Dear Hacklene,

Thanks soooo much for writing!

Did you have your surgery at the time of your cancer surgery? With a stay of 20 days in the hospital, I presume that is the case. Was the fibula taken from the same side as the surgery on your jaw? (the left?) Do you think it matters? (I have a knee problem on the surgery-side, and would want to use the other leg.)

Malka might have even more questions for you, since she is considering a lower jaw reconstruction, using the fibula.

My reconstruction would be the maxilla....the upper jaw.....along with a portion of the hard palate. The leg surgery would be the same, though I don't know how much tissue is removed from the leg for the mandibular repair. Skin and other tissue is taken along with the bone for the maxillary/palatal repair.

Does the numb area on your foot bother you? itch? tingle? distract you?

Has anyone with these repairs experienced problems with their ear as a result of the surgery? I was told that I might need a PE tube in that ear, since the eustachean tube might not function properly after the surgery. I did have that problem after my original surgery, and it has resolved, thankfully.

I am relieved to hear from someone who didn't have a problem with this surgery, though I do also appreciate hearing from those who did not have such good fortune with it.

Thanks! This is helping quite a bit!