Function Neck Dissection - Timeline

My 27 y/o girlfriend has a right functional neck dissection on Friday, January 26th.

 I was hoping someone could provide a rough recovery timeline. I realize that every case is unique, but since I am her primary care giver - a general idea would be nice.

 For example - her staples and drains were removed on her discharge day, Tuesday, Jan 30th. When should the steri-strips be removed on her wound? How long should she wait before she begins neck stretches and/or massage therapy for her stifff neck? How long before the majority of the swelling will dissipate?

I know these are a lot of questions and I've read alot about the surgery - but some first hand experiences would really help me with this.

Thank you in advance.

 Steve

I had a left neck dissection in 4/05.  I can only tell you what my Dr. told me; if she has questions she should talk to her Dr.

He said to do neck stretches as soon as you can, to the right, left, and down, but skip the up for a couple days.  I came home with a big cellophane looking bandage over my wound that was "rubbed off" when I went back to my surgeon for my recheck (10 days or two weeks or so post op).  Neck massage on the back and on the shoulders could happen anytime and might be very appreciated.  My neck swelling went down over the course of a week.  I still has a puffy pot-belly right over my incision for about 2 weeks.  When I was home I wanted someone to make me soft foods, massage my shoulders, and let me rest.  The first 3 days were bad, after that, better all the time.

 Good luck.

On 2/2/2007 Partnerinrecovery wrote:

My 27 y/o girlfriend has a right functional neck dissection on Friday, January 26th.

 I was hoping someone could provide a rough recovery timeline. I realize that every case is unique, but since I am her primary care giver - a general idea would be nice.

 For example - her staples and drains were removed on her discharge day, Tuesday, Jan 30th. When should the steri-strips be removed on her wound? How long should she wait before she begins neck stretches and/or massage therapy for her stifff neck? How long before the majority of the swelling will dissipate?

I know these are a lot of questions and I've read alot about the surgery - but some first hand experiences would really help me with this.

Thank you in advance.

 Steve

If you get a chance, please read my story "Cancer Again! Now What?".  My ENT said I should be better in 6 months or a year.  Every case is different.  The best person to ask is her doctor.  I commend you for being her care giver.  It will take alot of patience and love to bring her back to recovery.  Be strong !!!!  Everyone going through this needs a strong person to lean on.  A good support system works.  Please keep me posted on her recovery.  Let me know if you find out anything.  I had a left dissection and then some.  My left arm doesn't work as good as it should.  There might be some damage to my nerves.  So, if she has any right side problems I'd like to know about it.  This is all new to me.  Take Care & God Bless.  Aloha !! Paulette

** UPDATE **

My gf got her results back from her neck dissections. 47 nodes removed in total, 17 were cancerous.

 This is the first GOOD news we've gotten in about a year and a half. Her surgeon and endo are very confident that this was the source of the residual cancer that showed up in her test results after her TT last march.

She is scheduled for one more round of I-131 as part of this aggressive treatment.

As for her surgery recovery - her scar is healing very nicely and she has full and complete mobility of her arm. The only lingering nerve damage is in her voice - her normal, low speaking voice is weak and tires easily, her 'falsetto' voice is very strong and back to normal (this is the voice she uses to call the cats! :P). There is some slight lower lip weakness, but it is improving daily and the doctor expects a full recovery on that front. She still gets shooting pain every few hours and her neck is stiff, but she hasnt yet started a physio / massage therapy regimen.

All in all this was a life saving surgery. It was an aggressive treatment but given her young age and the subsequent results, it was clearly the right path.

She is going back to work tomorrow - and she even went to a hip-hop dance class yesterday, and we're only a little over 2 weeks out from her surgery!!

 :)