Stormy

The past couple of days have seen a tremendous amount of rain fall again here in the Ariège. But it has been cold with it - just 4 degrees up at the Col de Port (1200m) this morning. The potager always benefits from a good soaking, but we need a good spell of warm weather to follow on. Fortunately, that is just what is forecast for the weekend :-)

A trip down to Foix this morning to see the ear specialist at the hospital for more involved tests to try and establish what is going on with my inner ear workings. I have been on reduced meds for the past 2 days and off them completely today. Tanganil has given me strong feelings of light-headedness and imbalance which have not been altogether pleasant (but better than the full-on vertigo) and have meant that I have been unable to drive. I was therefore hoping for positive news today. After a battery of tests, the good news is that my actual hearing is unaffected and that the symptoms of the vertigo are much reduced. However, tests also proved that the vestibular system of my left ear has simply ceased to work. No specific reason. No explanation. It is simply not functioning. Time may well sort out the problem. I have a prescription for some drugs that I need to take twice a day for the next 6 months, yes, 6 months, which will supposedly help the remedial process. But it is quite possible that the vertigo will return in the meantime. I will be living on the basis that it will not be returning. I expect to be able to drive within the week and will get out running as soon as the effects of the Tanganil are out of my system. Unfortunately, I won't be able to take part in the trail race on Sunday that I was supposed to be doing with Pat, but hey, there will be others.

Just a final word ..... in my experience to date, the French health care system deserves its reputation as one of the best in the world. It is efficient and thorough in every respect and, provided you are 'in the system', it does not cost an arm and a leg. I am lucky in that I found an excellent accountant who is an expert in both UK and French accountancy and who has enabled us to get set up in the most cost-efficient manner, meaning healthcare costs are taken care of and we have peace of mind should one of us require medical treatment.