Hi. I am 3 weeks in after my tonsil and neck dissection surgery. I still suffer from swelling and pain. How do you know if this is just general swelling or lymphedema? The nurse said it's just general swelling that I need to manually drain it with massage. I've never been shown properly how to do this nor have I been given any straps in order to help. Also I have no idea how long I should be taking off work. I'm feeling pressure from work to go back but I also have friends and family telling me not to rush back. I do a desk job so it's not like I'm doing anything strenuous but it does involve looking down at the keyboard a lot and looking down is kinda painful and causes more swelling!! I'm due to go back on Tuesday next week but I'm not sure if taking more time off is me being ridiculous.
Don’t be pressured to go back to work until you feel 100% ready. Once cancer is diagnosed we are classed as having a disability and companies have to do an assessment on your return to work to make any adjustments needed i.e. I had a phased return to work but it could be anything at all to make sure you are comfortable. I hope your company will be supportive. I’m sure someone else who has had a neck dissection will answer your question, I did not have this. Wishing you a good recovery.
Dawn
Thanks Dawn. I work for the NHS so I can have up to 6 months paid leave, which is amazing. I just don't like feeling that I'm letting my team down. I'm not a patient person when it comes to recovery. Thankfully I don't need radiotherapy so it's the surgery I need to get over.
A phased return is probably a good idea though.
Thanks for replying. X
Don’t be pressure and when you do go do a phased return. It takes time your employer has a duty of care to you as well
Hazel
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers
Hi LR49,
I was told not to do any manual drainage massage until 6 weeks after my neck dissection surgery and was cleared to do so by my consultant. Useful videos from Cancer Rehab PT on YouTube - Kelly has some excellent videos and explains everything really well - especially this video - "How to reduce neck and face swelling after a surgery or lymphedema: by a physical therapist"
Hi, LR49, if you are entitled to 6 months sickness pay, then take as much of that time you need to recover. If you are being pressured back to work, that is wrong, and your employer is only thinking how it is affecting them, not you. I'm sure your work colleagues, understand you need to recover fully, so will not feel let down.
Hi there,
I am only 5 days post neck dissection. My note from the hospital gave me 2 weeks off after discharge (was in hospital 3 nights) and I am also a desk worker. I have passed this on and my ETA to return is after 2 weeks but I can always request more time from the GP.
As people are saying depending in your sick leave policy at work pay might be an issue but they have to let you have the time off, or phased return and accommodate needs.
*****
Non-HPV tongue cancer T1N0M0?
Diagnosed Nov 2024.
Hi. For context 2x tonsillectomies and 2x neck dissections
I guess at this stage it is difficult to tell if this is general swelling or lymphedema - still early days in your recovery. Whilst I recovered from the same surgery I found that using a massage shower head on my neck worked well to ease it. At this stage things will still be tender and extensive massage may not help.
After CRT I quite obviously had lymphedema and was quickly referred to a specialist nurse. He gave me this link which really helped reduce the swelling alongside a compression neck gaiter. Self lymphatic drainage (SLD) for head, face and neck lymphoedema lymphedema
As to going back to work... Having worked in the NHS I would certainly not be taking anybody back into the workplace without an Occy Health referral. At that referral you should be discussing the issues you are finding and working with them to find a safe and comfortable way back to work. They will then pass that on to your manager and support you. That may be a phased return or a temporary move into a different role whilst you fully recover. Although I chose to retire when I got my diagnosis at the start of Covid I feel I would have been quite capable of returning to work after 3 or 4 weeks in a controlled manner. That is a very different timeframe to if you had have CRT.
If you are capable and comfortable with it I would suggest discussing what is happening/has happened with your manager and colleagues as there may be some longer term side effects that you will need to manage in the workplace with their help.
Finally I have found that some find actually being in the workplace a comfort and support when their lives have been traumatised. If you are one of those people then return as soon as you feel able to and get some normality back into your life.
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