an update on my health and why I went MIA

[Guest guest]

hi guys.. I wanted to let everyone know I'll be MIA for a while, not sure

how long. I had the surgery on my right ear at o at St in Nashville

on Wed, the 10th... (great hospital by the way). They found a much larger

cholestatomo then they thought and they then rebuilt my entire ear drum and

middle ear drum so it would hopeful stop rupturing. It's likely that I can

keep growing these kind of cholestatomo's because of the number of

infections that I've had in my ears from stills. So I get to see the

specialist at least 3 times a year for the rest of my life... Oh well,

that's ok.

Anyway. When I first woke up, the pain wasn't too bad, they put in pain

meds directly in the ear. But by around 10 pm I was screeming from pain and

then had a fever of about 101.5-102 all night.. I have the med regimine

down better now, I'm not letting anything where off, but I still woke up

crying in pain tonight and I wanted to send everyone an update.

I have a big white cup that goes over my ear and wraps around my head (it

reminds us of a sports protector but worn on the head - very funny

looking). Each morning and night, I have the pleasure of being tortured by

my husband while he takes out the packing, puts in three ear drops and puts

in new packing, it's so much fun - not. I get to sleep sitting up since I

have the fever and have to wake up at least three times a night to make sure

I am coughing so I don't get pneumonia... the cough it very gross.

If you saw me, you would think I just came out of a ten round boxing match,

with my right eye swollen and starting to turn wonderful holiday colors,

with my left eye slowly following rank. Not withstanding the right side of

my face being totally swollen, it makes me look like frankenstein. My

glands on my right side hurt so much that nothing can touch my neck there.

My teeth are even sore.. Pretty darn pathetic.

The GREAT news thought... IT " S OVER.. Done With.. Don't have to think about

it anymore, Just have to heal. I want to thank all of you that knew about

the surgery and were praying for me. The worse part of the recovery will be

about two weeks, then it will get easier. It will still hurt, but just feel

like an ear ache after that. I can handle that.

I'm not sure how much I'll be checking the board, but I will when I can, or

when I really need a diversion from the pain.

For those of you that were on the original christmas card list - keep your

eye out for your cards -- you should have them anyday now - if not already.

For those of you that added on a little late, I will try to send out yours -

but they may be a bit late. I can't seem to focus very well...

If you were on the orginal list and didn't get a card from us by the 16th,

please let me know.. because you should have by then... and they are really

cool cards...

To everyone else in this great and wonderful family, I wish you all a verry

blessed holiday season. But most of all, a very blessed holiday season that

isn't caught up in the stress of running around like a chicken with your

head cut off... (That's how my old boss use to refer to it as)... Make sure

you take some time for yourself. Don't put yourself into a flare. I won't

have an option to do anything but rest, so in someways, this is a true

blessing ... minus the extreme pain added on to the other pain. But the

surgery was a success and everything was caught just in time (these can grow

into your brain and just a little more time and it would have) so all and

all - I consider myself blessed. And that was a good bday present for me...

not having this go into my brain or causing menegitis.

Hugs to all

Alli