Hi Everyone!
As usual I know it has been quite a while since my last
blog post, but that just seems to be how things are happening in this
phase of my recovery. Appointments are further apart and less frequent,
and my progress is slower, but still significant in our eyes. After the
holidays my focus continued to be on physical and speech therapy in
order to get me work ready. Unfortunately my PT visits ran low so I went
on hold at the end of January to ensure that I had a few visits
available to address new issues related to returning to work. Despite
the early end, my body improved in all areas, my endurance is the best
it has been since before my diagnosis, my shoulder range of motion and
stability is significantly improved (although it still has a way to go
to be defined as normal), and the radiation fibrosis in my neck causing
my muscles to be hard and stiff has begun to relent with lots of massage
and stretching. My speech has improved immensely as well and I went on
hold with my therapist about two weeks ago. My articulation, breath and
saliva management, voice inflections, and endurance of speech is far
beyond what it was when I began working with Becky in the fall. She gave
me my before and after recordings and the difference was wonderful to
hear, especially since my progress is so slow and subtle these days, it
made me feel as though all of my hard work was and continues to be well
worth the time. Now my progress will depend on my own commitment to the
tools I have been given by both of my amazing therapists which I know
will be a challenge, especially as my daily life becomes more "normal."
I
have also continued to follow up with my pain management team in an
attempt to find long term solutions that would allow me to return to
work and activities I enjoy. I'm happy to say that my current regimen of
medicine and therapeutic exercise/stretch/massage has been more
successful than any other we have tried. It's far from perfect, but the
trial and error process will continue as my needs change.
Earlier
this month I had a follow up with my plastic surgeon Dr. Cannady.
Overall it was the most positive appointment in terms of my progress,
with him telling me that many of his patients have more tongue volume
and mobility than I do, however their diets are much more limited and
speech is far less intelligible than mine are. He and mom both say this
is a testament to how hard I have worked, and that may be true in part,
but I say it is also a testament to the amazing team I have had in my
corner, from the most skilled doctors and therapists who gave me all I
needed to succeed, to the most supportive family and friends who never
let me quit, and still don't :). On the down side, I also had to have a
new spot on my tongue checked out that frightened us a bit. He believes I
had a salivary duct blockage that caused a small pocket of infection. I
will see him again this week to check it out. If it isn't healing
appropriately, it is possible that I will have to have a biopsy just to
be extra cautious that nothing nasty is going on in there. So please
please please send extra prayers this week that all is okay and we can
keep moving on in a positive way.
Last but not least, I have some
very big and wonderful news! Tomorrow marks my very first day back to
work at Good Shepherd since July 27th, 2015! I will be per diem to
start, giving me access to flexibility around my appointments and
fulfilling my need for shorter shifts until my endurance builds. I am
anxious about the unknown, how my body will handle it, how my pain will
respond, and how I will figure out where I want my career to go from
here. But I have to trust that all of this has happened for a reason and
that this step is how I will start to figure that out. So keep the
prayers and positive vibes coming my way this week and thank you all for
caring so much about my journey. I know it has probably been a tough
one to hear about at times, but I appreciate that you all continued to
listen and believe I could overcome this mess.
Much Love and Thanks,
Devin :)
