I hope your surgery goes very well. Good luck tomorrow! Please let us know how you're doing when you can.

Me too good luck and heal well.

Thinking of you today. Post when you can and let us how you're doing. Just remember....you can do it:)

Hi All,

So surgery went pretty good - dr had to go a bit back further again my bone than he originally thought, he said there was evidence that the tumor had been pressing up against the bone (back jaw)

Never realized I would have such a sore throat after all the tubes during surgery. I go to go home the same evening so it was very nice to be able to be at home in my comfy bed. So far recovery has been fine - they said I was so pumped up with steriods. Dr futran used bio skin to patch the "hole" so he warned me the forst 24 hrs I would feel great and then hit a brickwall...and yep, starting hit that brickwall.

Very greatful for pain med except they are not working for the sore throat and my right ear feel plugges, like it I had a bad cold.

Now, a week to wait for pathology - still holding on to hope that there was clean margins!!! I am so happy this step in fighting this is over, and hopefully it results that this is all over...but I keep hearing it is likely the tumor get upraded after a 2nd surgery. let's hope it remains a low grade 2 !!

Thanks for all your thoughts and well wishes. they hope results are back for my post op on sept 6th but he said the holiday weekend may delay it.

I will have to say University of Washingon Med Centers surgical staff was awesome! I am so grateful that Dr futran was my surgeon as I hear he is the best, so I felt like I was in good hand. The resection looks like they removed about a 1/2 dollar size area and all the way up to the bone on top and over as far as he could (the jaw bone) on the other side.

so far I can sip on a drop of water at a time and I can very slowly eat some yogurt...I let it sit out for warm up and can get about a Tablespoon down (take 20 minutes though!) so, if anyone had food tips that would be awesome

Thanks again for such a great community here!

So glad to see that the surgery is done and you are in the comfort of your own home already.
Maybe try a very thin soup or consume (warm not hot) until you can start to add say thin short noodles even if they do slip straight down. If the yogurt is too thick just thin it down with milk or water.
Did they not give you any advice on nutrition before you left the hospital? Did they give you the number of the nurse in charge or someone that you can call if you have any questions before the 6th. Don't hesitate to call if you are having difficulties no matter how minor you might think it is.
Best wishes for the results.
Gabriele

Momof3boys,
So glad your dentist was proactive. Nice to see another homeschooling family on here. My boys are 09 and7 and their dad is the one who homeschools them. I want to eventually, but benefits are important now. Yes, getting the news when you are not expecting it is very difficult. You and your family will get through this. If ever want to talk send me a PM. I will be praying for a speedy recovery for you.

Day 4 of recovery from my resection surgery! UGH! I was not prepared for how much pain there would be. Dr did tell me that it would be worse Day 3, 4 and 5 and then begin to get better. all I can think of today is that I am so ready to get off this crazy ride and have this all behind me...

I did manage to get some jello down and I can drink water a bit better. I force myself to eat a few extra bits, I figure the first bite hurt so I might as well get as much as I can in my tummy. On the bright side, being preoccupied by the pain helps me not think about the wait for this next pathology report.

One question, is it common to have such severe ear pain? I feel like I have a horrible ear infection. I think it may be because the Dr scraped the back of my upper jaw bone???

Thanks for letting me vent

Hi, Mom of 3
sorry that you are having so much pain, but glad to hear you are managing the water and jello. My husband's tonsil cancer caused a lot of refered ear pain - depending on the exact location of the resection, it could impact the nerves. From what your doctor says, however, it sounds like it will start calming down soon.

My husband found that Carnation Breakfast Essenstials (Vanilla) - the packets blended with milk - were the easiest to get down. The Ensure stuff is thicker, but offers more concentrated nutrition.

Best wishs on your recovery, and fingers crossed on the path report!

I live on Ensure on the rocks...lol it gives you nutrition that is needed when you are healing and it doens't taste too bad either.

The pain is normal...just hang in there and take the pain meds they gave you. I would also take a stool softner too...if you are taking them regularly they can make you constipated. It can't hurt to ask about the ear pain...I always ask my doc if I'm unsure of something.

How are your boys?

Hang in there and take one day at time. I know you want it to be over but in my experience it took a couple of weeks so try to patient. It sounds like your doctor may be a tad optomistic (sp?) but I hope they are right!!

So, I had my first post=op appointment today and got my pathology report back. They upgraded it from a low grade 2 to a low grade 2. I go back weekly for the next few weeks, and then a CT/PET scan in 3 months, The tumor board decided that it is best to just watch diligently with scans and visual checks, Dr knew he did not get good margins but feels next step if needed is another surgery to obtain clean margins. He said there is still room to work with before we treat things too aggressively. So...I am happy with that, time will tell and I just pray all stays as is for the next 5 years so I can be considered cancer free....

It does make me a bit nervouse as I hear that many times tumors like mine get upgraded to intermediate grade

For now I am just focusing on recovery from this surgery, still in alot of pain but on the slow slow road to recovery!