Fibula Free Flap Surgery

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Sam44646
Sam44646 Member Posts: 9
edited February 2013 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello all.  I just found out that the HBO and/or debridement treatments were not successful.  I now have a fracture to my left lower jaw that needs dealing with.  I was diagnoised almost two years ago with tongue/tonsil cancer.  I did two weeks of chemo and 37 radation treatments.  Thought I was getting pretty much back to normal (post cancer normal) before I got this latest news.  Needlees to say I'm a little unraveled with the whole idea of a major surjery and the recouperation that goes along with it.  I'd like to hear from those of you who have already gone through this so I can be as prepared as possible.

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  • George_Baltimore
    George_Baltimore Member Posts: 303
    #2
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    Sorry

    didn't see this post before I answered on the old post.

  • MJ70
    MJ70 Member Posts: 75
    #3
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    free fibula flap

    Sam:

     I can only speak for me but i had that done four years ago this month... It took 10 hours or so...rolled me in at 7 and came out at 7;30 pm  spent 6 days in hospital ...went by very fast....walking down the hall way the second day ....was not a big deal to me... healed up nicely..only problem is the mandable nerve and fibula nerve never attached as i hope for and actually don.t think they do as it is somewhat numb on my left side but never notice it after all this time..  Had some great Surgeons here at OSHU and still see them...

    Swallowing is my only pain in the rear problem but the excerises help and dilations also help...

    All in all it has been nine years since my treatments and thee as normal as i can expect...no touble walking..maybe a little balance problems but i think  at 72 it is normal ..acrually got lots of new nomals we all deal with...

    Good luck and be positive as it heals up and life goes on ...  I think you will do fine with great surgeons ... Ask how many they have done..that can tell you lots. to ease your mine..

  • MJ70
    MJ70 Member Posts: 75
    #4
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    free fibula flap

    Sam:

     I can only speak for me but i had that done four years ago this month... It took 10 hours or so...rolled me in at 7 and came out at 7;30 pm  spent 6 days in hospital ...went by very fast....walking down the hall way the second day ....was not a big deal to me... healed up nicely..only problem is the mandable nerve and fibula nerve never attached as i hope for and actually don.t think they do as it is somewhat numb on my left side but never notice it after all this time..  Had some great Surgeons here at OSHU and still see them...

    Swallowing is my only pain in the rear problem but the excerises help and dilations also help...

    All in all it has been nine years since my treatments and thee as normal as i can expect...no touble walking..maybe a little balance problems but i think  at 72 it is normal ..acrually got lots of new nomals we all deal with...

    Good luck and be positive as it heals up and life goes on ...  I think you will do fine with great surgeons ... Ask how many they have done..that can tell you lots. to ease your mine..

  • Sam44646
    Sam44646 Member Posts: 9
    #5
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    MJ70 said:

    free fibula flap

    Sam:

     I can only speak for me but i had that done four years ago this month... It took 10 hours or so...rolled me in at 7 and came out at 7;30 pm  spent 6 days in hospital ...went by very fast....walking down the hall way the second day ....was not a big deal to me... healed up nicely..only problem is the mandable nerve and fibula nerve never attached as i hope for and actually don.t think they do as it is somewhat numb on my left side but never notice it after all this time..  Had some great Surgeons here at OSHU and still see them...

    Swallowing is my only pain in the rear problem but the excerises help and dilations also help...

    All in all it has been nine years since my treatments and thee as normal as i can expect...no touble walking..maybe a little balance problems but i think  at 72 it is normal ..acrually got lots of new nomals we all deal with...

    Good luck and be positive as it heals up and life goes on ...  I think you will do fine with great surgeons ... Ask how many they have done..that can tell you lots. to ease your mine..

    Thanks!

    MJ,  Thanks for responding.  I am scheduled for the 11th and am a little unravelled.  I'm have the surgery by DR's Kahn and Alam, both of the Cleveland Clinic.  Dr. Alam has done this reconstruction hundreds of time so I think I'm in the rigtht place.  Just worry about another recovery.  Thanks again, keep in touch and I'll keep you posted.

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