First, if you’ve read the excerpt from Dominion, it’s still a work in progress and some changes have been made. Feel free to make suggestions or comments.
I’ve mentioned to you that I was having surgery (M.I.L.D) on my back on June 23rd. I went in, told them all my issues about how my body reacts to medicine and for that reason I didn’t want sedation. Just a local. I don’t just have allergies…I get adverse reactions which can be dangerous if serious. I also told them I’m not good with sedatives. Not even NyQuil. The doctors just couldn’t agree with me.
The anesthesiologist promised just a tiny bit of sedation to make me groggy. Not asleep. He said that. He said I’d be able to ask for more if I wanted it, so I agreed. I don’t want pain.
Well, next thing I know I’m waking up in agony. My throat was burning so badly that I would gladly have taken a cup of hot lava to cool it off. And I was crying…sobbing…while I begged for water. I’ve never begged for anything in my life. The crying was just a reaction to the sedative. I’d stop and then start again for no reason. I had no control over that.
I did get two small cups of water. My throat still burned but eased a little. I was told that I had gotten sick during the procedure. Another reaction to the sedative.
Neither myself nor my son were given any further information, which as a nurse myself, I know that the possibility of aspiration pneumonia should’ve been addressed. I also should’ve been given Mylanta or similar to counter the acid. I spoke to my son as we drove home although I wasn’t completely awake and oriented. Then after I was settled, he went to work. Which was fine because I had been told that when I walked out of the surgery center half an hour after surgery, I’d be back to my old self. Lie!
I realized that afternoon that I couldn’t speak. Not laryngitis. Not scratchy. Not squeaky. No sound whatsoever! Not even able to whisper. I knew what it was but to confirm, my PCP who I saw on Friday agreed…my throat has suffered a chemical burn due to stomach acid. That’s hydrochloric acid on my throat and voice box and since I was given no info, I don’t know for how long or if any treatment or intervention was done. As I write this, it’s June 29th, and I’m still unable to make any sounds. No whispers. No squeaks. Nothing. And all I do is cough, cough, cough.
I had originally planned to do this on June 9th and go to the book fair on June 13th. I wouldn’t have been able to attend.
My PCP said to give it a couple of days and if no improvement with my voice, I’ll have to go to an ENT doctor. That visit won’t be pleasant. I’ve requested the medical records but they’re slow. It’s my legal right to have them and at the least, I need to know what additional medication to add to my ‘do not use’ list.
So…just another case of doctors thinking they know best.
I had assumed my knee pain was the normal older person with arthritis or something but oddly, not a speck of pain in either of my knees since the surgery. My back tires quickly, but I’m not having the pain that the surgery was meant to treat, so that’s a plus. But you know what…never again.
If my voice never comes back, that would be unusual but possible, and also grounds for a lawsuit. Honestly, I don’t want to do that. I just want my voice back so I can go to book fairs and make my own phone calls and talk to my dog. At least she understands sign language.
But it did give me the idea for a story with the main female character being mute. No magic or financial cures. Just possibly an interesting arc.
On a much happier note, Blue Moon the Rebirth has a five-star review on Amazon and a wonderful one from Amy on TikTok.
If my voice heals, I’ll make some videos for TikTok, Rumble and YouTube. They’ve really messed with my timeline.
Meanwhile, I’ll just sit here in my silence and eat my soft food. And even though ice cream is involved, it’s getting old.
Take care, everyone.
Gillian
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