Woke up at 7:45 for the MRI appointment. What a dumb time to wake up especially feeling like this!

Turns out that the MRI wasn't an MRI after all but just a consultation with the neurologist. "Strange" is the NHS system especially when they phone you a week before to say that there has been an MRI cancellation and "would you like to take it".

The consultant was really good. Absolutely thorough in his diagnosis, listened intently and prompted for details that were not even questioned by the GP or the ENT SHO.

I should really point out the importance of keeping an absolutely accurate account of your symptoms, feelings, sensations, experiences etc because the slightest incorrect detail may have very different consequences. For example, if you say that your face is numb then Ramsay Hunt Syndrome is quickly questioned. The impact of damage to the 7th nerve is purely motor based which means that movement and NOT sensation is affected. You cannot blink, smile, frown your brow etc on one side but you can tell if an ice cube is place on the affected cheek. For your benefit be as specific as possible because you would be surprised how GPs etc can use the wrong adjectives in their notes.

The consultant has told me that there is no real way of accelerating the paralysis healing process. Steroids are the usual course but there is a debate on their effectiveness in Bells Palsy or Ramsay Hunt cases. Of course the antivirals will help eradicate the Herpes Zoster Oticus but the other symptoms like vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, taste loss, dry mouth and eyes are part of the waiting game. It could be 4 weeks or it could be 8 months. That's the reality and unfortunately there are extreme cases which are even longer term. The most important thing is a positive mental attitude and a determination to beat it.

After the consultation we walked (or stumbled) towards the McDonalds for double bacon and egg breakfast meal. What a job getting there though. It was about 200 yards away from the medical centre but walking along the pavement next to morning traffic and under a railway bridge which was being "white lined" by workmen was nearly enough to blow my head off. I don't know what kind of machinery was used but it was much louder than the planes I have heard on take-off at the airport. Surely this noise exceeds all kinds of EU levels? Anyway, the confined tunnel under the bridge amplified the sound to the point where my vertigo almost created a visualisation of the noise in my mind. It's the weirdest thing 'seeing' sound but I can only describe the noise as making a swirling image of the road ahead which rushes towards you and then rushes away from you. Freaky dreamland stuff once more.

Today the lesions and scabs have almost completely disappeared from the right ear although you can see a slight redness where the new skin is exposed. Again Germolene is magical and proved it's worth with the lack of scarring and almost no itching. The drunkenness is still a big part of the day and proves an obstacle when trying to walk around outside.

At least there is still no sickness or profound dizziness on a normal day... where normal means that I don't travel in taxis or see loads of faces in the bright lights of a hospital. That's just like being in some kind of nightmare where faces and sounds warp around you from different dimensions. Not as intense but still quite disorientating.

I have been able to do some web work today and make some business calls although my right eye became extremely sore due to the inability to blink. Imagine staring non-stop at a 19" monitor with dry eyes held open by matchsticks! The only way I have managed to write this update is by taping the eye shut with the micropore tape and using some drops earlier on. Not good for left eye strain but at least I can enjoy the PC for a bit.

Eating is still quite weird. I drank some more Lucozade today but again it just felt like I had a mouthful of frothy foam. No taste on the right hand side of my mouth and still the numb 'Bonjela' tongue. Its also a bit strange that when I do have a meal I still feel hungry. Is it the steroids? Is the lack of taste? Not sure but certainly strange.

I have been able to drink out of a bottle for a good few days now but I still can't puff out my cheeks and hold a 'Pob' face. The right eye is closing with the left eye a bit better now but I don't have any independent control yet so I cannot wink. The brow is still flat, nostril still unmoving and cheeks still still!

I've done another session on the intrasonic massager but I don't really know what the benefits will be. It just feels kind of tingly with all the vibrations but to be honest the real benefit is buzzing it near my right ear. Yea, although the Germolene is good for the itching this buzzing almost gives you that much needed scratching relief!

I have started to cut down on the Prednisolone today. I am down to 20mg three times a day now which is one less dosage per day.