Jerry thanks for the info.
My mom still lives in Morrisville. I have an uncle that lives in Yardley. I haven't seen him in over 25 years. We were not that close. My mom is worrying me because she has recently been ignoring me. She doesn't answer her phone and she will not answer my emails. After she left taking care of me she wanted me to email her everyday to let her know how I was doing.
As many of you know after being diagnosed and going through hell you are glad that nothing is as bad as it was and everything is not so bad after all. I would tell her this in my emails and told her that she was expecting a lot out of me. I couldn't physically talk during this time and also during treatment I lost my voice and couldn't talk and she was with me during this. I just don't understand her at times. She went through a lot with me and I think it scares her to hear me (my voice now is very hoarse) and the way I looked when she left must have been hard.
I do have some concerns and knowing that you are a dentist you may know what causes thrush and mucusitus? My tongue is starting to feel like it did when I first was hospitalized like it is on fire!!! I have never been much of a drinker of anything and am having a hard time swallowing water to keep my mouth moist. I am back to tube feeding again to make sure I am getting all my nutrients and try to get fluids.

What is the average stay for someone for a neck dissection? What is the difference between neck dissections besides just having them on sides? From what I understand my ENT doctor said that the lymph nodes are in a mass and he plans to cut from one side to the other and remove this mass. He said that there should not be any nerve damage this way. He plans on the surgery being 2 to 2 1/2 hours and I should be able to go home the next day.

My sister who lives in NJ wants to come and help and be with me. With surgery being on Friday and from Jerry's stay that would make me getting out of the hospital on Monday. She needs to return to work WEdnesday and will need to leave Tuesday. Would it be worth it her coming down? Will I mostly be in the hospital the whole time?

I am just worried about everything!!! Every one tells me that everything will be okay. Maybe that is why people usually get surgery first and then Rad/Chemo because the hell you go through with the rad/chemo is something you just are not ready to go through again. I do not mean to scare anyone but I went through so much and I guess now I gotta remember it was worth it and I am still here.

The doctors believe that the tumor in my tongue is gone. I need to believe them but with my tongue, throat and mouth still giving me problems and last radiation was 3rd week of May. I can't remember actual dates I was in such limbo with all the drugs I really do not know what was going on. I have been getting better like I said I just worry.

Thanks for all of you so that this is here for me to vent and hopefully get answers and support. It seems like a lot of you have been through a lot more than what I have and are still here. What am I so worried about you are still here!!!! Thanks thanks and thanks.
Love
Terry