Michele: I'm a brand new member, but wanted to wish you the best. Hopefully they are giving you good pain meds. I had the most trouble with that. My surgery was on 1/3/11 and I still feel like I was run over by a MACK truck. Hope every day gives you some improvement and healing.
I noticed you are in IL also.... whereabouts ? I am in suburban Chicago.

Ingrid K.

DX 12/6/10 of T3 SCC Tongue.
Surgery 1/3/11 was hemigloss & forearm free flap, midline mandibulectomy, Neck Disection-All nodes clear.
Ended rads 5/11/11. Taste buds back to about 80%. PEG removed 4/5/12, experimenting eating real food again. If I can do this, so can you !! Stay Strong.