I  saw the neurotologist today , first saw him three months ago.  He was overjoyed to see my progress, admitting that I had exceeded his expectations for recovery and that I was in the 5% who make almost complete recovery.  He asked me to blink rapidly which revealed stnthekenisis between blinking and the corner of my mouth going up.  I was unaware of this and he considered it mild.  At least it's a pleasant expression.  But  maybe over time it will pass--I don't know.

I am losing interest in writing here,  I can see why most people who start these blogs drop by the wayside.  Its a good thing because it means I am engaging more in my life.  Sometimes I try to get in, have difficulty with passwords etc. and then just give up.  Mostly, things change slowly so there is not a lot to say.

I realize from the comments to my blog that I am giving a false impression of my life right now. I had chosen to merely write about the disease itself, to read later about where I was when, and how I felt about it.

It's been while since I wrote. Since then I traveled to Connecticut and back and have been home a week. The flying did not cause discomfort to ear or eye. I did not notice anything from the cold but did minimize my time in it. Sadly, the retreat center was a noisy place and I did not get enough rest. On a couple of occasions I got tired suddenly and was not prepared for it. It did not take much rest to become restored. The cold was harder on my breathing than anything else. I was able to sing, mainly noticing the stuck lower lip on wide mouth singing.

Overall, things are still moving forward. Again, my eye seems the last to recover. I am 49 days into this, although it feels like much much longer.

Watched some utube blogs of someone with bells (although I'm always suspicious) and even a year and five months was pretty good but not a complete return. And some mild synthekinesis without having done acupuncture.

My own progress has slowed and am considering mild Acupuncture.....people say each week I look better. No sound issues now but occasional mild phn. Occasional tinnitus. Biggest nuisance is my eye as it does not seal well and gets sore. If I actually had eye lids would consider taping shut but there's nothing to tape.

Makes me sick to write the date, that more than a month has passed and I still feel swelling come and go inside my face/neck - wherever that nerve is. The eye that closes sometimes but is always needing maintenance. The mouth that has one part on the lower lip that is a hold out. Muscles now seem hypertonic (I think that's the right word). Left side overcompensating. Open mouth twisted.

First the good news: my mouth feels much more normal this morning, as does my eye, meaning it's appearing by feel like it is able to close and even blink in more harmony with the other eye. Can make a "kissing" noise but not a raspberry or whistle.

Today, Sunday, another week. Had trouble logging in this morning as well as even getting in to report the problems. Then it worked for some reason. Thought i had lost the site for good! I imagine steps are being taken to reduce the spam.

Wow, a month exactly since my face froze. I forgot to mention in yesterday's blog that my neurotologist referred me for face-therapy: he explained that they would help me use some muscles less that are being overused (an untactful client said it looked like almost a 'tic' in the unfrozen size), and use the other muscles more. I am doing some of that on my own. But I will see the specialist to see if she or he has other suggestions.