Helen,

I also had a trach with my partial glossectomy and neck dissection. I was connected to oxygen so had tubes coming out of the trach. The most frustrating thing to me was not being able to talk. My lifesaver was a small whiteboard, eraser, and marker that I had bought ahead of time. I don't know how I could have managed without it. Communication is so essential in the hospital.

I also had breathing treatments due to my asthma. Those were done through the trach. I had one nebulizer treatment and the rest were the inhalers. There was no problem there. You'd be surprised at how easy it is to breath through your neck! smile

Once my oxygen stats were good, they did put a plug on the trach. I didn't wean off, but they just went cold turkey. The first night I did have to have oxygen through my nose. They took the trach out as I was getting ready to leave. They just put a gauze pad on the stoma and said that it would heal itself. I was doubtful, but after a few days saw some rapid healing. When I went to my post-op (about 2 1/2 weeks after my release) it had closed.

I also had a feeding tube through my nose. It was bothersome and I was a bad patient with the formula they wanted me to use. I saw no way that I could tolerate the amount they wanted me to take (9 cans a day!) and only had 5 or so. We did bolus (sp?) feeding after on the 2nd day after my surgery--meaning the can of formula and water were placed through my feeding tube within a few minutes instead of extended round the clock through a pump. It was supposed to help your stomach get used to eating meals again. The feeding tube was also wonderful as it provided a way for me to take my medications as I couldn't have anything orally due to healing from the surgery.

As far as the teeth brushing--good luck. I didn't find the swabs they gave very satisfying, but I understand that my mouth had to heal. I didn't want to cause any damage, so I complied. I had checked out and still wasn't supposed to brush my teeth. Finally after a day or two home I said forget this, and carefully brushed my teeth.

Best of luck with your upcoming surgery, Aimee

Stage 2 SCC of tongue, surgery only 2/13/06. Margins & nodes were clear. No rad or chemo deemed necessary. Recurrence found 4/07. Surgery 5/22/07 with Cisplatin x 3 and 33 IMRT. Died 12/28/07.