Hi There,
My father-in-law underwent a full laryngectomy surgery 2 weeks ago.
He returned home a few days ago however happiness to be home quickly turned to frustration.
He and his wife are both in their 70's and learning how to comunicate again is really difficult for them.
Apart from constant remindings to write things down - Can anyone share any tips/their experiance of re-learning communication immediately post-surgery.
Thanks
Hello Mini, sorry for the delayed response.
That's a really tricky one; for me less of a problem because when I came home it was just to my twenty-four year old son, who very quicky started learning how to interpret my consonant clicks and exaggerated mouthing of words to understand me. But "easy" for him because he has great sight and hearing, when I went to see my mother-in-law (ageing eyes and ears) she understood nothing and all communication was by pen and paper, guessing that's where your in-laws are finding problems.
Is there any prospect of your father-in-law getting any sort of voice prosthesis or an electrolarynx? Some people get great results with those, as do some with esophageal speech.
Although, as I said, it was easier for my son it was a process and took a while, so might well be be that your mother-in-law will become better at "reading" him over time. Still though, for me, pen and paper is the stand-by, always carry it with me.
The longer it's gone on for me, nearly two years now, the more it's normal and I've adapted; sure your in-laws will similarly adapt over time.
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
