BASKETTCASE

Just a quickie, typed clumsily in gloves.  Each morning I wake thinking the tingling has gone, I can even touch the cold wall behind my head with the palm of my hand, but by the time I have showered it is back with full force.  I talked to our friend John yesterday, who had exactly the same treatment last year, and found that he had the jaw spasm with the first mouthful of each meal.  He still has some tingling of the hands and feet some months after completing treatment, but says it is gradually improving.

The good thing is I have as yet no nausea or diarrhoea, which means I don't have to be housebound.  I have made it to church the last two Sundays and expect to go tomorrow.  We are booked into the church holiday July 8th and have negotiated a twin ensuite so I don't have to worry about the fact that my functions are still a bit unpredictable.  Everyone is so kind and helpful, including neighbours who I hardly ev er saw when my life revolved around work.

I haven't driven since the op and have no desire to.  The car is all cleaned up and several people hav e exprewssed interest in it.  I must start to drive Dave's car at some point so that I don't lose skills, but no hurry.  I am still rather scatty which in retrospect I think has aways happened after anaesthetics, and of course I have had quite a lot of major stuff to focus on.  Because I have retired I can take everything as it comes, and I love that.  Shedding responsibility has been one of the truly positive aspects of all this.  We are going to have a go at the conservatory today, where I know there are piles of unread papers and journals which I shall dump in the recycling bin with great jo y.

Dave is watching Rugby and cleaning the living room, so I had better post this and tidy my office on the Chesterfield.