MarvB,

Not to bypass Christine's post, but I’m going to bed, and not sure when I’ll be online next.

I don’t recall them being a concern, at least now. I sleep on an incline bed at home, and probably was in the hospital. They have a little humidifier they put on the stoma site, so that helps. You’re pretty much out of it the first couple of days, I was, and pain meds help (morphine), but around the 4th day I was eating a pureed meal, sutting out of bed, so breathing wasn’t too much a concern as I recall. Plus, there was several nurse assigned to the 4 bed step down room, which is like ICU, and all were very attentive, and just waved someone over if needed.

I hope this helps, and was just my experience as I recall.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs