Mr Lovely is still lovely!

Yes, I have to confirm that Mr Lovely has the loveliest bedside manner even though he doesn't have all the answers.

Today I went back to see him. My appointment was not until the New Year but with my continuing voice sillyness, swallowing hassles and shortness of breath, I decided if I could see him sooner rather than later, I would probably feel a little less anxious and slightly more in control. Once one is in a system you can bypass all standard procedure it seems and just ring up the department you require and request a change of appointment which is what I successfully did.

So he stuck the camera up my nose but not before I requested and had the anaesthetic spray I hasten to add! Down the throat and yes my vocal chords are still there, the right one though still being somewhat limp. A few different sounds for me to make today, a rather unpleasant moment when he moved the camera to another position and then it was all done. My body however seemed to disagree with it this time. My breathing went haywire and my swallowing and I needed a good few minutes to regroup.

Well this all got him pondering. Speech therapy definitely a good place to start, will refer you for that. Surgery not considered until 6 months after the damage occurred (only 3 months currently) - we'll wait and see. Breathing difficulties - hmmmm I'll refer you to the people who check lung function and see what they have to say.

As for my calcium and thyroxine levels they will be checked at the end of this month when my blood has stopped glowing so much and then another appointment next month to see Mr Lovely again and see how it's all going. Good - some action and an apology that things haven't been going so well.

Ah nearly forgot - to aid successful swallowing of liquids, turn head to right side and drop chin a little - I have to report that it works well!

Since I last wrote I have finished work as a SENCo and was given a lovely leather handbag and a book token as a leaving present which all came as quite a surprise!

I also graduated and enjoyed dressing up even though it was rather chilly! My beauty and my sister came to watch and took some lovely pictures - here's the best one (sorry to bore my facebook followers).

My sculptures are progressing slowly but I do have the next project in mind, the title is "Moral Destruction?" you'll have to wait and see what it looks like. In fact, let's have a "guess what Jane is going to create to illustrate that question!" Answers on a comment. Lots of practicalities for me to consider and probably a lot of hard work but it is pretty exciting!

My beauty is definitely settling back into normal life again - very few emotional outbursts now which is a great relief. She went to Brownie Pack holiday this weekend for two nights and had a fantastic time. I kept my phone by me at all times but not a peep from it - so here's to lots more holidays away without Mummy!! I enjoyed a great sing (well croak) and dance (with additional puffing) at a friends birthday bash and managed to sell the old car and de-clutter some of our stuff through giving it away on Freegle - a most brilliant invention.

So we are nearly at the end of 2011 and I had hoped to have got the all clear so that I could cruise into 2012 with this blip behind me. For all I know I may be all clear now, hopefully the radioactive iodine has destroyed the remaining thyroid tissue that was in my neck, but just to be sure I will have a second treatment next May. In the meantime, there are more and more days now when I never even think about having thyroid cancer. Taking the drugs is just routine and I am less particular about timings which is fine. New experiences of life do get assimilated, however difficult they are, but a bit of grieving now and then helps the healing process and I have shed a few tears over these past couple of weeks.

Take heart dear readers, God has done and is continuing to do amazing things in my life through all of this and I thank you for all your prayers and support. I too thank God for hearing your prayers and answering them. I recently realised that life is not about what I do but about what I let God do in me and what He does through me.

Hallelujah!

God be with you this Christmas and love to you all for 2012 xx

A brief check-in...

Well two days back at work this week, one open day at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham, a session at pottery, another session doing glazing in Langley, a big family birthday gathering last Sunday and life goes on.

Today I am feeling cross about my still rubbish voice. Of course I have googled it extensively and appear to have every symptom that one could have with a damaged recurrent laryngeal nerve. Rubbish voice, puffing like a steam train whenever I exert myself (even walking upstairs) and hassles with swallowing particularly with drinks. Pooh pah pants! Apparently one can have spontaneous recovery if new axons grow and fix the damage - I am still waiting. Read a research paper on the matter and it looks like 12 months is the max wait time. I have an appointment with Mr Lovely in the middle of Jan which will be nearly 4 months post op and see what he has to say then. Perhaps we should all pray for that spontaneous recovery - yes let's do that, that would be a fantastic surprise too!

Oh I forgot, since I last wrote I bought another car too. Mine nearly dead so bought a newer version of what I already had in a slightly darker blue with 80k less miles on the clock and one owner - hopefully it should last for the next 5 years or so.

Must go to bed, always stay up far too late, partly because I try and space my drugs out to every 8 hours and go for 11.30pm, 7.30am and 3.30pm. Hmmmmm, poor excuse, right I am off, really, good night, no you go first, see you again, night night, pyjama, pyjama, sleep well..........

x!

P.S. Booked into the "prison" 21st May 2012, week before half term, my beauty wants to be able to come and wave at me!