Selective Neck Dissection

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Hi, 

I am sorry I have asked this before and elsewhere. 

The surgery is scheduled for Thu and I just want some last minute info/discussion. I am getting a bit scared and also I have not been staying at the hospital since the last time 12 years ago with coRofllications after child birth. It was very different I guess because I had to look after 1 more person back then because she slept next to me and cried a lot Rofl

What was your experience about it? 

How many days were you at the hospital? 

How did it feel to have the drains? 

Could you move normally, go to the loo etc? 

What are visiting times like in the ward? 

What should I bring with me? 

I was told 5 days inpatient... But seen shorter times elsewhere! 

Thank you and sorry for repeating the questions. 

  • Hi

    It sounds scary, but really is not.  I have had 2; the first a simple node removal the second a large number of nodes.  The first one I had drains and an overnight stay before they were removed and I could go home.  The second I did not have drains, but once again an overnight stay.  I had stitches for the first one and staples for the second.  To the patient there is really no difference in either.

    The drain did not hurt.  It felt a little strange as it was pulled out, but only for a few seconds.  I have had drains before and the feeling was the same then.

    After both operations I insisted on getting up to go to the loo in the recovery room.  The sooner you are mobile the sooner the risk of DVT is minimised.  You will be unsteady but with the nursing support it will be OK.

    I took paracetamol and tramadol for the pain, but was off both by 14 days.  Eating would have been fairly normal for the dissections, but I had tonsillectomies both times and that is a whole different issue (but the main cause of my pain)!

    Visiting times and what to bring will be advised by the hospital.  If they are saying 5 days inpatient then you may need something to keep you amused.  If only overnight then you will be still tired from the op and probably not wanting to read etc.  Frankly the less time spent in hospital the better the chances of a good recovery, providing you are safe to be discharged.

    To put this all in context.  18 days after my first dissection (and 3 days after confirming cancer) I went to Florida for 3 weeks!  Swam with Manatees and rode the roller coasters.  Not everybody will be so lucky, but my experience was good.

    Peter
    See my profile for more details of my convoluted journey
  • Hi,

    I think Peter has covered most of your questions however from my standpoint, I had a neck dissection along with an oropharyngectomy at the end of September. 

    I was on a morphine driver when I came out of the theatre, that and a steroid drip. I was only on the morphine until the next day and then they was removed and I was on paracetamol. I had a chest drain in for 3 days before it came out, it wasn’t a hassle really, just a little strange to see.

    I was in hospital for 3 nights and I got home on the 4th day. 

    I could move normally and I slept with a decent incline on the bed to allow fluids to drain. Otherwise it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated it might be. 

    The surgeon did have to cut nerves in the neck which has caused me a fair amount of discomfort on my shoulder on that side. I occasionally will take painkillers for that but otherwise it was fine. 

    I took a book to read and plenty of TV shows/films to watch. 

    I was in the QEUH in Glasgow which has open visiting so basically any visitors allowed between approx 11am-8.30pm. 

    Hope this helps 

  • Thank you! I know I asked some things before in other threads but the closer it comes the more practical my worries become! Really good to hear! 

  • Ah great, I will let my partner know as that's where I am going. How was the food lol. 

    I am worried of I won't have enough pain meds but I am also worried if I will have enough of them and get hooked!

    What kind of dissection did you have? 

    Were you able to help yourself to food and place headphones? 

    Do I need to bring a lot of my clothing or just the gown they provide?

    Thank you!

  • As a side question, it sounds like you had a great trip!

    How much was the travel insurance? 

    We have family abroad but have held off for now. 

  • I am worried of I won't have enough pain meds but I am also worried if I will have enough of them and get hooked!

    We don’t get addicted. Addiction is mental as well as physical. What does happen is that over time the body gets used to the drug and the pain receptors need more to keep them quiet.  I was on morphine for 16 weeks. I had to taper withdrawal over three weeks that’s all. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

     

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • I have travelled extensively since I was diagnosed in November 2019.  America, Caribbean, South America and Antarctica.  In the last year when I had CRT I stayed in the UK. 

    My insurance has been provided through the Nationwide Flex Plus account.  Both the old and the new insurer have/do cover me for worldwide travel, but exclude anything relating to my H&N cancer.  There is no extra charge for this. 

    I am comfortable with this as we now book "last minute" to reduce the cancellation risk and if I have any issues whilst away I believe I could safely continue my holiday and return as normal for a hospital check-up.  Everyone will have their own risk appetite, but this approach works for me.

    Peter
    See my profile for more details of my convoluted journey
  • Hi Rowan

    You are naturally apprehensive going into an unknown scenario but in my experience the reality has not been as bad as the thought. With my neck dissection I was only in for 2 days until the drain was taken out. I could get up and walk almost straight away and this was encouraged. The bottle for the drainage tube was tucked away in a pocket in my hospital gown so did not obstruct me. The drain was not uncomfortable and was easily removed. I did not need heavy pain meds and when I went home only had paracetamol although I was given a prescription for something stronger but did not need to use it. I only had the clothes I went in with and a nightie as it was easier to move around with the hospital gown with the pocket for the drainage bottle.  You can keep occupied with your phone as I found concentrating to read too hard after the anaesthetic. I was up and walking up and down the corridors often as I was keen to get home a.s.a.p. The physio came to see me to assess my mobility and was happy for me to go home quite quickly.

    Best of luck for the op.

    Lyn

    Sophie66

  • Peter’s description reflects pretty much what I experienced.  My incision was stapled, which looked much as if someone had gone mad with the body piercings.  They were removed 5 days later very easily.  The drain looked more dramatic than it was.  The worst thing about it being removed was the obviously very new and inexperienced student nurse turning decidedly green around the gills when her colleague pulled it out!

     I was lucky enough to have a single room, so there were not that many restrictions on visiting.  I would agree that taking something to do is vital….not so much for afterwards when I spent most of the time asleep, but to kill the time hanging about waiting for surgery.  I took an iPad phone and kindle…and don’t forget to take a charger if you’re going to be in more than a couple of days.

     I had paracetamol, gabapentin and ibuprofen whist ‘inside’.  Once back at home this was supplemented with codeine for a short period when things got a bit painful.  One tip I took from the district nurse was to take the tablets with a mouthful of yoghurt. Normally I can’t abide the stuff, but when I could taste absolutely nothing it worked.

    Moving about after the op wasn’t a problem.

    Hope it all goes well for you 

    Liz

  • This was a concern and after the 2 ops on my tongue I did not take sll the codeine first time and second time none at all. They also made me very tired. But I think that's better than the pain in the neck. No pun intended!