Something came up on social media that I thought I would talk about today. I occasionally get questions, most often along the lines of ‘what was it like to get hit by lightning?’ Something new/different came up, and it’s actually some good food for thought: What’s been the hardest thing to deal with?
Believe it or not, it’s not everything that has happened cardiac-wise. Getting the BP under control was an overlong process and exasperating, but manageable. Being told ‘you have to have open heart surgery within the next two weeks and we really recommend tomorrow morning so you don’t die’ was interesting. Again, something to work through and I’ve done okay with it I think. Need to exercise more, but driving to malls to walk when the heat/humidity keeps me inside (per the docs) is no longer in the budget. Hopefully the worst of summer moderates soon.
Nor is it the cognitive/memory issues. A close second, admittedly, but something that can be and is being dealt with. Testing says I’m still above average in all major areas of cognition, though that was followed by the word I’ve come to dread hearing from any doctor: but. In this case ‘but there are some issues that will last for at least three years while your brain heals.’ I’ve said before, the long-term memory issues are like someone went into the room full of filing cabinets that is my long term memory, went to random filing cabinets, pulled out a drawer at random, and dumped it on the floor. Then the jerk cut on a fan. The short-term issues require me to use a number of coping strategies that are familiar to those with TBI.
The hardest thing to deal with has been the damage to my hearing. There is some hearing loss/increase in tinnitus in both ears. On my right side, which is where I took the hit, I’ve lost all of the higher frequency hearing and the nerves involved are dead. The loss of hearing and increase in tinnitus is a bit higher in that ear. I qualify for a hearing aid in that ear, but the doc and I want to wait a year and see what’s happening, maybe build a baseline, as no matter what we can’t restore what’s lost.
One of the largest problems is that things don’t sound the same. Normal noises in the house can take time to analyze before I know what they are. Sometimes, the brain is helpful (cough, cough) and tries to augment the sound which really makes it hard to identify. I flat out miss hearing some things, and where with two good ears (for my age and times around bangs and booms) I could figure out quickly and accurately from where a sound was originating, well, that’s gone.
It also sucks when it comes to music. I love music and enjoy listening to it. Yet, I’m missing a chunk of it now and can tell it. I still enjoy listening to music, but I really wish I could hear it fully once again. Thank goodness for headphones! They help, esp. with the noise cancelling taking out extraneous room/house sounds that can be a problem.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to be alive and grateful the damage wasn’t worse! I continue to give thanks to God and the Blessed Mother for that. That said, I’d be something other than human if I didn’t admit that it’s not been a smoothly paved path. Reminds me a lot more of a high-country hike years ago that led through boulders, ravines, loose rock, and other delights. No one ever promised me it would be easy. I will say that the help, prayers, and other support that continues to come in has made a huge difference. It is that, and Faith, that keep me going and not terrified at the challenges ahead. For your part in that, thank you. Let’s all press on, and meet the challenges as they come.
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If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the tip jar in the upper right or the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo. Getting hit by lightning is not fun, and it is thanks to your help and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.