I am home from surgery with great news!!

NitaNita
NitaNita Member Posts: 56
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Had surgery Tuesday morning at 8:30am, I came out about 11ish. I was in recovery for about two hours because I was so out of it. The Dr told my family he had taken 25 lymph nodes from the left side to check for cancer but said they all looked good. Dr told my family we should know by then end of the week of the results.
Got to my room about 2ish. I had little pain since my left side from shoulder to above my left ear is completley numb including the left side of my tongue. Dr said it could take several months before the feeling comes back due to nerve damage from the surgery. Sucks that its numb but a blessing to know it is because besides being super sore I am not in much pain.
I did stay another night in the hospital since the night of the surgery I wasnt able to swallow so they wanted me to have another day of rest and the drain tube was still filling and wasnt clear.
Came home Thurday, drain was clear and my appetite was back. Was feeling better just super sore. Husband has been taking great care of me. Not used to being laid up in bed all day but feeling stronger every day.
Last night my Dr called my husband and said he got the results on the lymph nodes. All 25 came back with NO trace of cancer. He said I was in so much pain because the cancer had got in to the nerves. He said he had to take a lot more then he thought of the tongue but he got good margins. So as of right now I am CANCER FREE!! He said he wants to continue to see me every 6 wks for check ups and a pet scan every year. I have been blessed and thank each and every one of you for all the love and support through all of this. It has helped me so much.

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #2
    Great to hear from you
    NitaNita,

    Sounds like you had a rough week. So glad you are doing fine and the results are so outstanding. Way to go! Continue to heal and get better, it is nice to hear good news.

    Bless you and your caring husband,

    Matt
  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    #3
    good news
    Hi there, so glad you posted; been thinking about you all week.

    And GREAT NEWS... Congrats on the clean margins and no lymph node involvement.
    YIPPEE !!
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #4
    Enjoy the TLC !
    Nita,
    Happy to hear the good news, continue to heal....and enjoy the TLC from your wonderful husband. Better days ahead ! Warmest regards, Katie
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #5
    katenorwood said:

    Enjoy the TLC !
    Nita,
    Happy to hear the good news, continue to heal....and enjoy the TLC from your wonderful husband. Better days ahead ! Warmest regards, Katie

    Nita
    Sounds very very good, and you're doing okay. And, that you know the cause of the pain. Just some very awesome news for all of us to be happy for you. Yes!

    kcass
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    Nita Needa....
    Excleeent news...

    Very glad to hear the good news... I know it has to be a tremendous relief to you and family.

    Best,
    John
  • ooo
    ooo Member Posts: 105
    #7
    The news I was waiting for.
    The news I was waiting for. Good job NitaNita! :)
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #8
    Like Ingrid....you've been in my head
    all week. Truly....WONDERFUL NEWS!! Clean margins and no lymph nodes involved, couldn't ask for more than that! :) Now just lay back in the loving arms of you family, and let the healing begin...

    p
  • Tonsil Dad
    Tonsil Dad Member Posts: 488
    #9
    phrannie51 said:

    Like Ingrid....you've been in my head
    all week. Truly....WONDERFUL NEWS!! Clean margins and no lymph nodes involved, couldn't ask for more than that! :) Now just lay back in the loving arms of you family, and let the healing begin...

    p

    Great news.
    Great news Nita, thats what we were all waiting to hear from you.
    You will be back to normal before you know it. Remember the power
    of prayer is awsome.

    God bless
    Tonsil dad,

    Dan.
  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #10
    Ain't it funny
    how someone you've never met, gets into your heart? Anyway, wonderful news, take care of yourself and let your husband be your " rock!"
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 726 Member
    #11
    Grandmax4 said:

    Ain't it funny
    how someone you've never met, gets into your heart? Anyway, wonderful news, take care of yourself and let your husband be your " rock!"

    All That Pain
    Nita,

    We were all worried about you and now we can relax knowing it turned out okay. Funny when a person says how much pain they have but are in such a good mood because of the dx. Just about the same for me. Tons of pain but much more relief knowing they got clean margins like you.

    Now comes the healing time. Take good care of yourself and don't rush.

    Tom
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #12
    tommyodavey said:

    All That Pain
    Nita,

    We were all worried about you and now we can relax knowing it turned out okay. Funny when a person says how much pain they have but are in such a good mood because of the dx. Just about the same for me. Tons of pain but much more relief knowing they got clean margins like you.

    Now comes the healing time. Take good care of yourself and don't rush.

