I have just found you folks!

Hello Thomas, and welcome to the CSN H&N forum/discussion board.

I am so glad you made it through your laryngectomy and are apparently doing well a year and a half out from it.

There was a fellow on here that had a total laryngectomy like you and he ran a support group and was always ready to help anyone. A very positive guy, like you. Unfortunately, he passed away in November of 2021. But the good news is you can search his past posts on here. Here is a link to his profile page. https://csn.cancer.org/profile/discussions/wmc

Bill was from Visalia, California

Also, the good news is Bill or wmc as he was known on here shared information and I have some I keep to help others like you. I know Bill always mentioned a site called WebWhispers a site for laryngectomees.

WebWhispers--

https://webwhispers.org/

WebWhispers was started in 1996 for those who had questions about larynx cancer treatments, surgery, recovery, and what life is like after laryngectomy surgery. We are now the largest support group for individual laryngectomee survivors of larynx and other throat cancers. We offer advice from those who have been there and education at the time it is needed. Our membership is composed of patients, caregivers, medical professionals and suppliers. Come join us in order to use our full facilities. It’s free to join and no dues to pay.

Also, Bill had a YouTube channel and it is still available and may be helpful to you--

Believe me Thomas I know it's tough going through this H&N treatment and coming out the other side many times working up a new pathway to travel. Just don't hold back and restrict yourself, try anything and reach out to people and you will get some friends eventually and they will be good ones.

Also, I am usually around you can feel free to private message me if you need someone to talk to. After all, we are all in the same general boat together with many of us having speech, swallowing, breathing issues, etc.

Send Private Message to Another CSN Member

Click on the members name on the post to the left side which is either by itself or underneath their picture.

This will take you to their member page.

Click on “Message” in the upper right

Type your message and click post message.

Offical Site Instructions for Private Messaging Other CSN Members

Messages

Registered CSN members may send and receive private messages from other users through the CSN internal messaging system. The system allows members to contact each other directly while protecting their actual email address. Messages can be accessed by clicking on the envelope icon in the upper right corner of each page.

There are two ways to send a new message:

• Log into your CSN account. Click the envelope icon in the upper right corner of the page.
• A pop-up box will appear with any new messages. Click on the pencil icon in the upper right corner of the pop-up box.
• This will direct you to the New Message page. Type the username of the member you wish to contact in the Recipient field. You can add multiple usernames if you are sending a message to multiple people. This will create a group conversation that all recipients can participate in. 
• Type the content of your message. Once you are done, click ‘Post Message’.
• The second way to send a message is to go to the member’s profile page. Then click Message.

I am so sorry your friends and family have faded away from you but it is a common occurrence with cancer and it seems more so with Head and Neck Cancer. People have trouble dealing with it and maybe it scares them a little. Here's the good news if you have a friend that stayed and is your supporter they are the gold to keep.

How does cancer affect friendships?

Cancer can change many things in your life, including your friendships. You will probably notice that some friends stop spending as much time with you. Others might become even closer. You might also make new friends during your cancer treatment.

Here is a video that may help with people talking about post treatment-Lost in Transition

Our motto on here is NEGU (Never Ever Give Up) and that goes for existing friends and if you need to find some new friends then keep moving forward and don't stop and never give up.

Whatever you do Thomas keep active and friendly and things will come your way. And Never Ever Give Up.

Take Care, God Bless-Russ

Hold on whatever you do--