Ears aching and numbness from the chin down

Hi Daisy7 

I haven't had the surgery that you have but I've found that numbness can take quite a while to go completely.

I'm 'tagging' barbaral and hopefully she'll be able to pop on and help with your questions. Also replying to you will 'bump' your post back to the top of the discussion list where it'll be more easily spotted.

Do you have a CNS (cancer nurse specialist), sometimes referred to as a keyworker or Macmillan nurse, assigned to you? If so you could give them a call to talk through your concerns.

While you're waiting for replies, it would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

x

Thanks latchbrook 

Hi Daisy

People have different levels of susceptibility to pain and discomfort so you may just be more sensitive than some people. 

I'm guessing from what you've written that you had a hemi and are waiting for completion so I would suggest to get in touch with your surgeon's secretary and let them know how you are feeling and about any concerns. 

When the surgeons go in, they often have a good old scrape around to make sure they got everything out and it can 'bruise' nerve endings and leave everything feeling just not right. 

The 'something tight wrapped around my neck' could be tightness from your scar - are you giving it a rub with some Bio Oil or similar? 

Is the burning sensation inside your throat or outside on your neck? Is there any pain or inflammation along the scar?

As you say, the sausage can be sorted with the next surgery

Did you by any chance have any kind of neck direction? I'm thinking probably not (or you'd have had a TT to start with) but that often causes some of the discomfort that you describe.

Sorry to not have any firm answers, but do make sure your surgeon knows about this. 

Hi Daisy7,

I’ve just read your email and can relate to what your going through.  I had a TT and left neck dissection in November 22.   The feeling in my left ear returned about a month and a half ago and now feels normal again.  At first I had no feeling then it became a painful tingly sensation that was prickly and stinging and also itchy.   I couldn’t bear anything to rub against it not even my hair.  The feeling under my chin is slowly returning and feels much the same way my ear did.  I, like you, also have an overhang on my scar which is where the drain had been put in and then removed.  The scar doesn’t look very nice and I was told by my surgeon that due to having dark skin that it would show up even more.  I am now 6 months post op and have gotten use to the different sensations.  I also suffer with neck tightness which in the beginning was very frightening.  I use to wake up during the night with and thought someone was strangling me.  I struggle at times to get my voice out because of it.  The tightness can get worse if I am stressing about something especially when I am work.

i do find though that doing my neck physio, massaging the scar with bio oil and sometimes letting my hot shower run over the scar helps a great deal.. I also find that having a soft scarf around my neck also helps with the tightness.  I even wear a scarf during the night.  I have been told by my CSN that my neck feels the way it does because of all of the scar tissue that is on the inside and that massaging the scar gently will definitely help and keeping up with my neck physio.

Wish you all the best going forward Daisy7.

Blessings

Cassey

Hi Latchbrook, thank you so much for replying, I have finally updated my profile!  I had a few issues as I set the account up on my phone, then switched to computer but it would only let me alter the profile on my phone, computers take a while to work out sometimes.

I really appreciate your messages, I don't think I have a CNS, if I did that would be such a help, I do feel very alone with it all.  It's 5 weeks since my op and my scar bled this morning, just a little but all these things feel worrying but I don't like to bother the surgeons secretary which seems to be my only contact

x

Hi Cassey

I feel just like you!  I am so sorry that you are going through this but I do feel some relief that I am not the only person that has had these symptoms.  I feel like it's not a good idea to know all the possible side effects as that would be scary, but also if you do mention them to an expert it would be good to know that it's not unusual and that they will go eventually.  I feel very anxious now about the next operation and how I will feel afterwards, it's the rest of my thyroid and another neck dissection then RAI to follow up.

No one has mentioned neck physio to me, was it the nurse who suggested that?  I also find my voice comes and goes and I don't really know why, the surgeon thinks it might be down to anxiety which just makes me feel like I have failed again, some days I only get a squeak out other days I can talk but I am still very hoarse.

I really can't thank you enough for replying, I feel less alone now

Vicky x

Hi Barbara, the lovely Cassie seems to have gone through a similar thing, I am now understanding that it was probably to do with the neck dissection which I did have with the last op, and I will have another one with the next op. 

I think the bleeding was just me knocking one of the scabs, it seems to be ok today.  there is some infalmation along the scar, it gets quite red but it looks to be healing well.  I am finding it all quite tricky and don't know what to bother the surgeon about which is why this forum is so helpful.  Last time I felt like I was just wasting his time and I should just get on with things.

Thank you so much for all your support

Vicky x

Hi Daisy7 

I'm sorry to hear you've had some issues with the site. Sometimes it can take a little time to get to grips with it. 

I understand what you mean when you say that you don't like to "bother the surgeons secretary" but we tend to forget that part of their job is to answer our questions or to liaise with the surgeon if you don't have a CNS. Do give them a call if you need to ask anything.

x

Hi Daisy7’

i was given 2 sheets of A4 paper at my follow up appointment 2 weeks post op and told to do the neck exercises 3 times per day. My CSN gave it to me.  It really helps to relief the tightness in my neck and if I forget to do it I know about it as my neck tightness is worse. My voice is much better since I had my operation and it doesn’t feel as fatigued.  The only time I have trouble with my voice is when I become anxious or stressed.  My neck also becomes tight.  I have joined my local gym and I’m doing aqua fit and swimming as I find that this helps me to relax.

All the best with your Op.

Cassey

Thanks Cassie, that's great your back at the gym, I have googled some neck execises for post op and will give them a go

Many thanks, Vicky