First, from the little I've seen of your commitment to this site I don't think you owe anyone any apologies or explanations for anything...

Second, thanks for the perspective of a few years out - I have an appt with my ENT surgeon in July and have been pumping myself up to demand some of the bulk be removed, but your info will help me have more patience. I haven't experienced really any shrinking over the past several months and had gotten to the point where I was convinced there's no more coming, but maybe I really do have to wait years. My speech is definitely affected by the bulk; I still have the tip of my tongue, and when I try to say any word with an 'L' in it the bulk keeps my tip from touching the roof of my mouth - it (the bulk) hits the roof first (it actually presses against the roof when it's in 'rest' position). So it bothers me, but it sounds like I need to just be patient. And to have a little perspective....