Finally I can talk again

rdbaughman
rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
edited April 2012 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
To all my friends out there, I thought I would post a health update for you.
My recent surgery last week was a success, I can now talk again & I can't tell you what a relief that is after not being able to communicate with out my trusted Pad & Pen since my TOTAL LARAGECTOMY on Jan 5th. I went in for surgery for what my SPEECH THERAPIST thought was a SLIGHT STRICTURE but was actually a SEVERE STRICTURE. Because of the DIALATION I was kept in the hospital over night due to the severe bleeding & pain. The bleeding stopped over night but the pain lasted for 3 days & I now feel great. Apparently there was not enough air able to flow throw the STRICTURE to allow speech. My surgeon was amazed that I was able to eat for the past month the STICTURE was so severe. I told him it was my will power..LOL. I told him the 90 pounds I lost was my motivation to eat & he told me it's a good thing that I still have a GOOD since of humor considering all that I have gone through. My 80 year old Mom said she can now give up her TEXTING cell phone which she absolutely hated to begin with but now enjoys...LOL. I catch her texting all the family members giving them all my health updates. It was a REAL challenge teaching her how to TEXT. When this all happened we went out & bought us both identical TEXTING cell phones so we could both learn the inn’s & out's of the new cell phones together. I'm thinking of writing a book on TEXTING FOR SENIORS.... Anyway, now I can talk & I only hope that the STRICTURES don't keep coming back like my Surgeon has already warned me about. Praying that this post finds all my friends here in good health & healing both physically & mentally. Roger

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Good for you Roger
    Keep moving on. And texting, for that matter:)
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    WONDERFUL!!!
    Not being able to communicate without a pad and pen would be so difficult...so frustrating. I'm hoping the Dr. was giving you the worst scenerio on future strictures...but at least you'll know by air flow, if it's trying to start up again, and will be able to take care of it early and not have to go thru so much.

    Good for mom....it shows you're never too old to learn anything :).

    p
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35

    Good for you Roger
    Keep moving on. And texting, for that matter:)

    Thank's
    Thank you my friend. Rog
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35

    WONDERFUL!!!
    Not being able to communicate without a pad and pen would be so difficult...so frustrating. I'm hoping the Dr. was giving you the worst scenerio on future strictures...but at least you'll know by air flow, if it's trying to start up again, and will be able to take care of it early and not have to go thru so much.

    Good for mom....it shows you're never too old to learn anything :).

    p

    Thank's
    Phrannie, Thank you & The surgeon was just warning me that this Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving, even years later. Roger PS. Love your Sheppard
  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103
    Add me!
    Add me to the list for the book! In the middle of rads last time I needed a new phone. The sales person pointed me to the wall of 'smart' phones and I said I wanted a dumb phone. I am happy not texting but do receive texts. Understand your need was greater. Glad to hear that you are talking again. (My family would like the quiet)
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    Congrats
    on the good news. My rad doc said the exact same thing about the gift that keeps on giving.

    Linda
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    KTeacher said:

    Add me!
    Add me to the list for the book! In the middle of rads last time I needed a new phone. The sales person pointed me to the wall of 'smart' phones and I said I wanted a dumb phone. I am happy not texting but do receive texts. Understand your need was greater. Glad to hear that you are talking again. (My family would like the quiet)

    No Smart Phone Needed
    To start with, you don't need to go to the expence of a SMART PHONES to text. There are what I call intermediate phones out there or TEXTING phones. All you need is a phone that has a keyboard to actually text easily but it's not a smart phone which are fairly expensive. Go to any cell phone store & they can point you in the right direction. Rog
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    now
    now you can talk back to the fish you catch before releasing them back into to the cold clear waters.

    congrats! so happy for you.

    john
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    AWHFY
    Yup, RADS for 35 days....BOHICA, DDSOS.

    LSHITIPAL, I crack myself up.

    AMBW,
    JG
  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    What a relief!
    Great news Roger! Your energy comes through in your message. Josh r.
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    fisrpotpe said:

    now
    now you can talk back to the fish you catch before releasing them back into to the cold clear waters.

    congrats! so happy for you.

    john

    Fishing
    HI John,
    I can't wait to get back on the lake against my Doctor's wishes. I told him if he thought I was giving up fishing because I have to breath through my stopma than I didn't want to breath at all, i'm not about to give up fishing! One of my good friends here asked me when was the last time I fell out of a boat while fishing...LOL
    Rog :)
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    josh r. said:

    What a relief!
    Great news Roger! Your energy comes through in your message. Josh r.

    Thank's
    Thank's Josh, now looking forward to getting out on the lake.Rog
  • rdbaughman
    rdbaughman Member Posts: 35
    osmotar said:

    Congrats
    on the good news. My rad doc said the exact same thing about the gift that keeps on giving.

    Linda

    Thank's
    Hi Linda,
    I appreciate the post. I hope that all is going well with your recovery as well. Radiation is a nasty devil. I just hope that I don't have to keep having these DIALATIONS due to the Radiation effects.
    Roger