Well, I thought it was time for an update after my surgery. The official name for the surgery was a tympanic mastoidectomy. Yeah, I didn't like the sound of it either.
My surgery was on Monday, October 12th at 9:00 am. I wasn't too nervous going into it. I had my book of favorite verses on my bed and I just kept reading them over and over. The one I read the most was Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Every time I would read it, I could feel myself becoming calm.
The surgery ended up lasting about 6 hours. They had said that it would be anywhere from about 3 hours to as long as 8 hours. I guess it was right about in the middle.
As soon as I woke up, I puked. Not a fun feeling. I ended up throwing up about 3 times before I was allowed to leave the hospital...then I threw up again after we got home. Yuck! Apparently, when they work in your inner ear for hours on end - it can make you a little nauseous.
I have stiches inside my ear and behind it. It hurts. I feel dizzy and tired all the time. I have zero hearing on my right side now. I thought it was bad before - but I have realized that *anything* is better than nothing. It is a really weird feeling not to be able to hear anything. Terrance said the doctor told him that it could be this way for several months before the hearing starts to come back - and then it would only be back to about 45%. I guess if i get another surgery, it might come back to about 65%. Terrance is thinking that really isn't worth it. We'll have to see on that. I'm definitely not looking forward to another surgery.
I am starting to admit that all of this has gotten me kind of depressed. But, the depression is bothering me though. I try to be an upbeat-type of person. I'm kind of a "glass half-full" type of person. But, this has really knocked me down. It's been almost a week and my face is still a little swollen and the whole area around my ear is still really sore. And!...my ear sticks out! It is not cute at all! I know that sounds shallow - but I just think that on top of not being able to hear and being nauseous - it looks funny too. I hate that it is bothering me like this - but it really is. I thought it was annoying before how much I couldn't hear - but this is so much worse.
I guess I just need to give it time. Patience is something I need to work on. I know God has a plan for all of this...I just need to wait for His timing and not be so ready for "my" timing.
