement is back, with the thrill of learning, positive thoughts and mind. So now it’s time to get my head down, work on recovering fully, and facing down those TMA’s!