Update 15/11/2006

Since the last time that I wrote to this Blog I have had a few more days to recover from the surgery.

Most of the pain is now residual and I actually have been able to 'massage' the area around the implant as recommended by my surgeon so that the swelling is somewhat reduced and the 'shelf' like appearance of the implant is also reduced. I have to say that it feels weird to have something 'extra' in one's throat however since it is better to have it in that to be without it I am not complaining.

In the next few weeks I will be able to go back to the ENT specialist who
has made all of this possible and get a check up and so see whether or not in his professional opinion all is well or not. This will then be followed up by some consultation with the speech therapist who has been kind enough to offer to see what she can do with the new reality that I am faced with.

For anyone who is actually interested in what all this 'feels like' let me assure them that it is quite strange.

In my case since I have now had at least three operations which have resulted in some cutting of the flesh on the right hand side of my body there is I think an incidental and unintended side effect - namely that when I stretch one set of scar tissue in the front of the body for example and it is painful I can immediately reduce the extent of the stretch (and pain) by bending in the opposite direction. However since there is also a cut on the other side which has formed scar tissue, this manoeuvre actually results in an excessive stretch on the other side. Finding that median position where all is well with both the front and back of the body is an interesting exercise.

I have been off line for some days as I have had another one of those complications that one has from time to time. Apparently I did not agree with something I ate and it managed to get its revenge by causing distress.

Let's just say that many years ago when I had some similar distress I was advised that apart from keeping up my fluids and electrolytes it was important to eat a simple diet. My then doctor advised boiled rice and bananas (to replace potassium). On this occasion I have to say that modern medicine was indicated and I have been taking some pills that I hope will settle whatever has been annoyed with me.

Nothing else of great import to report at this point.