Having some success

Patti678
Patti678 Member Posts: 55
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'm 11 weeks post op from my neck dissection and I'm starting to have some success and freedom from the pain in my trapezius muscle. I noticed that the past 2 mornings I was actually able to pull a shirt over my head without it taking 5 minutes. So my rotator cuff and shoulder blade have relaxed enough that they are working again.

I still have a great deal of late afternoon pain in that same area which dissapates if I lay down.

I was also able to run 5 miles (with some walking breaks) on saturday last weekend and then walk 6 miles on sunday (no breaks). I still gasp for air during the run but the walking is going great.

My swallowing is almost 100% and my voice is about 75%.

A lot of this improvement showed up after I purchased a new pillow. I use Tempurpedic pillows and mine was quite old and flat. I got this suggestion from Dr Mary on this site so THANK YOU!

Thanks to everyone on this site. I sometimes feel in limbo because the Thyroid section of this site really doesn't help my neck issues. And I feel like a bit of an imposter because my cancer is not the same as most of the people on the "Head and Neck" part since my radiation was in a pill form and I took it only once. Nonetheless, I appreciate everyone helping me out and giving me such great advice.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #2
    Progress is good!
    I remember having to walk across the lawn to get my step mom because I somehow got stuck in my shirt just after my neck dissection. I was praying my dad wasn't home because my shirt was half on half off. I made it out the door and off the deck, but couldn't really see where I was trying to go, so I stood there yelling for my step mom who finally came out. After laughing for ten minutes she finally helped me. A tragic combination of huge arms and a lame neck dissection arm. I've gotten shirts stuck on me because of my 'fat' arms before even the neck dissection. One time in the dressing room in a store. Thank God my friend was with me. She had to come in and help me. She about peed her pants. 8-/ So glad I'm around to amuse people. ;-)
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Imposter....NOT
    Congrats on the success......

    BUT, don't ever sell yourself short...you had cancer.

    Same as all here, just because your treatment might have gone better than some of may have been less invasive than others... That's a "Good for You", I don't think any of us that have gone through any treatment would ever think of you as anything less than the rest of us...SURVIVOR

    Thoughts and Prayers.
    John
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #4
    sweetblood22 said:

    Progress is good!
    I remember having to walk across the lawn to get my step mom because I somehow got stuck in my shirt just after my neck dissection. I was praying my dad wasn't home because my shirt was half on half off. I made it out the door and off the deck, but couldn't really see where I was trying to go, so I stood there yelling for my step mom who finally came out. After laughing for ten minutes she finally helped me. A tragic combination of huge arms and a lame neck dissection arm. I've gotten shirts stuck on me because of my 'fat' arms before even the neck dissection. One time in the dressing room in a store. Thank God my friend was with me. She had to come in and help me. She about peed her pants. 8-/ So glad I'm around to amuse people. ;-)

    shirts
    Haha! Glad to hear other people have had the same problem. Sometimes I just pull the shirts down over my hips instead of over my head. :)
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #5
    Skiffin16 said:

    Imposter....NOT
    Congrats on the success......

    BUT, don't ever sell yourself short...you had cancer.

    Same as all here, just because your treatment might have gone better than some of may have been less invasive than others... That's a "Good for You", I don't think any of us that have gone through any treatment would ever think of you as anything less than the rest of us...SURVIVOR

    Thoughts and Prayers.
    John

    thanks
    Thanks John. Yeah, this was no picnic. It has changed me forever both mentally and physically. I just wonder how they know to give some people chemo, others tons of radiation treatments, and yet others, none. But they are the docs, I am not.

    And I did want people to know that the docs do get it right sometimes. :) Because I think it's important to hear good stories to give people hope. I know I need/needed them.

    Thanks so much-Patti
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    Hi Patti
    I am very happy to hear you are doing so well, just goes to show we can do it and get back to normal. It’s not easy and it takes a lot of work, your story is very inspiring to many here so please keep on going and keep giving us your up-date. Cancer is cancer no matter where you have it and I for one and very happy to have you as part of this Head & Neck site.

    Happy Holidays
    Hondo
  • Patti678
    Patti678 Member Posts: 55
    #7
    Hondo said:

    Hi Patti
    I am very happy to hear you are doing so well, just goes to show we can do it and get back to normal. It’s not easy and it takes a lot of work, your story is very inspiring to many here so please keep on going and keep giving us your up-date. Cancer is cancer no matter where you have it and I for one and very happy to have you as part of this Head & Neck site.

    Happy Holidays
    Hondo

    thanks
    Thanks Hondo. I have felt very welcome on this site and it has helped me a lot. I will keep posting my updates.

    I'm going to the doc this week to have my TSH levels tested. I know something is wrong because of how many times I have almost blacked out from being dizzy and light headed. I'm curious to see the test results.

    Patti
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    Patti678 said:

    thanks
    Thanks Hondo. I have felt very welcome on this site and it has helped me a lot. I will keep posting my updates.

    I'm going to the doc this week to have my TSH levels tested. I know something is wrong because of how many times I have almost blacked out from being dizzy and light headed. I'm curious to see the test results.

    Patti

    Thyroid
    TSH and Free T4 are the main indicatiors on Thyroid issues...common to have the tyhroid go out eventually after heavy rads to that area.

    Mine has been going for awhile...TSH is high but Free T4 i still hanging in there.

    Being dizzy and light headed do sound like possible blood problems, not so sure as thyroid related.

    But CBC and associated blood tests should find you what is going on.

    Best,
    John

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