RE: RE: bil. neck diss. long

[Guest guest]

Wow,

You sure are an inspiration. What a postiive attitude for a woman with a lot

to deal with in her early thirties, including raising two young children. It

sounds like you have had great doctors, too. Thanks for sharing your

incredible story.

Alison

tt and neck dissection 05/02

100 Mci RAI 06/02

Clean scan 11/02

Ontario, Canada

Re: RE: bil. neck diss. long

Dear Laurel and friends,

I had my original head and neck dissection 14 years ago for

mucoepidermoidcarcenoma (ca in small salivary glands)

on the right side of my neck. It was found when I had my wisdom teeth

removed at 32. I had the right half of my lower jaw

removed along with the nerve, lymph nodes removed from the right side of the

neck as well as the muscles, perserving the

caratoid artery. The neck muscles were replaced by a chest muscle flap

brought up under the skin.I did not drive until 3

weeks post surgery - by then I was feeling better overall and needed to

strengthen my right arm. I didn't realize my arm

mobility would be affected, being right handed and a graphic artist, didn't

realize my work would be affected. And I drove a

stick shift, too, it really helped!

The first week home post surgery was tough! I felt like a vise was

contracting my right side, neck very stiff, couldn't

open my mouth more than 1/2 " . I lost the weight I still had from my

daughter's birth 6 months previous. The best thing I did

was to have a full body massage every week for four weeks. Immediately I was

less stiff, more relaxed and able to do the

arm and neck exercises easier. By the time I started eight weeks of

radiation 4 weeks post surgery, my range of motion

overall had improved greatly. I drove myself to my treatments, 1 hour

roundtrip every day.

I've had two neck surgeries since. In 1994 I had reconstructive surgery,

replacing the plate in my jaw with leg bone

from my left leg and the TT I had October 2001 (my ent doctor said I had a

screw loose, but I always knew that!). My scars

run from ear to ear under my chin (no double chins in my future!) and down

the right side of my neck. I am very fortunate

that my scars healed very well-a concern with radiated skin. Friends, unless

told, can't tell I've had surgery, and I do wear

my hair long.

It took around two years for my neck and arm muscles to regain their

strength and mobility. Up until two years ago I

had no problems, other than the usual tightness on the right side of my neck

that has been normal since surgery, with

doing anything. I played volleyball, garden, bicycle, worked with weights to

improve my upper body strength. I am having

recurring neck and shoulder pain now due to a neural encrouchment at c5-6

and will have to have surgery to remove the

spur sometime in the next two years. This is probably stems from a whiplash

accident I had over 20 years ago!

Since I get my messages in digest, I realize this is rather late in

posting, but I hope my experiences will help others

realize it will get better. Time -and massages will make life easier. Hang

in there.

I am blessed with a wonderful husband, two great kids and the fortune to

pursue my artistic endeavours and

volunteer work.

Hugs to all,

in Northern Lower Michigan, where it finally looks like winter with a

dusting of snow on the ground and the

Christmas tree has lights on so far!

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