My one-week checkup following surgery was yesterday morning. It met briefly with Dr. Berryhill’s PA, Jeff Frederick. He checked both ears (clean as a whistle!) and inspected the incision, which is nearly fully healed. He recommended that I wait at least another week before starting any sort of strenuous exercise regimen at the new senior wellness center in Norman. That’s not a concern for me, really, because any exercise program I start will be one that I begin with walking the indoor track and, perhaps, riding a recumbent bicycle. I will gradually build up to more strenuous exercises as my strength and endurance returns. We will likely not pay any membership fees until soon after the first of the year. By that time, I will be a little over a month into my audio rehabilitation exercises.
Mr. Frederick indicated that I need not worry about getting any water in my ear when I shower. He said there is blood behind my ear drum that is draining through my Eustachian tube and cautioned that I will experience a mild taste of blood until it has all drained. I have wondered, all this time, what was causing that strange taste on the left side of my mouth – and now I know the answer!
We have decided to return to our usual social activities; that is, primarily, church attendance and dinners with friends. Tonight is our weekly church choir rehearsal and we will attend. I told the director that I will rely on the guys on either side of me to tell me if I am singing in tune or not. If I am not, I’ll take a seat elsewhere in the sanctuary and listen as the choir rehearses. We will likely attend the later of the two Sunday morning services, then dine with friends after church is over. That has been our routine for quite a while already.
We will also attend three other events this week – a concert by the Norman Philharmonic tomorrow evening, our church’s senior ‘Lunch Bunch’ Friday at noon, and an organ recital by UK organist David Briggs at the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Norman, just a few blocks from our house, Friday evening. I know my hearing is significantly weakened right now, but (1) Carolyn’s hearing is not impaired and (2) I will be able to hear/understand at least some of what is going on around me.
