My hearing is definitely improving. From hearing that was muffled and tinny, like a cheap walkie-talkie, I can now hear voices, even on the phone, and my books on tape, in both ears. This was confirmed this morning, when my hearing test showed equal hearing in both ears, except for the very highest frequencies. I must have regained a lot more hearing just in this past week! And the doctor said there could still be some further recovery over the next few months. This is VERY GOOD NEWS!!!

Also, I had a second PT session this morning, and showed a lot of improvement in my balance even after only a week of doing the exercises. I have a long way to go there, according to the computerized balance sensor booth, but I can already tell the difference when I walk. This is really encouraging to me, since recovery seems to be taking so long.

That balance meter is like a ride at Disney World! The walls move in and out and tip, the floor you are standing on tips, and it measures your reactions thru pressure on the floor pad! Fortunately, I was in a parachute-type harness or I would have bumps on my head!

I found out I have almost no inner ear input to my balance. (No wonder I'm rocky!) And I tend to believe what my eyes are telling me even if it is wrong. (Well, how do you stop doing that???) I also have shifted my center of balance forward and to the left. (How and when did I do that? Carrying books and babies, or recently?) Then it spits out this brightly colored report full of charts about how poorly you did in each phase, for you to groan over. Actually it was kind of fun; I'm looking forward to trying it again in a few weeks to see if I do better next time.

The therapist is going to try to convince my PCP to refer me for electrotherapy on my facial muscles to speed that recovery and minimize loss of facial muscle tone. I hope he agrees it is a good idea. I have read good things about it on the internet.

The shingles pain and itch is almost gone...only a very small area on my outer ear still itches, and not all the time. My eye is feeling a lot better, and closing a bit more. I really needed some encouragement this week, and God is never late in meeting our needs! Little by little I am getting my life back!

I think I’ve finally found an on-line site that has the information and support I need, www.ramsayhunt.org ! I signed up, posted my introduction, and got an answer right away. And I like the helpful attitude I see there. It’s so nice to finally feel that I’m not alone in this!

My ENT finally gave me permission to get a flu shot, but I can’t find anyone who has any left! But I’ve been a recluse for too long already. I need a social life! (I must be feeling a bit better.) I’ll just have to be careful, I guess.