Yes, I am home. Let recovery begin!
I first off wanted to thank you all for coming to this site, leaving your kind words of encouragement, hope, strength & prayers as I am now home from my 13 hour surgeries; Neck dissection (54 nodes out and 52 clear – the 2 that were cancerous had not “opened up” – so I guess that’s good news.), The tongue reconstruction free-flap taken from my forearm, skin graph from leg, not to mention the g-tube and trach still from two weeks ago. The g-tube remains, but trach is gone. Its AMAZING that I’m home in under a week. It is still just the beginning of this journey, but I hope that the worst is behind us. What wonderful surgeons i have.
Secondly, I want to thank my wonderful family and friends here in town, my parents and In-laws for watching my beautiful boys when needed, and for all the constant prayers from all of you.
We still, are just humbled and in awe the amount of love and support that kept coming in and kept me going each day. Thank you, all again so much.
Finally, I'd like to thank my beautiful wife - you showed me a side of you that I had no doubt was there, but, as I never thought it were possible I'd love you more today than I ever have. By my side, nearly every moment, w/o hesitation, only love. - Thank you, Danelle. You are, my everything.
So on why I'm home early:
I will make this real quick, but Doc came in and said, "You ready to get 'outta here, today?" I just nodded with a smile, that this face could only make (no, you don’t want to see any after-op shots) - and he went to town on removing everything; staples, drains, etc. The reason I tell you this, is one drains was pulled for removal was attached to a vein. Well, lets just say I lost around a half a pint of blood before i was like, "Ah, Doc, I think we have a problem here." The bed looked like a murder scene.
Anyway, I found it sort of funny...but that got fixed up and left a few hours later. It feels, so good to be home. Next week we will know more about the pathology - and if Radiation/Chemotherapy will be necessary.
One day at a time though...
Eternally grateful & Much Love,
Bob
Comments
-
Bob, you're pretty good at
taking one step after another. Nice to be home, isn't it? You know, my trache site didn't ever hurt, but it bugged me quite a bit at home. When I tried to lie down, it it made me cough, so I slept sitting up for almost a month. Even so, sleeping in my own chair was pretty sweet.
Rest up. Make sure you walk as you can. It will surprise you how much strength you lost while in the hospital.
Pat0 -
Hey Pat...longtermsurvivor said:Bob, you're pretty good at
taking one step after another. Nice to be home, isn't it? You know, my trache site didn't ever hurt, but it bugged me quite a bit at home. When I tried to lie down, it it made me cough, so I slept sitting up for almost a month. Even so, sleeping in my own chair was pretty sweet.
Rest up. Make sure you walk as you can. It will surprise you how much strength you lost while in the hospital.
Pat
Yes, i am trying to walk as much as possible. I am trying to get up and move about the house every couple hours or so. I have to wear a sling though b/c of the tissue removal in my forearm. Because it was done on my left arm (same side as neck dissection) it is very sore and "heavy" with the splint and all. But slowly regaining strength is inevitable. I can handle that.
Thank you,
-Bob0 -
you will be amazed at how well that healsBarefootBob said:Hey Pat...
Yes, i am trying to walk as much as possible. I am trying to get up and move about the house every couple hours or so. I have to wear a sling though b/c of the tissue removal in my forearm. Because it was done on my left arm (same side as neck dissection) it is very sore and "heavy" with the splint and all. But slowly regaining strength is inevitable. I can handle that.
Thank you,
-Bob
I had a left radial graft removed from my left forearm as well. It healed so well I dont notice it any more. except it made me move my watch to the right side:). No one else notices it either. They did a split thickness graft from my left thigh to cover it. That site bothered me for a bit. Between the ear to ear incision, with the incision down the middle of my chin to the lip, thr trache site, and the two graft sites, I did an awful lot of wound care for anfew weeks. Lol, I had a whole bushel basket full of supplies. Need any taoe, gauze, curlex, q tips, or vaseline?0 -
Welcome home Bob!!
To your own personal home...and to here, your "home away from home". You, as usual sound so very upbeat...and gracious.
Sending you positive thoughts and prayers that rads and chemo can be avoided, and that you are in the beginning of healing for this whole experience (like nothing more treatment wise coming down the pike for you).
p0 -
Hey BFBphrannie51 said:Welcome home Bob!!
To your own personal home...and to here, your "home away from home". You, as usual sound so very upbeat...and gracious.
