Hi all! Wasn't sure where to post my question as this is my first time on the board.

I'm in the early stages of diagnosis/treatment planning for a lesion that I have on my palate. It's a painless lump that I have had for approx. 3 years. I had a CT scan and the preliminary diagnosis was a benign salivary gland tumor. I just had a biopsy a week ago and go in for the results in two weeks time.

Regardless of the outcome (malignant or benign), I've been informed that the tumor will need to be removed. To be honest I'm having a tough time with the whole thing. The surgery terrifies me as it will involve an excision of the tumor, down to the bone, leaving a hole in the roof of my mouth. Has anyone experienced this type of surgery? Was the pain manageable? How did you eat? How long did it take to heal?

I have a very active 11 month old baby and I'm beside myself trying to figure out my recovery and being able to care for him.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I haven't had this kind of surgery but plenty of other oral operations so hope I'll do for now till the more knowledgeable people are back from Christmas celebrations.

Pain will be very manageable. You will be given morphine or one of the other strong pain relievers automatically. No one will want you to be in post-surgical pain. There's a pain team attached to hospital wards. Someone from the team will visit you if there's any problem but there shouldn't be. It's only in the first 5 or 6 days after surgery that heavy pain can sometimes break through. After that there will probably be very little pain.

We are often fed through a naso-gastric tube after oral surgery. A formula is dripped into the tube in the early days and eventually you can pump the food in yourself. Once healing is complete you can start to practise swallowing, drinking, eating soft foods then back to normal.

Will the wound in your palate be closed? If not I understand that there are prosthetic devices for this issue.

Healing after surgery is amazingly quick. After a week to 8 days tubes start coming out and most people are out of hospital in 10 days. There seem to be shorter hospital stays in the US than here in NZ. But you will need help with your baby for the days in hospital and the immediate aftermath.

I can well understand your anxiety. Hope this helps and good luck with the biopsy and surgery.