Friday, May 17, 2013

Hello Friends and Neighbors ~

I haven't been posting much of anything of later, and likely for a while longer.
How long?  I don't really know; hopefully not to long.

I am ill.  I have a massive infection blocking the the salivary glan on my right
side of my face.  This mass is pressing on the facial nerves on the right side so
I am in a DroopyModus. . .lol. . .eyebrow and eyelids are not under my control.
When I smile. . or grimace. . .the right side of my lips stay in droop mode. The right jaw bone is very sensitive and painful.  Nourishment is taken in the form of mush or gruel which I can take thru a straw.

The antibiotics and pain meds make me very tired.  I sleep a lot. . ..get up for a while and when needed go back to sleep.  I had been very fatigued the previous week but I was still functioning normally.  Monday morning early I went to the clinic to have blood drawn for the usual yearly tests and doctor's check up the next day.

I knew then something wasn't right. . .and gradually during the day the symptoms progressed and became more affective on my motor skills, etc.  I saw my regular MD  Tuesday afternoon and I had to be driven to his office:  my partial paralysis and slow-down was in full bloom.  He told me what I have written to you above.
Started me on antibiotics program, and all the other things I do.  Before I left his office he has set up an appointment for me for today, for this afternoon with of the best specialists he knows.  I am lucky to get an appointment so quickly.

The quicker I start the repair program the more likely for a complete recovery. Some people get over this in a couple of week; others take longer. . .of course all dependent on our regular physical and mental health.  I work on patient acceptance and have accepted the possibility I will not be able to participate in receiving my doctoral degree. . . .but we shall see.  If I feel as I do this early morning there is\no way I would go and could endure the long ceremony.  I am just too washed out.

As it gets warmer I will spend some time sitting out  in the sun on our porch, aka veranda breathing in the healing soothing smell of the sea. . . ..aaaaahhh sounds nice, especially when I begin to get on the other side of the current mess.

As I can I will post something or other, or in response to  your posts and emails.

All good wishes,

   JustinO

16 comments:

J said...

Sure hope you have a speedy recovery Justin.

JustinO'Shea said...

J. . .I am all in favor of that!
Maybe all of us "pulling together" can pull me out of this quagmire. . ;-)
This morning is the first time I've even felt hungry or any desire for food. . even in gruel(sp?) form. Trying lil bites of whole wheat toast. . tastes good. LOL

Jim said...

Hello Justin. So sorry to hear this and happy that you are taking heed of your doctor's advice.
Rest and medication and those veranda visits will all help in getting you back to normal.....we don't want you too normal now!! lol
But do take care and don't fret about maybe not being at that very long ceremony....your health is far to important.

JustinO'Shea said...

Thanks, Jim, I am open to all good counsel and advice. . from those more experienced than I. . .experience= great source of education. ;-)

Gary Kelly said...

Youth is no insurance against the nasties. But hopefully it will aid your speedy recovery, JustinO. Feeling hungry is a good sign.

My dad had something similar in that one side of his face was paralyzed, and he looked like something out of a horror movie.

GreginAdelaide said...

Hey Justin, sad to hear that....illness is an unwelcome remnder that we are mortal.
Hope you shake it off real soon fella, at least you've got age and a healthy body working for ya!
Cheers mate.

JustinO'Shea said...

OMGGG! Look like a horror movie? eeeeeuuuuuuies

I am gonna get a really large hoodie! LoL

JustinO'Shea said...

Thanks, Greg. . I AM GOING to get better. . . ;-)

radicaljoe7@gmail.com said...

Justin, you have worked your butt off in teaching and writing your Doctoral Thesis and pushing that
great body of yours. Just pure punishing it for the last 8yrs.
It may be Gravitis, it's probably not spelt correctly. Hoping and Praying that you come back to your
old self. Have 19yr old nephew in
Detroit, guess it was a football injury. Can't even move his leg
from hip to knee, for 2weeks. I don't know if I could put up with that. I have had a hard time just
staying quiet. Best to You and I hope Peter is there to help ease
you at this time. Don't know if my
prayers will help, but they are there for YOU.

JustinO'Shea said...

RAD JOE. . .Of course your prayers help: I know that

What did Jesus say: "Whenever two or more gather in my name to ask for anything it will be done for them."

That is good enough for me.
;-)

Richard said...

Justin,

I just returned from a long business trip and saw this terrible news. How dreadful that you were unable to participate in the academic procession after all of your hard work. At least you will receive the cowl, n'est-ce pas?

More importantly, however, we want to see you in perfect health, smiling that great visage on the Dunes soon.

Get well, stud.

JustinO'Shea said...

THANKS, Richard. . .very much.

I have some good news.. . hehe
Commencement/ Graduation is not until June 9. . and, as things seem to be going, I get a little better each day, I shall boogie down that mile-long aisle. . with deep reverence and respect, and Cape COd denoument . . .but of course! LOL

Thanks everybody for all the energy, prayer and wishes.
~~ justin

JustinO'Shea said...

THANKS, Richard. . .very much.

I have some good news.. . hehe
Commencement/ Graduation is not until June 9. . and, as things seem to be going, I get a little better each day, I shall boogie down that mile-long aisle. . with deep reverence and respect, and Cape COd denoument . . .but of course! LOL

Thanks everybody for all the energy, prayer and wishes.
~~ justin

gloakie said...

Just get well ASAP no in fact PDQ
Lots of love from Somerset Alan

JustinO'Shea said...

Thanks, Alan. . workin' on it, trust me. . .;-))

Passingship said...

Glad your doctor has diagnosed what is wrong and has you on the road to recovery. There is a malady called Bells Palsy, where a facial nerve becomes paralyzed, and it causes the symptoms you have, so it would appear the infection you have is disabling the facial nerve temporarily.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell's_palsy

Bells Palsy may be what Gary's dad had.

On a brighter note, one often hears the argument that homosexuality cannot be considered normal because it is contrary to nature and continuation of the species. They have recently discovered it actually promotes continuation of the species, therefore not only would not be contrary to nature but something nature would encourage.

Male Homosexuality Study - Gay Men Have Evolutionary Benefit For Their Families, New Research Suggests
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/why-are-there-gay-men_n_1590501.html