Well, Campers, life takes some turns. I know that on these pages, I have referred
to life-changing events and today I experienced another. . . But more on that in a minute.
I know I talked about my lymphedema treatment (taping my
neck, massage to manually drain the fluid, and the compression bandage for my
neck overnight). This is something that
will go on for the rest of my natural life as damaged lymph nodes do not come
back. Several nodes were cancerous and
others were fried by radiation. Elaine
has been learning to do the massage and taping so eventually I won’t have to go
to the occupational therapist every week.
She is an angel!!!
But another one of the side effects of the chemo I had and a
possible effect triggered by radiation is hearing loss. Well, to cut to the chase, I am now totally
deaf in my right ear and have had a significant hearing loss in my left
ear. It turns out that hearing, like the
lymph nodes, doesn’t come back.
But, despair not!! Today I went to the ENT and Hearing Center
and got measured up to get a bi-cross hearing system on Thursday. The left (functioning) ear will get a mostly
conventional hearing aid. The right will
get a hearing aid-like device that will pick up the sound that would normally go
into that ear and wirelessly send it to the left ear. Definitely space-age, hi-tech!! Should be pretty cool!!
Other than that, I’m feeling a little better every day. I
don’t wear out as fast and can eat pureed foods when I choose to, though I have
to say my appetite has not been ravenous.
But, it will come around, I’m sure, and I will look back on these days
with a sort of bizarre envy when I begin to pack the pounds back on like there’s
no tomorrow. And you know, no matter how
healthy we are, we’re, none of us, guaranteed any tomorrows. So, eat and drink
up and be happy!!!!!
Peace and Love!!!!!
Joe
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