This is a new week and it seems as though my recovery is continuing in a uniform manner. I see minute changes on a daily basis but the cumulative progress has been remarkable considering the severity of my symptoms just a few weeks ago.

The paralysis on the right is only really apparent when I smile or laugh but besides that I look almost 'normal'. Whenever I am in front of a mirror I spend a few minutes going through the facial movements. I can gauge my progress when I go through the whole smile, laugh, frown, wink scenario so this is quite an important part of the day.

It was really good to see a few of my old friends today. I haven't seen them for quite a while so 3 visitors in one evening was a godsend. It was strange to hear them offer me some Polo mints and Rich Tea biscuits because they were part of my staple diet in the early days of the illness. Then I realised that they had read my diary!

I suppose it's a strange concept having people know your personal business but, hey, that's the whole point of posting this diary. I'm including as many details as I can just in case you find something of importance. Believe me, mints ARE important!

Today was an administrative nightmare. I've taken the first steps to returning to work and I had to make alot of arrangements for the refurbishment project that I am overlooking. This meant that I had to travel to a few sites including the bank, a tool hire place and the building site. Luckily a good friend drove me around this evening and for that I owe him a huge favour.

The vertigo was not easy to handle today. So many stairs and open spaces to negotiate and so much travel to deal with. It felt surreal being outside for a change and it's not something that I think I should be doing right now. Besides feeling dizzy, I was a danger to myself! Think of working when you are drunk and you'll get the picture.

There are a few points that I have made a note of regarding the project and the manager will be getting a very detailed report tomorrow. She's going to raise her eyebrows a bit!

Besides the vertigo I think I am making some good progress with the face. Another milestone has been reached today! I washed my face fully (instead of one side at a time) and I did not get any soap or water in the right eye. I can close the eye fully now but not as tightly as the left eyelid. Even so it's a good omen. I'm going to try to sleep without taping my eye shut tonight and see if I have any problems in the morning.

I received a diary from Janine today regarding her personal fight with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. She is in week 3 and has become quite a good friend since I replied to her husband's post on a forum about her dizziness. Make sure you read Janine's Diary so you can see how she is coping with the illness.

If you would like to contact her I will be more than happy to send on your messages or she may wish to post her email address in the future. Alternatively, you can leave her a message on the Forum. Get well soon Janine.

Quite happy this morning. I went to sleep last night without taping my eye shut and I woke up without any detrimental effects so that's the second notable event in 2 days. Good job.

I may be a little paranoid but there are a few strange movements when I smile or frown that weren't there before but I will keep tabs on them. One difference I can see is that when I squint, there are 3 horizontal creases in the corner of my right eye at the end of my eyebrow. Perhaps not synkinesis but something to keep tabs on over the next few days.

We have been working on the site again today. Added the Change Font link at the footer of the page. A few people have contacted us over the past few days saying how the grey font was a bit difficult to read... especially RHS and BP sufferers who are struggling to see with a sore eye. The font size and colour can now be changed at the press of a button to make things easier... you see, we try to respond to all your requests!

It's good that I didn't have to travel today and I could contact a number of people from home. The travelling and the site visit was a bit much yesterday. It made me realise that I wasn't ready to return to work but it felt good being back albeit briefly. Anyway, my data/voice team have been on site over the past couple of nights and have been working till after 1am. I have just received a call to say they have left the building. Nice work lads. A 6am start for them tomorrow... ouch!

When I woke up this morning the right eye was slightly dry. I'm going to give it another go tonight because I'm determined to carry on marching forward before I consider pulling the micropore tape out again. My eye right eye is still watering spontaneously too. Not the odd tear or two but enough to suddenly run off my chin and onto the floor!

My data/voice team that worked till 1am this morning went back on site at 5am and carried on till this afternoon. Grafting like that warrants a mention in the diary so thanks lads. They are making another early start on Sunday and are well ahead of all schedules. If you are reading in the UK and need a good IT Service, let me know!

One other thing to mention before I sign off is that the rash which appeared last week has almost completely gone from the left ear but the right ear is still showing signs around the outer edge and ear lobe. The rash over my neck and back are disappearing too.

Woke up early this morning because I had to go on site to meet the data voice team. Vertigo still a problem so I caught a cab downtown. Felt a bit weird on my feet today perhaps because of the open space of the empty building and the 4 floors worth of stairs. Almost stumbled down the stairs a couple of times and nearly fell over when I was stood still in one place! It's getting beyond a joke now.

Besides the vertigo my eye didn't feel as bad as when I woke up yesterday morning. The dryness wasn't as apparent so I'm happy about that. One thing that I haven't mentioned which I really should have done over the last few weeks is that I have had quite a number of nosebleeds.

I used to suffer from alot of nosebleeds when I was young but I haven't had any for years. Today I've clocked up 3 and about the same yesterday. Don't know if anyone else has had this or am I just the lucky one once more?

My face seems to be a bit better today. Not much difference in the way of movement but the right hand side doesn't feel as tight as the last few days around the cheek and eye area. Early on in my diary I said that my cheekbone felt as if I had been punched... well it still feels the same now. The bone is a bit sore to the touch and still feels bruised although I'm sure it hasn't been bumped or banged at all. I thought this sensation would disappear over the weeks but nope. Not yet.

Woke up just after 9am despite going to bed at 4.30am... got carried away with a couple of websites we have been doing. Oh well.

Woke up to find that my right eye was a bit dry and tired. In fact it has been like that for a few days now... hmmm, and it has been a few days since I stopped taping my eye shut at night. I'm going to have to concede defeat for the time being and take a reluctant step backwards with my recovery. I am a bit disappointed but I must listen to my body and do what's best for my health. I'll get the tape out again for tonight

The nosebleeds are continuing with another three today... that's after waking up this morning to find blood over my top. I wonder what's causing them?

Seems as though I can smile a bit wider today but the symmetry isn't quite there. In fact when I try to do a 'tight smirk' the lip is pulled across to the left even if I try to pull it to the right. The 3 creases/wrinkles by my right eye are still there too. Well, I'm only in my 6th week so time will tell.

Well, I taped up my eye last night and when I woke up I had no dryness or eyestrain. Suppose that means that I'm not ready to ditch the Micropore just yet.

I haven't had any nose bleeds today so maybe there wasn't a pattern forming in relation to the illness. Even so, I will have to monitor the situation over the next few days just to confirm this.

Everything else seems to be the same... no pains, no hassels just the same old vertigo problem. In fact I have managed to stumble into the wardrobe, wall and door today. Not bad eh? Just a chair and a table left to complete the set!

One thing I haven't mentioned for quite a while is my hearing. I still have the tinnitus and things are certainly not sounding as good through my right ear. Hopefully this is going to improve but I know it can be a permanent symptom of RHS. Wonderful.