Hi,

Anyone have a feeling of something being pulled tight around the neck after Neck Dissection?

If so when does it get better?

Any tips on how to make it feel better?

My Dad had Bilateral ND March 13. Scar goes from ear to ear. Swelling goes up and down. It's the tightness around the neck that really bothers him; it's pretty scary and seems to feel tighter in the throat when the swelling is up.

Thanks!
LisaB

Any info would be great.

Thanks
LisaB

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LisaB Canada,

Hi Lisa,
I think that there are a number of archived messages about this if you do a search.
I had a neck dissection in December and swelling was up and down afterwards for some time. This was exacerbated by radiotherapy and I still have some swelling - better some days than others. My surgeon told me, straight after the surgery, that it can take months for the swelling to go down and that when lymph nodes have been removed the body takes a while to 're-route' fluid from that area!
I hope that your dad feels better as the days pass.

Hello Lisa

Have a read through these past posts on neck tightness and massage (facial swelling). You will find some advice there.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hello Lisa I remember this being a very frightening time post surgery - I was convinced I would choke to death the feeling was so intense. The only thing that helped was to sleep propped up with as many pillows as possible, in fact I made a 'chair' shape with them and slept practically sitting up - that way the fluid can't collect so much (I inevitably slid down during the night but the tightness wasn't half so bad). Also do lots of neck exercises - just turning from side to side to get the lymph moving and draining away from the neck area. Hope this helps. Best wishes Brenda.

Thanks all for the info. It really helps.

He is also having the phlegm issue. He's had it since treatment ended last summer; things were settling a bit now that he's had the ND he's spitting up phlegm every hour (as so many of you know to well I'm sure).

Thanks again.
LisaB