Just a quick update, so the longest day ever yesterday but finally at 8pm the surgeon phoned to say op went as planned!!! and my hubby was in intensive care.
To my amazement tonight he managed to FaceTime my son and myself. He is breathing unaided which I don’t know if that is a big step but I was surprised and he was writing on his whiteboard he wanted a burger and a milkshake. Off to see him tomorrow night, can’t wait to see him but slightly nervous
Glad all is going well Lynda, remember my first shower very well, was lovely. Was very limited on getting any fresh air sadly as there were still Covid restrictions in place, I could walk up the corridor entry to the ward but go no further.
I failed the swallow test twice sadly so ended up staying in four weeks and then sent home once they'd replaced my NG with a RIG, was "nil by mouth" for five months in all....but as I've said, being salvage made it more likely that I'd fail early on.
He'll be very well drilled on what supplies he'll need and how to use them, it's really not difficult once you get into the swing of things. He'll probably have a single supply company for everything he needs, I won't name names because can't be seen to "plug" any particular company on here, but mine are brilliant, I get regular emails asking me if I need anything, and they also do frequent online "webinar" meetings where you get to meet and chat with them and other laryngectomees. They also have regional nurses who will come out if you/he have any issues.
Support I had when I got home was from my son, as I lost my wife four days after my diagnosis, so was a very difficult time; you plainly have a great attitude and thirst for as much info as you can get, that in itself will serve you both well.
Really hope he aces the swallow test and you get him back soon!
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.
My goodness MikeO, I’m so sorry, I can’t begin to imagine what you have been through and still going through and you still have time to support strangers online!!!
Thank you for all your advice, hubby wasn’t in a great mood tonight and got cross with me as I couldn’t understand that he was uncomfortable and couldn’t get pillows right for him. Must be very frustrating for him, but I felt like throwing them at him.
As I said before tomorrow a big day with swallow test, let’s see what happens.
thanks again MikeO
Lynda 
