It’s time for my Vocal Chords to get the once over. The ENT doctor is a big, jolly Italian man and he remembers me from last time. He seems genuinely surprised to see me again so soon and gives me lots of sympathy vis a vis my new predicament. I’m getting to be an old hand at the vocal chord checks now. It’s a funny ‘ole procedure, I have to hold the end of my tongue with a bit of gauze while he sticks something that resembles a long, floppy straw with a tiny lens on the end down my throat. Then I have to make all manner of embarrassing noises while trying not to gag with said pipe down my throat!
At least the results are instant! The good news is that the vocal nerves are not damaged so I’m pretty stoked about that. The not-so-great news is that the vocal chords are still a bit red and sore from the surgery which is why my voice still sounds so croaky. Apparently, the best way to sound more like my old self and less like a frog, is good old fashioned, rest. Hmm. Anyone who knows me, knows how difficult it is for me to be quiet! In fact, I’m sure there are quite a few people who wouldn’t think it a bad thing if I put a sock in it for a bit! He suggests that quite simply I talk as little as possible and take some time off work, or at least work part time, and drink lots of honey and lemon! Indeed , my voice is the tool of my trade and I’d be literally, redundant without it! So, as much as I love my job, and as much as I’m gagging to get back to work and work full time I’m going to take his advice. He tells me to wait six weeks and if I’m still croaking to go back for another visit!
At home, I cook up one of my favourite iodine free dinners in the slow cooker Chicken Braised with Red Cabbage. It’s healthy, easy to make and iodine free. I have enough to feed a small army so I divide it into portions and stash it in the freezer. I’ll really enjoy eating that over the next few weeks when I’m iodine free. As my batteries start to burn out, I guess I’ll feel less like cooking too, so it will be good to have a stack of home cooked ready meals in the freezer that I can just heat ‘n’ eat!
However, as I’ve frozen all my slow cooker stash but still got some energy left over, we try out Garlicky Lemon Chicken for dinner. It’s easy, quick and very, very garlicky! This recipe should come with a GHW (Government Halitosis Warning!) or, failing that just go easy on the garlic! This is a surefire way to keep the vampires (and everyone else!) at bay, even on Halloween Night!