Sending you positive thoughts and prayers that rads and chemo can be avoided, and that you are in the beginning of healing for this whole experience (like nothing more treatment wise coming down the pike for you).
p
I sit in amazement when you and others who have had surgery bounce back and seem to be in such high spirits. I did not have surgery I have BOT stage 4, 33 RADS and 2 Cisplatin behind me now, 4 more Erbitux and recovery. Although one day at at time is the fact of about life, it definetly proves is self when dealing with cancer. I like P51 hope your surgery may have eliminated some chemos or rads. But either way you sound like the kind of man who will get thru what ever they throw at ya. After all if you survived Bloody Bed Sheets with your eyes open You the Man. God Bless you and your family.0 -
Bob's home
Bob,
Glad to hear from you, glad you are feeling ok and are recovering at home. I could never get good rest in the hospital. Give me a recliner and a blanket any day.
Your story about the blood geyser was funny all I got was a scar.
Sounds like you have a great family, for now relax and heal.
Best,
Matt0 -
Welcome home!CivilMatt said:Bob's home
Bob,
Glad to hear from you, glad you are feeling ok and are recovering at home. I could never get good rest in the hospital. Give me a recliner and a blanket any day.
Your story about the blood geyser was funny all I got was a scar.
Sounds like you have a great family, for now relax and heal.
Best,
Matt
Thrilled to hear everything went as expected with one small exception that is. Hated the trach! Glad you didn't have to come home with it. My trach hole closed up much faster than anticipated without any problems. I kept my g-tube awhile but it was little trouble and I did not even feel it when they removed it. That hole closed quickly too. I know we all pray that rads or chemo are not needed.
God Bless!0 -
Welcome home!!!!Skiffin16 said:Humbled and In Awe at the Amount of Love and Support
It's what we do, and why a lot of us are still here.....
Hopefully in time, you'll stick around for awhile and share too.
Best,
John
Glad to see you doing well and welcome home!!!
Prayers continue until you say otherwise
Best,
Tim0 -
Yeah for you !Grandmax4 said:woderful
news and blessings to you and your friends and family~~~we are so blessed to live in an era of such great technology and talented medical crews...get well
Welcome home, Bob
I am sure your two little guys were so happy to have you home again. Let the healing begin -- it always feels better to be home. Wishing you a speedy recovery.0 -
hahahahahaditto1 said:Hey BFB
I sit in amazement when you and others who have had surgery bounce back and seem to be in such high spirits. I did not have surgery I have BOT stage 4, 33 RADS and 2 Cisplatin behind me now, 4 more Erbitux and recovery. Although one day at at time is the fact of about life, it definetly proves is self when dealing with cancer. I like P51 hope your surgery may have eliminated some chemos or rads. But either way you sound like the kind of man who will get thru what ever they throw at ya. After all if you survived Bloody Bed Sheets with your eyes open You the Man. God Bless you and your family.
Sorry, but the bloody bed comment made me laugh - very funny, thanks for the smile today ditto. 0 -
No Doubt..Skiffin16 said:Humbled and In Awe at the Amount of Love and Support
It's what we do, and why a lot of us are still here.....
Hopefully in time, you'll stick around for awhile and share too.
Best,
John
There is no question I will be around. I have two VERY active boys (5 & 6) - but they will not keep me away from "giving back" to this wonderful community. After all, it is one thing we, as humans, can do for free and the repayment is priceless IMO.
Thank You John.
- Bob0 -
Good To See You HomeGrandmax4 said:oops!!
WONDERFUL
Great to see you home Bob!
I had 34 nodes on my left side selective dissection, tongue biopsy and tonsilectomy at the same time and I thought I was tough being out in a week.
Now you go and make me feel like a wimp! Wow thats impressive to be out in less than a week after your surgery, mine was 6 hours in total and they left me till last in the day because I was the 'big one' out of everyone on the list for that particular surgery.
Your surgeons must have done a fantastic job too - as did mine. I had my surgery just over 2 months ago now and I have been back training with my football (soccer in the States) team for the last 3 weeks, and played golf for the first time yesterday.
Shoulder is a little stiff but thats all. I wish you the same return to normal life I have been fortunate enough to have in recent months. Its never forgotten, that little dark cloud hangs over you but I've had no rads or chemo so far and no sign of anything else going on yet. Just MRI / Ultrasound scans every 4 months at the moment, next one in September.
All the best with your recovery my friend, your upbeat and positive attitude is fantastic to see and will help you and the family get through this difficult time.
Leo0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.8K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 446 Bladder Cancer
- 309 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.5K Breast Cancer
- 397 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 13K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.4K Kidney Cancer
- 671 Leukemia
- 792 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 237 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 61 Pancreatic Cancer
- 487 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.5K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 539 Sarcoma
- 730 Skin Cancer
- 653 Stomach Cancer
- 191 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards