I am trying to hear you now. Updated w/ Cake.
I have been back to the doctor with my ear issues. Yes, again. This was my 30 day checkup after finally having the ear infection cleared up by many rounds of antibiotics and expensive ear drops over the last year and 4 months. Holy cow, we have insurance and medications and co-pays are crazy expensive. How do people seek care for very serious problems and manage to pay for it all? I feel so fortunate to have insurance yet at the same time unfortunate as the bills are still very large.
So, back to the doctor.
The perforation in my ear drum has not heal. The edges are curled and they cannot meet to knit back together.
The only option to close the hole is surgery.
Surgery. With general anesthesia. With knives and lasers and shaving a place behind my ear where I have hair growing that is nearly 3 feet long. Did you read that??? That have to shave a little place on my scalp to carry out step one of the procedure.
The will cut into the scalp and get down to the temporal lobe muscle and remove a tiny piece of tissue that the doctor explained looks like a piece of cellophane wrap.
That piece of tissue will be used in place behind the opening in the eardrum giving the tissue of the eardrum something to grip in order to grow across and seal the opening.
The ear canal will be packed with a material that dissolves over time – about 21 days. At which point I will begin using an ear drop that will help any remaining material to dissolve and melt away.
By 30 days post op my hearing should be restored.
Which is good. I don’t want to not hear. I don’t want to lose my hearing.
Yet, I am afraid. Very afraid. Oh, hell, let’s be honest. I am scared shitless at the idea of being put to sleep.
Scared. Scared. Scared.
Yesterday when he told me my blood pressure shot up sky high. My face and chest were glowing red like Rudolph’s nose well past bedtime.
I am nervous this morning but not nearly as bad as yesterday.
I can only guess that as I get used to the idea I’ll be better able to cope when the time comes.
January 18th is the day.
Barely one month away.
I need some valium.
Today I am baking Gracie’s birthday cake. She asked for coconut cake. It should be really good. I only bake coconut cake at Christmas or on rare summer days when the droning heat requires something cold and wonderful.
This cake is indeed wonderful and needs to be kept cold. It needs to be made 2 – 3 days in advance and allowed to sit int he refrigerator for the icing to work its magic.
I’ll update in a bit with the recipe and a photo.
Coconut Cake
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour (don’t use cake flour or self-rising, you won’t get the dense moist heavy cake this should be)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) butter (no substitutes), room temperature
1 cup canned sweetened cream of coconut (Coco Lopez is one brand found in the cocktail/wine section of the grocery store)
4 large eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla extract (use the very best vanilla you can get, not imitation flavoring)
1 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by buttering and flouring or using a spray like Baker’s Joy.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl to mix well.
Beat sugar, butter and cream of coconut in large bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg yolks and vanilla extract.
Mix in dry ingredients and then buttermilk until blended. Don’t over mix.
In a clean bowl, beat egg whites with pinch of salt until stiff.
Fold beaten egg whites into batter.
Pour equal amounts into your cake pans. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 35 – 45 minutes.
Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes then turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
This cake is dense and moist. It is a heavy cake that awaits the best icing ever thought of. In true Southern tradition a coconut cake should be heavy and the icing like and fluffy. Don’t be fooled looking for some light fluffy cake. That is not a traditional southern style coconut cake. This is a wonderful cake. If you like a more prominent coconut flavor you can use coconut extract in place of the vanilla. I prefer the vanilla.
Next up – Icing!
1 cup sour cream
2 cups white sugar
2 packages frozen coconut – thawed
Mix while srtill very cold. Spread over bottom layer. Then spread over top layer and smooth up the sides. This is going to be like putting spackle on a wall. Take your time and make it stick.
Cover in an air tight cake taker (like this one from Tupperware!) and set in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days BEFORE serving.
Once you are ready to serve the cake whip up a batch of fluffy cream cheese or sour cream frosting to layer over with lots of angel flake sweetened coconut packed on.
Gracie loved her cake!
I want the recipe!! My mom used to make a “snowball” cake that was frosted all over with flaked coconut. We loved it, but I haven’t made it in years.
I’m so sorry about your ear, but please try not to be afraid. That might affect your ability to heal, Angie.
I have my own hearing problems, as you know. I may write about it tomorrow.
I’m sorry that you’ll need surgery and am sending lots of good thoughts your way.
Angie I’ve had that surgery before – twice – and am going for the 3rd time in January. Do you want to chat about it (not sure if you remember me)
of course I know you! I want to know everything about this surgery. But more than anything I am scared of being put to sleep.
When I had to have surgery, being put to sleep was my biggest concern. It is worth the time spent to talk to your doctor about it. Your doctor works closely with the anesthesiologist and will allay your fears.
Love the cake recipe.
I still think you wear a ‘super’ cape…but now I know it’s really long hair! Everything will be fine.
I’ve had several ear surgeries so I definitely feel your pain on this one. Surgery is always scary but hopefully this will be your last!
I can’t wait to see your Coconut Cake – it’s my favorite dessert even before Key Lime Pie
Dear Angie,
I am basically allergic to anesthesia and found a great guy to do mine the last time. You have to let them know not to drown you in drugs. I made it very clear.
Ask questions and get answers and do not care if they think you are demanding. I did. I will be thinking of you and if you need anything I will be there. I also need your address so I can send Christmas card and a post op gift. Love, Bee
Sending you healing and calming thoughts re: surgery.
I had general anesthesia when I had emergency appendix surgery. My mother is a surgical RN so I’ve grown up around all these people so I didn’t find it scary myself. Make sure you make your doctor aware of your fear though, as he SHOULD help you work through them. In MN we meet our anesthesiologist as well as the nurse anesthetist before having the procedure which can also help. I’m sure that Steve will be there with you when you have this done, but I do want to mention this. He should pay extra close attention to the recovery directions given to you. I had no trouble remembering them myself, but when my husband Jody had a hernia repaired two years ago he did something he was told not to do and after I was in tears because he had done that he told me that he did not remember getting the instructions for his after care.
Amen to what Becky said! Follow instructions.
Double Amen to what the Bee said. Ask every question. There is no such thing as a stupid question.
You will get an IV put in your wrist and they will give you something to calm you. I’ve had general anesthesia many times and done fine with it. The epidural before a fibroidectomy wasn’t the most fun, but regular surgery prep is pretty easy.
Cook stuff ahead of time, have people to help you at home (besides your girls!) in case there is dizziness associated with your healing. Actually, that’s what I always want to know: How am I gonna feel afterward, and how long will I feel that way?
UGH. I’m sure it will go well, but still. UGH.
Hang in there Angie! Before you know it, your hearing will be restored and this nightmare will be a thing of the past. For now, try to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday season that you love so much.
As for the coconut cake recipe! YUMM-O! We do still the need the icing recipe to go with this though. I think I will make one for Christmas day. Thank you for the continuation of sharing such wonderful recipes!
How is your ear doing now?