Hi there... I have had the same surgery - mine was 14 hours - but all went well - Surprisingly I wasn't really in pain. Mostly numb as they neck dissection tends to kill a few nerves. they do come back - though slowly and not completely. I still have dead areas on my neck and a bit along my under chin area. For the most part I recovered quickly. The trache is a nightmare... not gonna lie and suctioning is the worst. Hopefully they will only have the non fenestrated trache in for a day or so then move to a fenestrated where you can breath through your mouth and nose as well.

Bring a pen and paper or ipad and something to do... wink

hugs and blessings to you.

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