Hi Susie. Glad you found this site. My sisters surgery was on June 2. After surgery she was sedated for about a day. She did not look pretty to us but started recovering very fast. She was out of ICU in a day. I know as a patient this is very scary and I am sure for the first few days after surgery it is scary. She was home in 8 days because she had alittle set back. She was trying to speak so much that she popped out a stitch in her tongue. Just alittle advice have someone bring a ez erase board and marker so you can write. They don't want you talking to much. My sister swelled a lot during surgery and needed to be trached and had a feeding tube. They covered her trach in 2 days and took it out in 6. Just tell your family your not going look to pretty to them but you will in a few days. My sister is now 7 weeks out. Talking about 85% eating whatever she wants. Her arm has healed nicely and her leg is completly healed. She starts radiation next week. Any questions you may have you could PM me anytime. Good luck to soon being cancer free!!