    Tom

    There you are!!!!
    Glad to hear!!! Wonderful news and happy to hear all is well.

    Best,

    Tim
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #13
    special
    thanks for sharing your special news. time to do your celebration dance.

    congrats.

    john
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #14
    Congrats
    Enjoy what life has to offer you! I am very happy for you.
  • NitaNita
    NitaNita Member Posts: 56
    #15
    hwt said:

    Congrats
    Enjoy what life has to offer you! I am very happy for you.

    Thanks!
    Thanks for all the sweet words. I went to the Dr and said I am healing good but the pain hasn't got much better. I have a lot of nerve damage he said. I am still numb from shoulder to my ear and having lots of sharp needle pains from my shoulder to the back of my head. I am hoping it will get better as time goes on. Tongue is still numb as well because he had to cut in to the nerves but he said all of it should come back in the next few months. Tongue is still super swollen. I am trying to stay positive I mean its a small price to pay to be cancer free right?! Just feeling down and frustrated.
  • carolinagirl67
    carolinagirl67 Member Posts: 153
    #16
    AWESOME!
    I love to hear those stories. Congrats to you! Celebrate!!!
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #17
    NitaNita said:

    Thanks!
    Thanks for all the sweet words. I went to the Dr and said I am healing good but the pain hasn't got much better. I have a lot of nerve damage he said. I am still numb from shoulder to my ear and having lots of sharp needle pains from my shoulder to the back of my head. I am hoping it will get better as time goes on. Tongue is still numb as well because he had to cut in to the nerves but he said all of it should come back in the next few months. Tongue is still super swollen. I am trying to stay positive I mean its a small price to pay to be cancer free right?! Just feeling down and frustrated.

    Staying positive
    Hello,
    It's all so new...give yourself some time to heal. Very normal to feel the way you do right now ! As some time passes, it will get better. Stay positive, and remember we're all here as a group to be there for you and your hubby. Warm positives thoughts sent your way, Katie
  • ooo
    ooo Member Posts: 105
    #18
    NitaNita said:

    Thanks!
    Thanks for all the sweet words. I went to the Dr and said I am healing good but the pain hasn't got much better. I have a lot of nerve damage he said. I am still numb from shoulder to my ear and having lots of sharp needle pains from my shoulder to the back of my head. I am hoping it will get better as time goes on. Tongue is still numb as well because he had to cut in to the nerves but he said all of it should come back in the next few months. Tongue is still super swollen. I am trying to stay positive I mean its a small price to pay to be cancer free right?! Just feeling down and frustrated.

    NitaNita,
    fun to wake up
    NitaNita,

    fun to wake up with teeth marks all around the perimeter of your tongue uh? ;)
    It will probably last for a week or two, so enjoy every single moment of it. As for the numbness, that will take some time, measured in months not in weeks. Parts of my tongue are still numb, but I can definitely see some progress. Same for my jaw line. My cheek, ear and neck are almost normal by now. Between total numbness and normality there are several weeks of tingling but nothing major, really. You're perfectly on schedule, just try to have a good time!

    Dre.
  • BarefootBob
    BarefootBob Member Posts: 72
    #19
    Great News Nita
    This is great news Nita, as I too just got home was hoping you had similar news too share. So happy for you and that the nodes came back cancer free!! Feeling so much more positive towards my neck dissection in 10 days.

    Hope that the healing goes well & fast! Stay in touch. So awesome to hear :)

    Bob.
  • BarefootBob
    BarefootBob Member Posts: 72
    #20
    Great News Nita
    This is great news Nita, as I too just got home was hoping you had similar news too share. So happy for you and that the nodes came back cancer free!! Feeling so much more positive towards my neck dissection in 10 days.

    Hope that the healing goes well & fast! Stay in touch. So awesome to hear :)

    Bob.
  • NitaNita
    NitaNita Member Posts: 56
    #21
    BarefootBob said:

    Great News Nita
    This is great news Nita, as I too just got home was hoping you had similar news too share. So happy for you and that the nodes came back cancer free!! Feeling so much more positive towards my neck dissection in 10 days.

    Hope that the healing goes well & fast! Stay in touch. So awesome to hear :)

    Bob.

    Funny...
    It is funny how we have never met but we are thinking about how the other is doing. I am doing much better today then I was the last time I posted on here. Neck is still stiff but every day I feel a little more like myself. You will do great and I will continue to pray for you when you go back for your next round. Best wishes!

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