One more quick update—I’ve now had a chest xray and an EKG. According to the RN who did the pre-op survey, my lungs are clear and the EKG showed a “really good” result. It looks more and more as if the surgery is going to be routine—now all I am really worried about is the recovery. On the other hand, I am really grateful to think there will be a recovery.
Once again, thanks for all the good wishes. Surgery is still scheduled for Thursday; I will update again ASAP.
Thoughts-and-prayers thing still going full tilt from Philly.
More healing vibes are coming your way, Louis. I’m looking forward to your post-surgery update. Good luck.
I’m very glad to hear the followup news has been so good. I hope things keep going just as well, and I’ll be thinking of you on Thursday.
Glad to hear this good news!
Best wishes in continuing to beat it.
Best wishes for the surgery.
Well, tomorrow is the big day. I report to the hospital at 9:30 tomorrow morning and will update this as soon as I am mobile again. My darling Marcie is fully confident of my recovery, as am I.
Thanks again for all the good wishes.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery, LouisB. I’m sending lots of positive thoughts your way. Good luck!
hoping all the best for you… a family member of mine is confronting disturbing news on the cancer front, so I can relate.
Hang in there buddy, we are pulling for you.
Well, I checked into the hospital at 9:30 this morning and by 2:00 PM it was all accomplished. My throat is clear, my lungs are not involved and there is no evidence of cancer anywhere else. On the downside, the chunk that came out of my tongue turned out to be considerably larger than anticipated and we won’t know if “we got it all” until the biopsy is done. If not, we will probably resort to radiation. At the moment, my tongue is beginning to feel very swollen and more than a little painful. I am attempting to control the swelling by keeping my mouth filled with ice cream. I realize that ice cream is a radical treatment; on the cutting edge of the technology. I guess someone has to prove the effectiveness of the treatment and I am glad to volunteer. I have already determined that ice cream melts in the mouth, giving rise to the necessity of replenishing the supply. It is an onerous chore, but I feel I must follow the Doctor’s orders.
My darling Marcie is out getting prescriptions filled—I will be using Oxycodone liquid for the major pain and something else if the powerhouse isn’t indicated, ha-ha. I don’t remember what it is. Plus, there is an antibiotic involved but I don’t know which one yet.
My darling Marcie and I are greatly relieved that the news following the operation was on the good side. I will return to the doctor in two weeks for a follow-up and then every six weeks for the next year. Right now, I am going to lie down and see if I can get a little sleep----it has been an intense day.
Once again, I wish I could adequately express my gratitude for all the good wishes, good thoughts, and offers of assistance that have come my way. I do think that all of you have built some really good Karma.
I will update this with progress reports from time to time. until then, bless you all.
Glad to hear it. Continued best wishes for both of you.
We thank you for the trust you placed in us by sharing.
Please, try & get some sleep. You need the rest.
LouisB, I’m on vacation with limited internet access, but I was thinking about you this morning and hoping things went well. Thanks for the update!
That’s really good news.
I am so glad to hear it! I was thinking about you yesterday!
Glad it went well.
LouisB, best wishes for a speedy recovery and no more of this hassle in the future.
If there is any pathology jargon you don’t entirely understand in the biopsy report, feel free to e-mail me (I sling it as well as interpret it for a living).
I haven’t seen the actual report, although I intend to ask for a copy at my first check up with the surgeon. I might just take you up on the offer; thanks for making it.
So, today is the first full day after the surgery and I feel pretty good, thanks to all the dope and stuff. I have a choice of Hydromorphone HCL 2mg tablets; 1-2 every four hours as needed OR a 15 CC dose of Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5mg/500mg/15ml, whatever that might mean. The tablets are more effective but they are very small and hard to swallow because of the swollen tongue. The liquid has a vile taste but at least it goes down easily. I think I will favor the liquid for a couple of days anyway.
I didn’t sleep all that well last night—I’d sleep a couple of hours and then be awake for a couple more. I finally was up to stay at about three this morning but I managed to doze off again around ten. Obviously, that didn’t last long but I do feel rested. Plus, I’ve eaten a couple of pounds of rice pudding and that has helped my energy level—I’ve managed to shed the pajamas and get dressed today. I think I’ll pig out on ice cream in a little bit and then try to sleep some more. Opportunities like this don’t come around all that often, thank God.
My darling Marcie is spoiling me shamelessly. I will know that she judges I am well when I hear her say “Get it yourself, why don’t you?” Up till now, though, she brings whatever I ask for and, being the male of the species, I admit I push my luck. I think she enjoys nursing me, though—right after we met, I had to have a hernia repair and she helped me through that. In fact, I consider that to be the first time I knew I loved her. Drugs make me ramble.
Sending you prayers for a full and forever recovery. And hug Marcie for me…you picked a winner in that one.
My Love,
Cheri