OK

Last Wednesday I was diagnosed with a condition called "silent reflux". In essence my stomach acid is burning my vocal chords.
Treatment?
Well...the consultant gave me an advice sheet......which is great...presuming I can read it....I know there are many adult illiterates, but I could.
The two sided advice note suggested diet changes......I have been doing those since April this year! also it says how I should have 2 lots of antacid/day...because I was on one dose..nothing was said. There was no suggestion I should rest my voice..or anything....only upon consulting my family doctor did I get clarification. OK the consultant was ruling out extreme nasty problems..but a bit more advice would help. I have no idea when the Speech/language/voice therapist will have a vacancy to see me...and as my sons both had speech therapy I appreciate their workload. I do not expect until Mid November...so...you might appreciate...a little more advice would have been very useful...what a shame I had to visit my family doctor...when 2-3 Min's more of the consultants time would have been enough! It took me 6 days to get an appointment with my family doctor...I appreciate that consultants are on a much higher wage...but a couple of minutes to dispense advice would have been welcomed in my case.

Back to swimming

Well, have got myself back swimming now, but only doing 16 lengths, and pausing every second length, but at least I am progressing.
The physio said I could try cycling now, if I wanted to. So will probably try that tomorrow morning. I think a ride along the prom would be the best idea, for first ride.
I am not too happy with the insoles though, as they are making my toes go numb, and my feet go tingly, plus the only thing I can get my feet into with them in is a pair of black leather trainers. I'm going to have to speak to a doctor about it, as the physio didn't think it was such a problem, as he thinks I won't need them for so long, whilst the consultant thought I would need them for quite a while. I think he will have more idea of my long term needs.

Stitches out!

Well, bright and early this morning I went to the hospital, to have my 1/2 cast off, and stitches
out.
The bandage/plaster came off real easy..a few snips with scissors, then snap the cast around my foot.
The plaster-room nurse took the stitches out, except they weren't, they were staples! All 26 of them.
Then the doctor came to check everything had healed as expected.
Apparently my ankle has healed very well, but I have to take their word for it,as I felt distinctly nauseous, and more than a little dizzy.
Whilst waiting for the doctor, the nurse brought another patient in to remove their plaster, so she pulled the curtain around the bed I was sat on.
Now....don't know about USA hospital beds, but in UK, when they pull the curtain around, for privacy, you can guarantee that the join/split lands right in your line of vision, so I started laughing. The nurse asked me why I was laughing, and adjusted it.
Samantha, has only had a brief overnight in hospital, when she had concussion, but she noticed as well.
I was still feeling nauseous, but then the nurse started to remove the patient on the next bed's cast. Samantha had no idea how they removed a full cast, (rofl,) and when the saw powered up her face dropped, I laughed, she looked shocked and asked what was going on. I pointed to the mini saw by the bed I was sat on. Then she guessed, "just a minor amputation then?"
The man in bed next to me asked, when the nurse went out, what I was laughing at, when I explained, he laughed as well.
It made the visit fun, and at least Sam won't faint when they take the saw to my leg to get the cast off.
By the way, I return in two weeks, have it x-rayed, and if the consultant is happy, the cast comes off, if not ...another two weeks.
(Sorry, that sounds daft....whether my cast comes off or not doesn't hinge on whether my consultant is feeling good or not that day.)