Originally Posted by
Dan Druff
Some people have assumed that I've gotten better because I've been posting more often, and have even returned to making a few sportsbets.
In some ways, I have improved. But that's more because I've gotten used to everything happening, and so has my brain,
There's less anxiety than before, because I pretty much know what to expect out of each day. It's shitty, but my brain knows it will be shitty, and has adjusted to accepting that, whereas before I was freaking out because it was all so new.
Furthermore, I'm learning more and more each day how to deal with the LPR symptoms. I use the Biotene rinse when I feel it getting bad. I also use the Biotene before bed, or if I wake up feeling my mouth is really dry. The head of my bed is now on a 7-inch incline. I also prop two pillows up, whereas before I was sleeping one one flat pillow. While it's kinda uncomfortable and feels like I'm sleeping on the side of a mountain, at least this lessens the choking sensation I was feeling when trying to fall asleep. I'm still having sleeping issues, but not as badly as before. For awhile, I was failing to get more than 6 hours of sleep, no matter how much of a deficit I had, and some nights I wouldn't sleep at all. Now I am getting a combination of good and bad sleep days. I've been able to sleep 9-10 hours on some days when I really need it, and I've even been able to take naps during the day, which I was unable to do for awhile.
I've also found that some of the fatigue I was experiencing wasn't just lack of sleep -- it was caffeine withdrawal. So I pop a 100mg caffeine pill when feeling lethargic, and that often helps.
I'm going to go see the Dodgers when they win the NL West and make the NLDS against the Braves (notice I said WHEN, not if). Not sure when I'll feel good enough to travel again, but I'll start with a Vegas trip and go from there. Not anytime soon, though.
Radio, unfortunately, is awhile away. For radio to return, I'm going to have to knock out most of the LPR symptoms, and I'm not sure when that will happen, if ever. Sadly I have noticed that a lot of talking seems to noticeably worsen the LPR symptoms. I stupidly talked on the phone every day for long periods of time when this was going on, feeling it was therapeutic to discuss this with friends and family. Unfortunately, I think I was just worsening everything, as I noticed my throat was especially bad after those phone calls. Now I'm careful to keep off long phone calls, and to never raise my voice for any reason (tough when you have a kid). I'm hoping that, if this is vocal-related, time will heal this wound.
I'm hoping the stroboscopy doesn't reveal some kind of permanent damage which can only be fixed through surgery, because the thought of someone taking a knife to my throat is very scary, and there are all kinds of potential complications. On the good side, I do not have any change in my voice tone, nor is the hoarseness constant. I'm hoping that means the damage is moderate/minor, and that time can heal it.