Have been back with my family, in Tokyo, for almost a month now. Quick update.
Balance: Slowly and steadily getting better. My eyes and feet control things now, but even in the dusk I can walk ok. I went swimming and running for the first time last week. Neither very elegant but who cares. This is a huge result and boost for my confidence.
Bobbing eyes: Like balance, my brain is re-routing and slowly getting control via alternate neural pathways.
Hearing: How ironic to find things are now often too noisy. Struggling with background noise and higher pitched tones. I had hoped to hear Ulrica and the kids voices better. Its makes me sad to see their frustration when I get stuck on a word. My 7 year old sometimes just pretends to speak, which breaks my heart. Have started speech therapy from the beginning with Ulrica, looking to tune my ears into their tone. "bat/mat, date/tate, share/chair etc, etc". I have started reading to myself with just the bad ear turned on - forcing the brain to work this side.
Tinnitus is a tough one. When the hairs inside your cochlear are damaged, they send random electrical impulses, which the brain interprets as sound. This is a common problem with old age, as cochlear hairs degenerate. The severity and range of "sounds" is proportional to the hair damage. My tinnitus is unfortunately getting worse. I now have noise 24hrs a day. Bells, whistles and hums so loud, they shake my skull. First thing in the morning is the quietest and getting out of bed has a new downside, the noise starts. There is no clear medicinal help. I just need to de sensitive these signals - just like living next to a motorway. It's a harder fight that physical pain.
Rehab now is swimming, running, walking with fixed focus. My good friend Sarah took me to meditate with the Moto Azabu monks. I think meditation and hypnotherapy are well worth exploring further, for the tinnitus.
Still off work. My Japanese colleagues made me a "Senbazuru". A thousand, hand made paper cranes, stitched together. The legend says who ever gives this gift has their wish granted for that person. It is one of the most touching gifts I have ever received.
Overall - the journey will be a long one but spirits are still good.
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