Well it all depends on how your surgery goes.Everyone' body and response to a big surgery is a little different. I had a tracheostopy for 3-4 weeks. I could sort of talk with that but not very well. I coudl speak better when I covered the airway of it with my hand. From there I began to swallow water- this was probably 3 weeks after surgery and then I ate a most of my meals up until midway through treatment which was about wo months after surgery- then my appetite went south when my tastebuds went dorman tand the swelling got bad for awhie. After that it took me until about a month and a half to two months post treatments to try solid foods again. It was a slow process eating again. The radiation makes everything very stiff. My radiation therapist and surgeon were all encouraging me to keep on swallowing little bits of food throughout treatment just to keep the muscles in practice so I wouldn't get stiff or get dysphigia.

Its important to at least try and swallow water before the radiation treatments start.

You will probably have the Peg tube for at least 6 months after surgery and treatments and that is on the aggressive side. You just have to htink of food as fuel during that time.
I was really hard but I did it and once I could enjoy even some liquids again like water and juice I felt so much better. You will get there.

I won't lie. The surgery is one of the most difficult things I've ever been through physically an emotiionally. Not being able to speak or eat was really hard and upsetting but I go through it and now things are pretty nor,al for me. It takes me longe rot eat than most people. I have a prosthetic which I have to take out which is kind of a pain-but not so bad. I have most of my life back now and its going to be a year Marc 2nd. Once you get ove rhte major hurdles and get into a healing and improving phase it starts to get exciting-- espeially after you've been sick for so long. You'll see.

I know its very very.


My heart goes out to you Sophia. You have family that can help you right? Its very very hard but not impossible.

You can do it!

K