Recovery is really coming along. My right eye will close when I close my left, although there is a little lag time there...a quick blink doesn't quite close it yet. I can go about four hours or so without the patch, as long as I put gel in it from time to time, and remember to make it blink. (That means I can drive, around town only, daylight only, if the weather ever cooperates!) The shingles itch and pain is now only a small, sometimes itchy area on my outer ear. If it doesn’t go away by itself, the Hydrocortisone 1% takes care of it. The double vision is gone, except for a very little bit when I am tired. My balance still has a ways to go, but I can walk without help, even outdoors, now as long as it isn't dark, slippery, or rough ground.

Still no sign of a smile... I do miss my smile! There does seem to be a little ghost of a pulling sensation in the right cheek when the left one smiles, but can't detect any movement yet. And my eyebrow doesn't budge when I frown or raise the other one.

I’m still getting PT for balance, since there is just about no input to my balance from my inner ear. The therapist has me doing whatever makes me keel over...over and over again...to force the inner ear to kick in. (At least the left one, the good ear, should be contributing!) So I stand on one leg while I focus on a point on the wall and twist my head back and forth; stand with one foot in front of the other while I watch a card on a Popsicle stick move from side to side; put my feet tight together, cross my arms over my chest and shut my eyes; etc. I'm not sure I could do these exercises before the RHS hit!

The therapist even wants us to round dance (like choreographed ballroom), including all the twirls. Poor Hubby gets to let me grab his hand (arm, shoulder, nose...) so I don't fall. She even wants me to try dancing with my eyes closed...RI-I-IGHT!!!! But without the inner ear input, I will not be able to walk alone at night! She said you need 2 out of the following 3 inputs for good balance: 1. inner ear, 2. vision, 3. sensation in your feet. That's why night walking and walking on rough surfaces are so hard without my inner ear helping!

Well, I reached a mini-milestone this afternoon! Hubby and I got all dressed up and went to a "see and be seen" Holiday Open House. There were a few stares and quick look-look-aways, and my walking was occasionally a little rocky...and I was stone cold sober, folks... but I did fine, ignored all that, and had a good time. The outing did wonders for my morale!