Hemiglossectomy, Hemi mandiblectomy and selective right neck dissection surgery

Good evening, I have been following your posts, as a fellow wife I feel for you, and just like you, my husband can be very grumpy,12wks post treatment, but I think it's the frustration that gets him some days, especially after just gone forward ,just to be knocked down with yet another side effect.Only close family and work know about what we are going through,we got told straight away what the prognosis was, did the stage made a difference? Not sure, to get the assurance that this was curable it's what is helping us to get through. It's tough to see your loved one going through this and sometimes he needs his space as well I need mine and that's OK.My husband has got a PEG as well, it's a life saver for him, he had it replaced for the first time the other day, as it was in place for so long already.What was an easy procedure. So don't be afraid too much about getting one ,it may take some time to get used to it so. We have been told that this will be a long journey and we should take one day at the time ,there will be better ones and the not so good ones. And boy were they right. So if you or your hubby finding yourself angry or upset against everything and everyone, that's OK, but it will get better. Anyway, all the best for your journey. Mel x

Hello Kellie,only just seen your post about you had your PEG fitted. I am sorry to hear that you are in pain with it. When my husband had his fitted, he was able to go home on the same day. But you probably are going to need it at some point. What is your treatment plan again? My husband had 30rounds RT and 2rounds CT. About half way through, he was reliant to have all his food and meds going through it.You soon are used to having it, your medical team has shown you how to look after it? We have a district nurse come once a week to check on it. Will you be able to get one? I would ask ,can't hurt to find out. Hope the discomfort will ease soon. Hugs. Mel x

Hi Mel,

Thank you for both your posts it's really kind to share your story with me. I do hope that you are finding time to support your emotional well being as well as your husband's where you can and am pleased to hear he is almost half way.

My husband is amazing, he does need his space though and I think I did last night but it also led to me thinking too much about things I didn't need to. 

We are focusing on me being home for our first wedding anniversary at the end of April hopefully able to eat a purée meal - after my first surgery I actually really liked puree chicken casserole

I used to look after patients with Pegs whilst I was in the community (about 6/7 years ago now) but they've all changed I remember the old school purple pegs with the clamp I have no clamp - I wanted to free flush but have just had to use the syringe plunger...  I'm hopeful ill get used to it once the pain subsides a bit too... I suspect like the doctor said it's muscle and inflammation and also the gas they pump in. 

Currently I've had a partial glossectomy which came back as cancer so MDM reviewed a x-ray of my jaw noticed a pinched out bit which they biopsied and also was the same cancer they believe it travelled via nerve / blood vessels from togue to jaw or vice versa we don't know. Now I am going in on Tuesday for a hemiglossectomy, a hemi mandiblectomy to 5th molar and a selective right neck dissection they have then said 35 fractions (I think this is attendances but am sure someone from this lovely community will correct me if I'm wrong). 

I don't qualify unfortunately for a DN as I can still get to my surgery however I am lucky to have a friend that's a DN - sure she will help if I don't seem to grasp it. I am hopeful to continue to t as much as possible but am fully aware from this forum how tough RT is so like Hazel said my peg is a bit like a insurance policy  

Take care of yourself and hubby x

Staggabee said:

35 fractions (I think this is attendances but am sure someone from this lovely community will correct me if I'm wrong). 

You're spot on. 35 sessions spread over  weeks with weekends off.

God how I looked forward to those....You'll be OK. You read as if you have your head in the right place

Thank you Dani, I hope so. 

Keep reading responses on here to others and have stayed off Google - am sure this has helped a lot.

Yes I bet looking forward to the weekends, I wasn't sure if you had weekends off hadn't got round to asking yet so that's a relief and sure il be the same mini count down every week makes bigger chunks seem much smaller x