Hi Cheryl, I also had the same surgery, and am a barrister, so I talk for a living. I was back to work 3 weeks after surgery, and now, a year later, people think I have a slight accent, and have no clue that I had surgery. In June I spoke at a conference, and my other presenters had no idea.

As for the traech, I had no issues other than the frustration of not being able to speak while it is in. I'm a talker and it drove me nuts. Bring an ipad or pen and paper (lots of it) to the hospital so you can communicate.

I had a forearm flap too, along with a graft from my leg to cover the forearm. The graft is like bad road rash, and oddly that was what actually hurt.

As soon as you can, get up and get moving in the hospital. Laying in bed is (a) very boring and (b) slows your recovery. Hopefully you have a PT that will come see you a couple of days after to give you exercises. I walked the halls so much, I had the ward memorized, but it got me out of hospital early, and home, where it is much easier to rest and recuperate.

Good luck on Monday!