Hi There,
My Husband has just been released from hospital after having part of his tongue removed and lymph nodes on one side and a saliva gland,they took out his drain on the side of his neck, the next day at home fluid started to build up, aand to cut a long story short when we got back up to the hospital much later his surgeon drained his neck,(what an episode that was!) put a new drain in, and bandaged it up,well tonight the drain is working but I can see the fluid building up at the same time,I have kept him propped up with lots of pillows, can someone please tell me if this happened to them and what did they do?
Many thanks in advance,
As always the over anxious Sammie

Hi Sammie I just wanted to tell you to be strong for your husband my husband had throat cancer and it is a slow healing process. My thoughts are with you
Terry

We went to see the doctor again today, as hubbys face was swelling / draning at an alarming rate, till he tried to have have milk, which promptly came out of his drain on his neck! The Doc flushed him out yet again and told us that for sat/sun he can only have water and boost plus and come back on monday if it is no better they will fit a nasal feeding tube till it heals,I know they took some tissue from the floor of his mouth at the back, does he have a hole of some sort that could need repair? has anyone had this happen to them?
Many Thanks in advance
Sammie (the pest!)

Sammie You are not being a pest. I still do not know how they are going to heal my husband we just take it day by day. But it is scary when you really do not know what is going on.

Good Luck Terry

Hi Sammie

A drain helps remove fluid build up in the wound. The milk leaked out through the drain from inside the mouth as either (1) pressure within the mouth forced the milk into the incision lines of the wound and out through the drain or (2) the drain could have been too long. Follow the advice of your doctor bearing in mind the above two possibilities.

Best wishes
Vinod

We went back to the surgeon today, he flushed Richards neck out again and then tried to put the feeding tube in,after many attempts and tears rolling down hubbys face from the pain, it was abandoned, his nasal passages were still swollen from the breathing machine they attached via his nose, so they gave us a syringe with a long tube on the end and we have to try and squirt/swallow the meds and boost plus down his throat. if that does not work we are told its back to the Op theatre to have one fitted. apart from that the doc is really happy with his progress which has lifted Richards spirits no end and he wants us to go back in 2 days time to assess him. we feel blessed that we have such a good surgeon.
Thanks for taking the time to read my erratic postings, but I find it really really helps at the end of the day to get it all out.
All the best
Sammie

Sammie,

I am delighted to read your latest upbeat post on Richard. But tell me, where is this medication happening, USA or UK?

Regards, Fridge

Hi Fridge,
Richards treatment is happening in the USA, The University of Miami Hospital (Jackson South campus) to be exact, we did think about returning to the UK, but time was of the essence and we didnt want to waste time flying back over, repeating tests.. etc etc to tell you the truth I couldnt have asked for better care for my husband, I am very grateful to the whole Max Fax team who are currently treating and looking after him
All the best
Sammie

Well we were back at the doc's again today, he removed Richards drain and told him to stay on liquids via syringe for a further couple of days, but........ as soon as we walked in the door his head was in the fridge and he started noshing on soft food!he said he was starving and if I offered him Boost Ensure or anything else he would throw it straight in the bin!
After he got it out of his system he informed me that he couldnt taste anything, well it is exactly 2 weeks today that he had his operation on the side and base of his tongue, part of his tumour was wrapped around a nerve (can't remember the name of it, begins with C though!)Rome was not built in a day but it should have been according to Rich!
Guess he must be feeling better..... no results of lymph nodes yet we were told next wednesday, so keeping fingers crossed till then
Thanks for listening yet again!
Sammie

I will keep my fingers crossed also for you and your husband
Terry