Hi Jennifer,

My experience with having the tumour removed from my tongue sounds very similar to what Callie may be having to face.

Like you had my jaw split, nodes removed but I had tissue taken from my inner thigh for the tongue flap.

I spent nearly 3 1/2 weeks in hospital, with a trache in for about 12 days, but was removed before I left the hospital. I certainly don't want to alarm Callie but I found the trache to be frightening. I wish I had of been much more aware of what was ahead of me as far as that goes. Being unable to breath naturally through my mouth or nose and only being able to breath through a device about the width of a pencil in my windpipe was really stressful. Several people who I have spoken with since have also felt the same as I did. Perhaps the hospital Callie is attending has some sort of information booklet that she could read and therfore prepare her for having a trache.

The nurses in the hospital "trained" me before I left hospital in how to use and look after the PEG tube. Much the same as what Tom has said but the tube is directly in my stomach. Due to all the swelling from the tongue flap it was the only way that I could get all the nutrition and meds that I needed.

I hope this has been of assistance.

Karen