Hubby has had his op Tuesday 5thAugust. It was a long one. About 12hours. I went to visit today for the first time as he has been sedated until last night (6th) . TBH I had a shock seeing him. The nurse had told me he was awake and chatting, and he was but he is wired up to about 20 different tubs and wires. He can speak quite well. Can’t drink water. Got nasal food tube. They have got him up into a chair which is good but he is so uncomfortable. We laughed quite a lot but it gives him pain in his hip where they have taken the tissue. He has always been so strong and it was distressing to see him so vulnerable. He cried a couple of times which he hasn’t done since his father died 30 years ago. I didn’t want to leave hime there. The hospital is 40 miles from where we live through winding country roads and I can’t visit him every day. He has had hemimandibulectomy, nick dissection and free flap recon. A real basin full.
Hi. Well done your husband. It sounds like he us doing really well.
Cab you set up a rota of visits so that somebody visits twice a day?
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I’m afraid I can’t do that. All the family are miles away. I’m not sure he even wants visitors tbh.
In which case just go with the flow. All the drains will gradually come out and the swelling will improve vastly so he will look much better next time you visit.
Maybe just WhatsApp?
When I was in hospital for four nights home was a two hour drive away so my husband just visited the once.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
In which case maybe just whats……..App?
When I was in hospital for four days home was a two hour drive away so my husband just visited the once.
In a few days all the drains and monitors will start coming out, the swelling will improve and he’ll look much better
Hugs
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Good evening SueinKent, I take it you are from Kent by your name, i live in Kent and had my surgery done in East Grinstead, which may be where your husband has as well. To be honest, i had virtually the same operation, and i never looked in the mirror for many weeks, although i saw a photo later on after i had healed up. I know what you mean by the length of the operation and all the tubes and drains, but they will soon come out, i felt a lot better once i was free from my catheter and could wear my clothes rather than the gowns. I could not eat or drink until everything had healed up so i used my feeding tube ( PEG) that went straight into my stomach. It can be an emotional time recovering from these sorts of operations as it involves a lot of surgery, but it's surprising how quickly everything heals up especially if his pain is kept under control. I live in Rochester, and my wife used to come every other day, but other people visited as well, it can become very tiring if too many visitors turn up, mainly because of lack of sleep due to the resident snorers 
. I wish you and your husband all the best, it sounds as if he is doing well. Take care.
Chris x
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
