5 weeks post-surgery (RFFF)

I saw my surgeon a week ago because I was concerned about a couple of developments. At the side of my flap reconstruction, on the palataoglossal arch (aka tonsillar pillar), this odd looking "blank pocket" appeared. It is a small cavernous hole about 3-4mm deep, 3-4 mm wide. There was also the emergence of a faint white "spot" at the juncture of my tongue where it has been stitched up. My surgeon said that the pocket was just my "new normal" as the mucosa will change and morph its appearance. He could not really see the white spot, so basically said there was nothing to worry about. 

Over the week, another pocket and spot appeared, which made me nervous. I texted a photo to the on-call ENT doctor last weekend who reassured me that nothing appeared abnormal to her. I also sent the photo to my surgical team. The nurses, again, told me that odd changes are going to happen and that I am still in early stages of healing.

The white spots had been stinging/buring all week so I started to suspect I had a fungal/yeast infection. I saw my primary care physician yesterday who agreed that it looked like that, so she prescribed Nystatin oral rinse. I will start using that soon.

Last night, I noticed a red swelling that has developed next to one of the pockets. There was an odd appearance there so I wiped it with the end of a Q-tip. Apparently, it was a completely dislodged suture floating around in that area. I suppose the redness is the remaining healing tissue from being stitched. I am trying not to look at the wound too much because doing so does seem to just cause unnecessary worry.

My surgeon had tried to get me to relax a bit, telling me that I am "out of the woods," but I tend to overthink everything. It is very hard to wrap my head around what seems to be contradictions: out of the woods AND still in early stages of healing after major reconstructive surgery. Thankfully, the results of bloodwork that was done yesterday definitely provide reassurance of the reassurance (of the reassurance, and so on, as that is all I keep getting :) ). All of the labs are normal even platelet count which had been off the charts during acute post-op period.

So, other than tackling this minor infection, I am starting to feel like I am in good stead. 

(I would add a photo but not sure the members of this forum would respond to graphic images.... I will also try to come up with summary signature when I get a chance!)