Back in the loop: And on the eighth day … there were cherries

Yesterday I told you about the smell of smoke and petrol. Today I’m sitting here enjoying the smell of cherries! The fruit? No. My shampoo! Aaaah … I made it to the one-week mark and was allowed to wash my hair. So now, every time I swish it around (and I’m doing that a lot), I’m greeted with the scent of fragrant cherries. Mmmm.

Today was my one-week follow-up appointment with my surgeon, Dr Robert Briggs. (Has it already been a week since the operation??!) I was a bit embarrassed about seeing my surgeon because, well … during the week I recalled something that I’d said to him in my drowsy post-operative state.

It’s all because of some email correspondence we had last month. I had formally addressed him (‘Dear Dr Briggs’) and he had ever so casually replied with a: ‘See you Tuesday. Rob.’ I loved that he was so approachable and friendly … even though I had a bit of a chuckle to myself that it would be slightly more comforting if the man appointed to drill through my skull addressed himself as ‘Doctor’. ;-)

So last week, when I woke up from the anaesthetic, his face was one of the first I saw, smiling down at me. He had given me the thumbs up. ‘Operation went really well’, his lips worded, and he gave me the thumbs up. And what did I reply, in my half-dazed state? You got it. ‘Thanks … Rob.’ ;-) Yes, I even recall giving him a cheeky smile after I said it, so I’d semi-consciously made a joke in my drugged state. I hardly even make jokes in my conscious state. What possessed me?! I remember closing my eyes straight after I said it, too, so I have no idea what his reaction was. And when I recalled this moment, a few days ago, I nearly fell off my chair. I still can’t believe I said that!

I think I’m embarrassed because I have nothing but total trust and respect for him. He really is one of the nicest doctors I have ever met. And based on the smooth recovery I’ve made (no awful side effects!), plus the tidiness of the wounds back there, clearly a very proficient surgeon too. Doctor Briggs, if you happen to be reading this: consider it my apology! :-)

The appointment today went well – bandaids ripped off, wounds thoroughly checked. They are apparently healing nicely – just have to get Jase to keep an eye on them and put some Betadine antiseptic on them if they become weepy.

This is what my ears look like:

I have nine appointments scheduled with the CI clinic between now and 30^th June. These are: a one-month follow-up with the surgeon, ‘switch-on’ / first mapping day (set for the 7^th April!), six additional mapping sessions, and a three-month CI assessment with the audiologist.

For those interested in a brief rundown of my surgery recovery process, see the notes below.

In the meantime, I’m off to flick that hair of mine a little bit more. :-)

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The first 12 hours (Thursday – Friday)

Pressure bandage on: very hot, hard to focus as it was pressing on eyes
Vomiting from anaesthetic
Overnight stay in hospital
Metallic taste: from anaesthetic
Pain-killers: codeine
Sleep: fair bit, on my back only, between blood sugar/pressure checks
General wellbeing: terrible!

Days 1–2 (Friday – Saturday)

Pressure bandage off: Friday morning
Vomiting from anaesthetic (although I later learnt it was the codeine)
Discharged from hospital: Friday morning
Metallic taste: from anaesthetic
Pain-killers: codeine
Sleep: very little, on my back and semi upright at night; day-time naps
General wellbeing: OK, not great

Days 4–5 (Sunday – Monday)

No more vomiting!
Metallic taste: still present
Pain-killers: Nurofen/Panadol
Swelling appeared in front of both ears
Nose blowing: failed! Forgot to rule out spicy foods, oops! Ouch!
Sleep: very little, on my back but lying flat; day-time naps
General wellbeing: much better

Day 6 (Tuesday)

Metallic taste: gone; food tastes normal again
Pain-killers: Nurofen/Panadol
Sleep: more than usual, thanks to the travel pillow – alternated b/w sleeping on both sides and sleeping on back; day-time naps
General wellbeing: pretty good

Days 7–8 (Wednesday – Thursday)