Shawn,

I had a bilateral neck dissection in October 2012 (and I had woken up during a previous surgery - my body is weird with drugs in general - but my surgery which was 14 hours went without issue). I can tell you that I came through fine, and within 6 months was playing baseball.

I can't speak to the HIV issue, but the best advice I can give is for you to be completely honest with your doc about the issues.

The surgery isn't that bad - you look like a train wreck, but there really wasn't much pain as the nerve damage prevents it. I was off all pain killers in 4 days.

Good luck with everything.

Tina
Diag: Aug. 13/12
T3N0M0
50% + glossectomy and bilateral radical neck dissection, removal of nodes zones I - V
Surgery October 11/12
Chemo/rad on hold due to clear margins and nodes
Sept 21/13 clear CT with anomaly thought to be the artery, being watched closely.
Dec 16/13 - anomaly confirmed artery, all clear
nickname: "get 'r done"
Plans: kick cancer's butt