Surgery tomorrow!

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Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member

    ratface
    Thanks for that ratface. Because the tumors were not adhered to any structures but were well contained within the lymph gland my Dr did not need to cut any major nerve or muscle or vein. I am very fortunate. My wife led me through the exercises last night and I seem to have full range of motion in my right arm.

    A note about my Dr. We met with him the day prior to surgery and one of teh questions he asked me is what music I liked. He wanted to see if I wanted my music played in the OR. I was a bit thrown by this and mentioned a few names and then forgot about it. Then, the next morning, just as I was going under, he asked if I had a request. I was a bit nervous and groggy and don't remember what I said, but what I do remember is hearing Statesboro Blues by the Allman Brothers band blasting in that sterile, bright room. His humanity in that moment said a lot about him and I am so grateful to be in his care.

    I am a musician and in a rock band and i cannot tell you what it means to me to be able to continue to play. I would give it all up if that's what it took to beat this thing. But fir now at least I have my health and my ability intact. YEAH!

    Best,

    Mick

    You will still have pain there
    Mick

    What a great doctor, but I already told you that from previous posts. I did not have any major nerves cut either but that nerve was moved over to the side during the procedure and it dosen't respond well to being moved. You will have decreased strenght in that arm and it will hurt when you lay on that side. When you awake in the morning that arm will be stiff on occasion. Make sure not to assume that no nerves were cut and things will be OK. You need to take the exercises seriously and not let up on them. Yes I have full range of motion but thats because I did the exercises. My right arm I would guess has about 25% of the strenght it used to have. I am hopeful that this will return incremently down the road. Don't pick up any Amps for a few months!
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Hondo said:

    Hi Debbie

    Welcome to CSN, you are correct this is a great place to be to get help and support; I do hope you plan to stay. Sometimes just talking to someone else who had been there can help in our healing.

    Take Care

    thank you
    Hondo, thank you for your reply and God Bless.
    Debbie
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    ratface said:

    You will still have pain there
    Mick

    What a great doctor, but I already told you that from previous posts. I did not have any major nerves cut either but that nerve was moved over to the side during the procedure and it dosen't respond well to being moved. You will have decreased strenght in that arm and it will hurt when you lay on that side. When you awake in the morning that arm will be stiff on occasion. Make sure not to assume that no nerves were cut and things will be OK. You need to take the exercises seriously and not let up on them. Yes I have full range of motion but thats because I did the exercises. My right arm I would guess has about 25% of the strenght it used to have. I am hopeful that this will return incremently down the road. Don't pick up any Amps for a few months!

    Mick
    I too am a musician (bass player) retired now, and a cancer survivor. I had radiation and chemo for larynx cancer, all check ups so far have proved negative. I am a brit that is now living in Pa. I was also a singer and when I lost my voice to the cancer I thought that was it for the pipes, but after everything was done it came back, no falsetto but still a good timbre. Theres a whole bunch of musicians that have survived this head and neck stuff, Rod Stewart, Charlie Watts and many many more, so even if you do have radiation and chemo it still is very survivable. Denis
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973

    ratface
    Thanks for that ratface. Because the tumors were not adhered to any structures but were well contained within the lymph gland my Dr did not need to cut any major nerve or muscle or vein. I am very fortunate. My wife led me through the exercises last night and I seem to have full range of motion in my right arm.

    A note about my Dr. We met with him the day prior to surgery and one of teh questions he asked me is what music I liked. He wanted to see if I wanted my music played in the OR. I was a bit thrown by this and mentioned a few names and then forgot about it. Then, the next morning, just as I was going under, he asked if I had a request. I was a bit nervous and groggy and don't remember what I said, but what I do remember is hearing Statesboro Blues by the Allman Brothers band blasting in that sterile, bright room. His humanity in that moment said a lot about him and I am so grateful to be in his care.

    I am a musician and in a rock band and i cannot tell you what it means to me to be able to continue to play. I would give it all up if that's what it took to beat this thing. But fir now at least I have my health and my ability intact. YEAH!

    Best,

    Mick

    How many Muso's
    HI Mick and fellow Muso's,

    I am wondering how many of us here are muso's / singers. I hope there is no link but I have noticed many posters are pictured with their guitars. We might start a POST to see how many of us are singers and muso's and if that has been a contributing factor.

    I have been playing and singing, occasionally in a band, for nearly 28 years. I can still sing but the dry mouth factor is currently too bad for me to get more than one croaky song out. I suppose I could rig up a water bottle + straw and gaff tape it to the microphone to 'sip n sing'.

    Might have to learn some Tom Waites songs.

    Scambuster