I iz still here!

Oh dear, its been a while hasn’t it…I am refusing to give you a 5 month, day by day, (*shameful*) update in long format.

And, I think its safe to say I failed and sucked at the post-a-day challenge big time…I started of so well, in fact I though I nailed it, but what was it….21 days?! SUCKED!

I recovered fully from my bells palsy, and I really hope that I can provide some hope to those that are going through the same thing.  I sincerely hope that if you are suffering right now you will recover quickly, as hard as it can be to do, do try to stay positive

After my episode with the Bells, I had a 3 day respite then I was hit with the winter vomiting bug!!  I was bed ridden for 1 week! Then my kids got it, which is strange in itself because it’s usually the kids sharing their germs! then another few days of respite then I got flu for 2 weeks.

So, it was safe to say that the first 7wks of the year SUCKED!

Now I am just being a normal busy, manic, mother and wife.

Oh…one good thing though, (HORRRAY!!) I started my physiotherapy (finally) on April 1st..you can catch up here as to why I needed Physio….I was basically given the go ahead to start running again in the new year, but to be honest it wasnt happening.  And now, 2 wks a go I am running again.  I have been advised to start from the beginning again, and was told to do the Couch to 5k program.

Reader, I scoffed, I scoffed loudly at therapist, I mean, who the frig do you think I am, a runner, who does around 40 miles a week and you are telling me to walk and run again for 1 mile…you having a larff!

I met physio half way and I am doing the couch to 10k program, still hate the fact that I am still walking and running but I hate to admit it, I am seeing a benefit to it.

I did my first 5k with my 7yr old daughter, for the Race For Life Cancer Research UK Charity, on May 8th..it took us 40 mins but I was fine with that, it was my first run for over a year and the first one my daughter ever did.

I am now signed up again to do the Baxters 10k, and the Aviemore 1/2…so back to full-time training soon.  I see the physio 2x a week, and am down for a review on June 3rd.  I was hopefully that this would be my last appt, but the therapist scoffed at me.

There seems to a mutual scoffing respect between physio and I.

Bells Palsy recovery!

I am back to normal!!

If you have been following along, you will know that on January 28th this year I was hit with Bell’s Palsy I have, maybe, somewhat, controversially, come out of anonymity to video log my progress.  (Click on Bells Palsy under Categories to read/view my previous posts.)

I did this for two reasons, one, was for me, to personally view my progress in recovery, and, 2, to maybe help other sufferers to come to terms with their diagnosis (hopefully, be of some help).

On Saturday afternoon, I was plagued with the most annoying twitching under my right eye, the affected eye.  Yesterday morning, I woke to find myself 98% back to normal.  I am blinking again, and ‘mummy has her smile back’ (the words of my son).

I apologise for not video blogging my recovery right now, I have really wanted to.  However, the kids are on half term break right now (AGAIN!!!) And to find a minute to breathe, in amongst blogging has been downright impossible!!!

I really want to get my last video in soon.  Then, I will slide back into anonymity and my crazy ass life as a wife and mother .

I also want to apologise for my lack of giveaway that I promised.  I will get that up by the end of the week, hopefully, so mommys/babysitters/grandparents who follow me, let your fellow child carers know as this giveaway maybe just the thing you need in your life, it is in mine!!!

Much loveage

Bell’s Palsy Day 12 Video Update

Bell’s Palsy, Day 10 Brain Beat

I was hoping to do a video blog, but havent had time today!!! I had intended to do one, but I went into cleaning mode.  I know, right, whip me, the one thing I am not supposed to go crazy on, and I do it.

I am just going to have to throw my hands up in the air and admit I am a control freak, I like order in the home.

BUT! I have learnt, since being diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy I need to take stock of what is important in my life, and cleaning like a mad woman is not one of them!!!

I made up a new list of rules for my family.  Since last week,  the week of doing absolutely nothing, I came to the realisation that I do way to much for them.  And, they take it for granted that I will just do it.

So, I decided that downstairs I will keep going with keeping it spotlessly clean, but upstairs, my kids will be taking responsibility for their own rooms now.  Usually, on a Monday, I can be cleaning constantly for 6/7hrs  Sometimes it’s so bad that I just don’t have time for lunch.  Then the inevitable happens.  I pick up the kids from school, and within, oh, 30 mins, the house looks like I havent done a thing to it!

So new rules, no toys downstairs!  Upstairs I will take charge of the bathrooms and vacuuming, if they (the kids, or even hubby) has stuff lying on the floor, it will stay there.  I wont pick up after them anymore.  Also, the big bug bearer of mine, laundry!!

For some unknown reason, my family, don’t seem to know how to open the lid of the laundry bin.  The dirty washing will usually sit on top of the laundry bin, or, around it.  I mean….WTF!! Do they think it will make life easier for me if its just laying as a pile on the floor!?

Therefore, my kids have received their warning, oh and the husbando….if they have no clean washing…TOUGH!  They can’t be bothered putting it into the wash bin, then, I can’t be bothered washing it!

I just figured, life is way to short for worrying about how spotless my house is, and why should it be left all to me.

As envisaged, my family think its a joke, but, who will be laughing when they have no clean socks to wear!!

 

Things on the Bells side have improved greatly.  I am not cured, still have a bit to go, my eye has some movement in it, although it feels, as I can only describe as ‘tight’  I am going to try tonight to sleep without a patch.  I didn’t get a great deal of sleep last night, I felt uncomfortable with the patch.

When I woke this morning, I felt my lower lip seemed ‘normal’ still numb along the top lip though.  Also, my cheek bone ‘tingles’  I don’t seem to have the numbness so much there.   My eye pulsates occasionally, so I am hopefully that these are all excellent signs.

I have always been a great believer in meditation.  Even if it’s just 5 mins of closing my eyes and taking deep breaths, I always feel my battery gets a boost.  I also am a huge believer in binaural beats and on my iPhone/iPod and iPad I have various binaural beats applications.  My favourite is Brain Beats Vol 1.

I use three of the beats, one being Ocular Health and Focus, and in the blurb it says,

The set of frequencies is intended to assist in strengthening ocular tissues.

The set runs for 5 mins, the other set I listen to is Stress Relief the set has two frequencies at 20hz-10hz staying mostly at 10hz, this set runs for 10 mins.    After that set is finished, I will then switch to Sleep induction which runs for 30 mins very low-frequency with the sound of the ocean washing over in the background.  I will often fall asleep with that on.

I don’t know, whether it’s a coincidence or not, but I think listening to these beats every night has helped.  My face has healed pretty quickly, I don’t know whether I have been ‘lucky’ (if you can call it that) not to have severe paralysis, or, has the beats been helping.  For me, I like to think so.