Jeff,
I don't think anyone gets dressings on the incision for a ND. Just warn anyone who is going to visit that you will look like you have been run halfway through a guillotine but it is really not as bad as it looks. I asked for stitches rather than staples. Make certain that the surgeon is a good plastics man and has done a zillion of these. Will be thinking of you on the 31st.

Take care,
Eileen

Out of curiosity....
Any or y'all ride motorcycles???

I am an avid Goldwing rider and also ride a Sport touring motorcycle year round. I'm worried about my ability to "head check" (turn my head with the helmet on) traffic and actually if I'll be able to wear a full face helmet.

GaryG
I am a fellow motorcycle enthusiast and although I have not had the same experiences as you I belive that if you work at it you will be able to do the double and triple shoulder check. We are all invisible on the road as you know and probably exercise more caution when riding than most car drivers and that is because we have to. Stick to the less travelled roads when you decide to go for a ride the first couple of times and if all goes well then venture onto the busier streets etc. I had to go to an automatic transmission due to my physical limitations but still enjoy the ride.
Cheers,
Mike

I wear a full face helmet. A broken mandible after radiation isn't likely to heal well, and it could be lost entirely. The drawback is with acute xerostomia that drinking water is a must so I have a bladder in my jacket with a bite tube hanging out the front. It took a little looking to find a full face mask that I could flip up the visor in, and pass the tube through to get a sip of water. I ended up with one made in Germany. The other benefit is that it also has the ability to flip the entire face portion up. Also about 2 years of from the ND my range of motion improved through exercise etc., but never returned completely to normal.

[quote=Brian Hill]I wear a full face helmet. A broken mandible after radiation isn't likely to heal well, and it could be lost entirely. The drawback is with acute xerostomia that drinking water is a must so I have a bladder in my jacket with a bite tube hanging out the front. It took a little looking to find a full face mask that I could flip up the visor in, and pass the tube through to get a sip of water. I ended up with one made in Germany. The other benefit is that it also has the ability to flip the entire face portion up. Also about 2 years of from the ND my range of motion improved through exercise etc., but never returned completely to normal. [/quote]
I wear a Nolan N-102 Flip front and wear a Camel-bak hydration system if I'm going any distance...glad to hear y'all are still up on two.

Well Halloween came and went and it looks like I'll get to wear this outfit for a few more days It took two surgeons and staff about 5 hours to open me up, clean out the two problem areas and then put me back together. They were able to leave the muscles and all but one small branch of my jugler, and according to them I am doing very very well....no swelling to speak of both drains already removed...yeah! We go back on Thursday to begin the staple removal and then maybe back to work on Monday...but...I'm not going to push it too hard.

here is wishing you a fast and full recovery. don't push it on going back to work until you feel strong enough my dear... good to get back to life as much and soon as possible, but if we push too hard too fast it tends to backfire. congrats on the great progress to date!