Salivary Gland Carcinoma

Just breath trust the team they do this as their daily jobs. You will be scared anxious etc but you’ll get through it. I used to practice yoga breathing and taking my mind into nice place holidays bike rides walks. Anything to distract. 

Hazel xx

Hi Crafty Nanny

Wishing you the best of luck for your surgery. Your op will be over in no time, just try to keep busy until Monday to try and take your mind off things. I had my second maxillectomy in 2022 and part of that op was to have the hole in the roof of my mouth covered with a graft taken from some skin in my forearm but did not have the healing plate. I did not find the op painful and have had no issues with the skin graft covering the hole in the roof of my mouth. I had a naso gastric tube in for a couple of weeks but then had it removed and got back to eating again. I found that the fear of the unknown was worse than the reality and I am sure that you will find the same. Your anxiety will recede once the op has happened so hang in there.

Sending you positive thoughts.

Lyn

Hi again Crafty Nanny

Just was thinking a bit more about your op. Is the healing plate you are referring to an obturator? However an obturator is normally used when the hole in the roof of your mouth is left open and it covers that hole up. I had one for my first maxillectomy in 2019 and it was put in my mouth during the operation. I did not have a graft for that op. I found the obturator worked quite well although I did have a second one made as the first one did not fit as well once the swelling went down. I used it until 2022 when I had my second op and then had the graft.

Just a heads up. Intensive Care can be quite boring once you get over the anaesthetic so be prepared with some entertainment such as your phone or an app such as Audible to help keep you entertained. The faster you get up and walking the faster you get to leave Intensive Care so resist the temptation to stay in bed. The physio will be visiting you daily to get you moving.

Lyn