Update: Stargate Boston
Done with the surgery, I am now back at home with my husband and dog (Andy says "good, you put them in the right order this time!"). The dog doesn't look too much the worse for wear from my absence, but Andy's looking a little dragged out. He works nights and spend his days running between Salem and Boston and Chelsea "seeing to things". What a great man I married 35 years ago. Think I'll keep him. The surgery went well, biopsy on the right was clear to microscopic exam, they sent it off anyway. Nodes on the left look clear, ditto on the sendoff on them. Nasotracheal intubation, tube out the next day, dobhoff (teeny-tiny) feeding tube down the other nostril (clogged and pulled the next day) now swallowing Haagen Dasz Chocolate with ease (life is good!). Doc used dermabond for the biopsy incision, no sutures, drain and sutures in the left, drain out on the 6th, then foley out and home. Yipee!! I still look like myself, I was hoping for a little face lift, he said that would cost extra (just kidding). (Didn't get the tummy tuck either, D#$n-it. Oh well. Follow up in two weeks, then hopefully back to gainful employment. There are only so many computer games on the market these days, and I am going through books like hotcakes. The decision about radiation will have to wait until the check-up. I am stocking up on good luck charms just in case!!
Many many thanks to the good folks on the OCF who held my hand through the surgery every bit as much as my excellent doctors and nurses did. You guys give us the courage, the medical staff gives us the care. As the song goes, "you can't have one without the other"
Blessings on the whole lot of you.
Andrea