Surgery tomorrow!

micktissue said:

ratface
Thanks for that ratface. Because the tumors were not adhered to any structures but were well contained within the lymph gland my Dr did not need to cut any major nerve or muscle or vein. I am very fortunate. My wife led me through the exercises last night and I seem to have full range of motion in my right arm.

A note about my Dr. We met with him the day prior to surgery and one of teh questions he asked me is what music I liked. He wanted to see if I wanted my music played in the OR. I was a bit thrown by this and mentioned a few names and then forgot about it. Then, the next morning, just as I was going under, he asked if I had a request. I was a bit nervous and groggy and don't remember what I said, but what I do remember is hearing Statesboro Blues by the Allman Brothers band blasting in that sterile, bright room. His humanity in that moment said a lot about him and I am so grateful to be in his care.

I am a musician and in a rock band and i cannot tell you what it means to me to be able to continue to play. I would give it all up if that's what it took to beat this thing. But fir now at least I have my health and my ability intact. YEAH!

Best,

Mick

You will still have pain there
Mick

What a great doctor, but I already told you that from previous posts. I did not have any major nerves cut either but that nerve was moved over to the side during the procedure and it dosen't respond well to being moved. You will have decreased strenght in that arm and it will hurt when you lay on that side. When you awake in the morning that arm will be stiff on occasion. Make sure not to assume that no nerves were cut and things will be OK. You need to take the exercises seriously and not let up on them. Yes I have full range of motion but thats because I did the exercises. My right arm I would guess has about 25% of the strenght it used to have. I am hopeful that this will return incremently down the road. Don't pick up any Amps for a few months!

ratface said:

You will still have pain there
Mick

What a great doctor, but I already told you that from previous posts. I did not have any major nerves cut either but that nerve was moved over to the side during the procedure and it dosen't respond well to being moved. You will have decreased strenght in that arm and it will hurt when you lay on that side. When you awake in the morning that arm will be stiff on occasion. Make sure not to assume that no nerves were cut and things will be OK. You need to take the exercises seriously and not let up on them. Yes I have full range of motion but thats because I did the exercises. My right arm I would guess has about 25% of the strenght it used to have. I am hopeful that this will return incremently down the road. Don't pick up any Amps for a few months!

Mick
I too am a musician (bass player) retired now, and a cancer survivor. I had radiation and chemo for larynx cancer, all check ups so far have proved negative. I am a brit that is now living in Pa. I was also a singer and when I lost my voice to the cancer I thought that was it for the pipes, but after everything was done it came back, no falsetto but still a good timbre. Theres a whole bunch of musicians that have survived this head and neck stuff, Rod Stewart, Charlie Watts and many many more, so even if you do have radiation and chemo it still is very survivable. Denis