I have not updated this since leaving hospital well over a month ago now, I would like to say I've been really busy doing lots of really important things, but in between those times that I have been, I've had a fair amount of free time. The first week or two things were still gradually improving slightly each day, fitness improving, not being as sleepy tired and getting a bit more energy about me. I was glad to be out of hospital for my birthday, not that I really done anything for it, but I did go out for a walk with my dad and all the kids, it was a really nice day. A few years back I had said that this school year I would get myself a car, would help with getting last minute calls to sub in different schools and even just for teaching outside of Belfast, so as I believe things will be "better" soon enough I organised getting a car, wasn't due until November but they dealers were lucky enough to get one in a few weeks later, it's handy enough having that even though it's an absolute money bin, but it is a lovely wee car, but it is just a car.
Each time I have returned to hospital there were improvements for the first few weeks and it was good to get back into a routine again, the only thing that seems to be playing up as such is the potassium and magnesium levels so I keep on having to take supplements for them along with a bucket load of other medications I'm on a bit more long term for now anyway. As for everything else the fitness it practically back to what it was before, or at least not far off it, still room for improvement. I am having a problem, if you could call it that, more an issue than a problem with my hands and feet and them being numb, at times they seem to not be too bad and it's just the tips and then other times it can be the whole hand and run right up to my ankles from my toes. When I say numb they are not completely gone as such they are more... as if you have pins and needles or... they're just not feeling right. Whenever I stretch my arms or legs I get a wave of pins and needles down them and even when I nod back and forward I get a wave of pins down to my feet, the first few weeks this seemed to be improving but now it seems to be consistent, there doesn't seem to be anything that improves it or makes it worse, but I'm sure a bit of walking won't do it any harm.
Can you spot them?
Another problem I had the first few weeks of being out was my tongue, it continued to give me bother, initially there was still no taste and I kept getting a really dry mouth no matter what I was eating or even when I wasn't eating it would still dry up. The taste came back on my birthday which was handy enough so I could taste my cake and since then the dryness has been improving, but it's still there, not nearly as bad as what it was and you almost forget about it a lot of the time.
And the final thing that has been causing me bother is my tinnitus, I've had this for a few months now since having the ESHAP and lately, if anything, it seems to be getting worse. Maybe I'm just more conscious of it now than before but it is constant now. But all things considering a bit of numbness and a ringing isn't too bad an outcome, I certainly wouldn't mind the tinnitus going away though as in crowds and busy, open places I really struggle hearing what people are saying, and considering I always had pretty good hearing before (and apparently still do) I miss it.
I have started socializing a bit more again and been meeting up with some friends again, which I have been a bit nervous of, not really the meeting them but being in a crowd, but when I have it has been great and as if I was with them only the week before, only problem is I seem to suffer a bit longer than I used to. I was always very good with hangovers and didn't really get them, now though... I think the first time I went out I was hanging for three days or so, not completely but you felt the effects of it still. But it has been so good seeing them all again.
View from Bangor
That has basically been it, I had an appointment with a dermatologist and I'm getting a mole removed on my back next week an hour after an appointment to get my "temporary filling" fixed after it being put in "temporarily" three months ago, so that is going to be a bit of a rush. But I told the nurse about it and she was happy enough, at least there won't be a load of waiting around in hospital before getting it done. Other things I've been doing is making the most of my NowTV sub and LoveFilm and have just finished series 1 of Lost. Most of my time has been going into WoW and powerleveling a load of characters 1-85 in about 20 odd hours (which is really fast FYI) and some on a French server so I can maybe even scratch up on some French along the way. They are surprisingly friendlier... imagine that. There has been a spot of photography and some astrophotography too but nothing too much, the odd night out not often enough though.
Well, to sum things up, things were improving gradually each day and generally are improving a little each week still but the progress seems to have slowed down, but I seem as if I am not too far away from where I want to be thankfully. Still a bit of a trek to go.
Huh! How about that? Whoever reads this first I guess will be the 4000th visit to my blog, thank you all so much.