Eighth Day - 1000 steps

Drew from a shot from the mobile phone, sitting on the bed and eating with head bout to reduce triggering during swallowing. During swallowing I kept the tongue fixed and move only the throat. It helps.

The Particular Nurse 

I slept well and comfortable after putting on the sweater. The air-condition coldness did nothing much to my discomfort. The medicine was sinking in as I did not feel nausea or gassy as the days before. I did some massaging to the back of the neck. The sharp soreness was still there. I did not massage too hard like the day before, giving it time to recover from the deep massage the other day. I suspect the deep sore was caused my the spasm during the fainting, as I felt the both cuff muscle were sore too. I sensed that my knees and thighs were strained after the exercise the day before. Perhaps I need to adopt another way to get down fast onto the floor during the attack? I wonder. 

Adjusted my posture to be in a straight line, with two hands below the navel. I relax my eyes, nose, ear, face and slowly down to the toe. It was a common thing I do every night. Relaxing and not concentrating on the problematic area seems to be the best way to meditate before going to sleep. 

Woke up by a rude nurse that took my Blood Pressure and shove a thermometer into my ear causing sharp pain. Perhaps a sick man should not complain too much, I thought. Before she left she told me that she wants to do the COVID PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Test in the early morning at 6 am. I thought may be I should request for another nurse instead; my nostrils are going to get hurt. 

At 8am, the same nurse woke me up and hurried me to the test area. I rather slow her down before she poke my nose so hard. I waved at the toilet, insisted to go toilet first. She said come back than go toilet. I refused. I went to pee, took time to rinse my mouth, got a towel to wiped my face, went to sit on the bed to get two sips of water so that my mouth and neck were moist.  

Finally, for the first time, I was walking along the isle, a busy sight. Nurses and Doctors were busy making their rounds. I waved to Dr. Rhamani, who is diligent and responsible, came to the hospital even when he is on leave. 

Before she did my test she kept asking for my name, identification and date of birthday. I could not speak so I nodded my head to confirm the reading. I did some hand signal to ask her slow down in the probing of my nostrils. She was still very quick. She was impatient although she had tried, thankfully. The nose hurts and I have to close my eyes while she was at it. There after I closed my eyes and rubbed my noses to ease the pain. 

Dr Rhamani

He came after the PCR to checked on me. He asked if I was eating normally or was avoiding triggering the attack. Yes I noted and wrote on the paper — I avoided the trigger. When asked how I am doing? I wrote: ‘It has a prickly effect sometimes when I swallow’, ‘I presumed it is more numb’, ‘Less nausea’, ‘Less dizzy’, ‘But balancing reduce’. He said it could also be the fact that I was always on the bed. So I wrote: ‘I did some walking and Taichi breading exercise’, ‘I sat at the chair to write too’. He noted.

He mentioned about the classic ways to treat Glossopharyngeal nerve problem with epilepsy medication — Tegretol (trade name ‘Carbamazepine’) but this has an adverse effect with some people having a certain gene. So gene has to be tested before it can be administered. 

Presently I am taking Pregabalin (Trade name Lyrica) 

So he was preparing that if the Lyrica don’t work that well perhaps, for a thought, is to consider the Carbamazepine. 

He departed after expressing regret that COVID stop visiting, but I wrote that it is good. I don’t like visit when I am in hospital. I need rest. I did the same two years ago when I had the first attack.

Exercise

Today, before breakfast, I walked 1000 steps, did 7 moves of the BaDuanJin. I felt the knees and thighs were weak, so I practise a few squats with two legs, preparing for the emergency. 

Breakfast 

Shitted before breakfast. Macaroni, assorted vegetables and barley drinks. The drink was too cold so I pour away some and added more warm water. I drank some and it was too diluted. 

Arranged the seat and tables at the end of the bed and started sitting up right instead of on the bed.