Hi folks me again...I am so thankful for all the help I already have had from people here and I am also so very thankful for the successful removal of my tumor but I have a question about the swelling of my mouth and neck. It is a question I should have asked my doctor when I saw him but I am curious as to how long the swelling generally lasts...I know it hasn't been that long but I guess and know that I am just being impatient but am curious as to how long I have to look forward to the swelling... thanks

Dianne

Should be back to normal in 3-4 months? Give it time...lol

Donna

Wow thanks Donna...I guess things have been moving and healing so well I guess I was thinking around six weeks or so...guess I had really high expectations....I am just looking forward to being able to put at least my top teeth in again...

I wouldn't count too much on 6 months. It's been over a year since the neck dissection and the sharing my tongue with a scalpel and I still have some swelling. The pain is pretty constant but bearable. I hope and pray you are out of the swelling in 2 or 3 months Dianne. You have had enough punishment from our buddy OC. That isn't Oscar Creepy either. My worst pain is from the Rad Seed Implants and maybe I blame it on every thing else.

Well Jim I guess I will just have to put on my cape and tights and become some sort of swollen super head...I guess because other surgeries I have had have relatively returned to normal fairly quickly...all my teeth removed and the biopsy but my mouth doesn't even look like a mouth well my gums anyway the tongue looks real good and can even move it around really well even stuck it out at my daughter just to make her laugh.. I can't say that I am looking forward to biting into a big juicy steak cause I don't like them but to get my teeth back in I guess I am gonna have to have the bottoms altered a wee bit if in fact I will be able to wear them at all...
I must admit my doctor and his team did do a fantastic job but like I said guess a little anxious and should be realistic and understand this wasn't a biopsy and not just teeth being pulled...this is actually really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that my arm is now in my mouth...amazing what can be done the color looks weird too...but it is all working well go back to doctor in 6 weeks...really have to concentrate on some of these queries...I am still really afraid of reoccurance and still fighting with the one day at a time choosing not to smoke and still winning...

Dianne,
Like you I was also very impatient especially as none of the medical people could tell me how long the healing would take. I even got the "how long is a piece of string� reply.
I expected to be back at work in no time at all and wish I had been given at least a rough idea how long it would all take.
You have probably seen it written here and it is true that everyone is different.
My operation was on the 6th September 2006. On the 13th of October I felt well enough to attend a work function with an overnight stay in the city whilst not ready for work yet.
One of the activities the next morning was a jet boat ride around the harbour however the hole from the tracheotomy was still healing and I did not want to drown.
I opted for the 2nd choice which was a massage in my hotel room.
I was lucky that I could do some work from home via computer and in November started working a couple of days in the office and the rest from home.
After Christmas I started back full time. I still have some swelling however it is not painful. Cosmetically it does not look all that great but can be hidden with high neck tops, scarves jewellery etc if I feel like it. The more time that goes by the less fussed I am about it especially around people I know and who know me.
Hope this helps
Gabriele

Thanks Gabriele that is very helpful...I wanted to go back come November a bit but I think this season is over for me...my husband doesn't think I will be able to go back to work because of wrist issues in the spring...I on the other hand can't wait till the spring when I can set up the sausage kart again...so I guess a have a few months to heal...

Good job on not smoking!!!!!

That can be difficult to do. For me, I threw my cigarettes out the window soon after I was diagnosed. Once it started to sink in that I was really very ill, I made a decision. I asked myself "what will survive here? will you or if you continue to smoke will it be cancer that gets you?" I never smoked again.

With your good results of not having to endure the radiation/chemo part of OC its like you were given a second chance. You are very, very fortunate, more than you can even imagine.

Oh boy you can say that again how lucky I am there is no doubt in my mind that someone is watching over me...I know I have a second chance and don't wanna flub it and am very determined no matter how human I am...I still have to take it day by day and keep in mind that every day without is a day closer to stay quit..I consider myself a non smoker now and like I said am determined and whoever has given me a second chance is gonna have to give me a hand with this too!!! I am more thankful than anyone can immagine about the radiation and any further treatment...I read about what others have to endure and my heart goes out to them and continue praying every day for the strength to stay smoke free and pray for those still in treatment and that I will have no reoccurance... BTW how was the birthday celebration???!!!

Very good girl !!!!!!

I tried not to celebrate it much this year. Although Im very much better than I was last year this time, I still have a way to go. I hope to really celebrate it next year by eating cake, tons of it