Dealing with a lot of jaw pain and trismus. ENT suggested the tongue blade treatment. Decided to try my own. Went on eBay, and purchased a Molt Mouth Gag ($15)....an instrument for opening the mouth during surgery. Works well to stretch my oral opening. Much less expensive than a Therabite or Orastretch, since I'm now unemployeed and COBRA-ing my medical insurance.

Sold my sister's house in California. I'm using the money to remodel my kitchen...something my mom always wanted me to do. Wish she was here to see it...It looks wonderful! I know she sees it, but I wish I could experience it with her.

Had my total knee replacement done on Monday. Wow...I certainly underestimated how painful that would be!!!! This has been a heck of a whirlwind year and a half or so. Sister's suicide, Mom's inoperable cancer diagnosis, my cancer diagnosis, mom's chemo/rad, my radical neck dissection, chemo/rad, Mom's metastisis, Mom passing away, Dad's emergency surgery 2 weeks later, Mom's sister dying of ovarian cancer, me losing my job the next day and now knee surgery!

I've been concerned about thickness and pain in my tongue, where the original tumor was removed. My surgeon doesn't seem worried, but with his less than proactive suggestions for the trismus, I think I will ask for a referral to Univ of Michigan, as soon as my knee is rehabbed enough for me to get around. Pretty sure I'm not interested in another go-round with chemo/rad (once really was enough), but would like to know what, if anything is going on, and if there is a way to control the pain (botox injection in the masseter, or the pentoxyfillene/vitamin E for the radiation fibrosis.) I sort of feel like I'm dropping through the cracks. I need to start pushing a little, and see what else is available.