Hi,

Well, I was discharged from hospital today after surgery 18th November to remove half my tongue, use a flap from my arm to reconstruct and a neck dissection. Can't say it was the most pleasant of weeks and the food (a term I used very loosely) was atrocious. Thank goodness for Jelly and custard is all I can say - I've lived on it for the last 3 days along with build-up drinks. I can't begin to say how lovely it is to be home and the support of my daughter and sister has been stupendous. So I have a week now to practice my eating skills before going back to the head and neck clinic for the results of the neck dissection. Any suggestions on 'fork mashable' foods would be appreciated. X

Hi Cheryl glad to hear your home. Keeping you in thoughts and prayers for a quick and speedy recovery. Eggs,quiches ( not the crust) potatoes, and my husband blends chicken in the blender....not the best ideas and I'm positive other members will provide you with more helpful tips. Best wishes Sandy
Ps Do keep smiling because with every new day it all gets easier.

yeah... so glad you are back!!! I know the surgery sucks... but at least at this point you are closer to cancer free (or possibly cancer free!!!!) that's a heavy sigh.

soft eggs with some cheese is good. Mashed potatoes, soft veggies, soup. with lots of nutrients - and put it in the blender if you are worried about bits of stuff. Omelets, pasta - small pastina's - I found stuff like omeletes, and raviolis was surprisingly easy to control cut it into smaller bites and chew on your good side and wash it down with the fluid of your choice... hugs and way to go.

Hope everything goes well. I liked the oatmeal and chocolate ensure. I don't know what it is about the ensure but it gives me a lot of energy.

Good luck and happy thanksgiving!

Home just in time for Thanksgiving, I just hope you Limeys celebrate it. In all seriousness, congrats on getting home. I know you are a way happier camper now.

Even though I have no taste, soft scrambled eggs are good every day. And I can actually taste Ensure a little. And hot chocolate with lots of chocolate actually goes down pretty good.

take care
Tony

I found that anything that could be cut into really small bits worked as long as I took small bites and chewed on the "good side. Be careful not to bite the flap. I did it a few times before realizing what it was that I was chewing on.

I started with a lot of smoothies (you can add skim milk powder for extra protein), soup and pasta (with lots of sauce). I tried the pureed meat idea, but it really grossed me out.

My fav is still potatoes au gratin, with cream and cheese. If I never eat another mashed potato I will be perfectly happy.

The good news with the flap is eventually the swelling goes down (radiation actually helps with this - shrinks tissue) My tongue fits rather nicely now though i would like to have it debulked a tad at some point. But I still don't feel comfy chewing on that side... it just feels ODD... hugs.

Hi Everyone,

It's now a couple of days since I've been home and I'm now 10 days post op. The swelling of my tongue is going down everyday and my speech is becoming clearer. I'm starting to feel a little braver about chewing food - last night I tucked into salmon fillet, broccoli and mash and really enjoyed it although I chewed very carefully. I really hope the tingly feeling in my tongue goes soon - that feels very odd. I have found the worst part of it actually has nothing to do with re reconstruction or the neck dissection. Being so long on the operating table has caused me to have chronic back pain which means it is difficult to do everyday things - even getting dressed is a trial, plus I have a huge area on my back which has no feeling it. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

The weakness and numbness is likely due to the neck dissection. Many of us have issues with the side we have had that done. Many cant properly lift their arm on the surgery side.

Keep up the good work with relearning how to eat. It takes extra time when chewing carefully. Best wishes with your recovery.

Congratulations on completing your surgery, and slowly recovering. The numbess from the neck dissection may go away, mine did, but have arm/shoulder raising limitstions, but I had 5 dissections, but also depends on the extent of the dissection, and what structures were removed, and there several types of dissections, Radical, Modified Radical, Selective, and a few others. Bilaterally, is rough, and usually not done at the same time, from what I heard, due to surgical risks, but have heard others having it done. You can ask your surgeon, and I like to get a copy of the surgical report, and pathology report, which is always good for your own records, future reference, and another doctor may ask.

Good luck.