Hi again. I was in icu for all of 12 hours. And I was aware. I was operated on at 7am and finally brought into icu at 1 am that night/next morning. I was in surgery for about 14 hours then recovery for a few. Then the cruel creatures in icu got me up into a chair at 7am the next morning and that's where I sat until about 6pm when they made me walk to my new room on the regular floor (I'm being somewhat facetious because I know full well that getting up as soon as possible - is important - I used to be a nurse) but I had a bandage on my leg (donor skin to wrist), another covering my graft site on my wrist, an IV in my foot, a trache, ng tube for feeding and 2 drains. (Frankly I looked like the bride of Frankenstein) and they made me walk.... but whatever - every hospital is different - some people are in icu for a few days.

let me first say I have a high pain tolerance, they had me on morphine and I was well aware just sleepy. So I'd sit there eyes closed and listen to the stupidity going on around me - and it was stupid - the nurse chatter I mean - okay let me rephrase that the nurse in charge of the icu - 1 nurse 4 beds - was stupid - long story tha involved the catheter I forgot to mention I also had. Anyway - the trache is uncomfortable - and because you breath through that for a day or two it's just not pleasant. Plus because of the trauma to your mouth etc, you drool a lot, so they suction you through the trache which in my opinion is the absolute worst part! I'm pretty sure they hit my lungs on numerous occasions.

By day two post op they removed it and put in a fenestrated trache which allowed me to breath and talk smile and from that time on I was flying fine. Again - I have a high pain tolerance so on day two I told them I was in no pain and told them to remove the IV and pain meds and catheter! Mostly I was swollen scary looking and numb. I wasn't really in pain, and was able to shower - wrap my bandaging and suction myself. Again. I'm not average I don't think, I heal fairly quickly drains came out day four and the second trache came out day three (it was in for 24 hours) staples (somewhat painful... one was in a nerve and when the nurse removed it it was a big ouch! ) came out day nine - I went home day 10 - (eating okay)

As bad as it sounds it wasn't too bad... Radiation was worse but in a different way. You know your pain tolerance, bottom line - you shouldn't be in pain

You'll be okay. smile

Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan