Congrats on the successful surgery! Getting a speech pathologist involved right away will help you learn how to manage your new tongue.

Best wishes with your recovery!!!

Great news, Lori!

At your age you should bounce back quickly.

My tumor was small, and removed by excisional biopsy. I had no additional treatment (surgery, neck dissection, etc.). That was over four and one-half years ago! I saw two top ENTs who both recommended the "wait, watch and see" approach. This involves frequent appointments with an ENT, and constant surveillance of changes in my mouth. So far so good!

The fear of not having more extensive treatment will subside over time, though it will never go away.

Wishing you the best!

I am doing better with speech everyday. I can't get over how gross my tongue looks. They warned me there would be white, but gross. I am definitely getting sick of soup, but everything else gets stuck under my tongue, on top of my tongue and I have to use my finger to fish it out. Last night I was chewing on my tongue and didn't realize it.

I hope to go back to work next week (maybe Thursday), and I am going off the prescription pain meds because they don't allow me to drive. I have post-op appointment on Tuesday AM and hoping to get clearance to go back to work. Though I am a Spanish teacher, so I am not sure how my school is going to feel about me teaching Spanish when I cannot speak English properly (do I technically have a disability now?).

I have a feeling I will also be like you Catherine, watch, wait and see. But I am moving to Tampa in July and hoping to move all my medical follow-ups etc to Moffit. I first have to get the new insurance all settled (great timing).

Lori,

Please take the time you need to heal. I was a teacher, too, and I know the pressure you feel not to miss school. Your recovery is primary. Physically and mentally you have already been through a lot. If you can, put yourself first right now.

You ask, "Do I technically have a disability now?"
My answer is "No, there is no such thing as a "technical disability".

I think you're a bit down right now because you have been blindsided with a situation that no one would have ever anticipated or predicted. When you start to feel better, you will have a better outlook. Try to focus on the positives in your life (I'm really not trying to sound preachy).

I hope your move to Tampa goes well. Moffit has an excellent reputation and if your follow-ups are there that should give you some peace of mind that you are working with the best possible team. I traveled 3 and 1/2 hours, one way, to Johns Hopkins for my follow-up appointments for two years, as well as seeing an ENT in Richmond.

And please don't worry about the insurance aspects (easy for me to say,no?), there are always work-arounds for things.

My best to you!

Catherine, I appreciate all the advice from you BTDT folks. It does not seem preachy at all, I am worried about getting back to my students and normal routine. I am out of sick leave, so that is also adding to the pressure of wanting to get back to work. I know there are so many positives in my life (besides the most important ones of my beautiful family). But also finding this cancer early and having doctors that took it seriously. They didn't write me off saying I had no risk factors.

My husband got a new job that is moving us down to Tampa. I know it will all work out, but the planner in me wants to be overly prepared. I am just anxious to get back to normal life. But beyond grateful every single day!