A lot has been happening

 Since my last post a lot has been going on!

First I have had two  sessions with the Speech Therapy team which has been positive, I had a very painful test of seeing what I could drink with a camera shoved up my nose and down my throat to monitor different thicknesses of fluid, the end result was positive - no aspiration, no pooling, so a big step forward

I was advised there is a very small risk of a chest infection with liquids going into my airway, to date no problem, I outlined that I am more of a high risk person and when asked the therapist what she would do it was a great answer "I am a high risk taker as well and in my view fuck it just go for it" had to laugh, so yeah I have:

Coffee - ok

Wine - not good, off the taste for now, fizzy is a bit better but don't really enjoy that

Tea - no

gazpacho - love it and strangely is the easiest thing to swallow

Hot Chocolate - like it, but is more difficult to swallow

Yoghurt - have to take my time but is good

Weetabix - yes weetabix, mushed up with milk works quite well

So, progress, and my weight is down to 92kgs which I think is good but not sure the Doc's will 😝 so overall I have lost 11kgs and yes I was way to heavy so whilst its not a good diet it is making me healthier now and a lot of the clothes I was going to chuck now fit me again, so always an upside 😂😂

And of course the big event, my daughters wedding has taken place and was amazing, a great day and she looked beautiful.

only downside was I had a complete meltdown after the video of my speech was played and couldn't read my planned update, the emotions I think of everything, the day, what I am going through was just to much, anyway Carol stepped in and managed to read it out whilst correcting my grammar along the way.

But, a great day and the thought is that I may not have made it, but here I am still kicking around seeing my family continue to grow into the wonderful people that they are. I am blessed with an amazing family, not just my own but the whole family, brother/sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, and their kids, its a wonderful group of people.

The outcome after the wedding is not so good. O the Sunday I noticed, well you couldn't miss it was a huge red lump the size of a golf ball on my chin

First thing Monday, called the GP who saw me pretty much straight away and confirmed it was an infection, so prescribed antibiotics, which I started immediately, the following morning in the shower the thing opened and OMG the shit that came out was very unpleasant.

I had also emailed my surgeon just to advise and he asked me to come in and see them which I did on the Thursday.

Saw his "Fellow" as they are known or basically his second in command, who said it was one of possibly two things

It could be my implant that was inserted when I had my previous cancer, especially as the bridge at the forward part of my mouth has become loose, but also the tooth next to this is now loose so they move, which is all around the cut they made through my jawbone as part of the op

Or, its an infection around the plate put in to join the jaw back together, if this has to be removed it is a lot more complex and needs surgery, so headed of for an x-ray of my jaw and await the next steps. at one point it looked like they may admit me, but as I am reasonably fir and healthy and the infection was "oozing" meant they didn't need to, but was advised not to go on holiday to France and they will try and make an appointment for me to see the dental team ASAP first and go from there.

So all the family are now in France and I hope that are having a fantastic time, I also convinced Carol to go, she needs so rest and a break and to enjoy her family while I get this sorted.

The good news is the swelling has gone down massively, although this crap is still pouring out hence the "make-do" plaster, but I realise it was affecting me as I feel much better mentally and there is far less pain

So next step is an update of the x-ray tomorrow and the probably back to the hospital, hopefully this week to see the dental team and then possibly the maxilla-facial surgeons for the next stage of this journey if indeed it is the plate and they have to remove it

The puzzling thins is I have no idea how this infection came about, but was obviously from the inside not outside forces, but it make me very wary especially when getting something like osteonecrosis is 

1. very serious condition, 

2. adds massive complication as in essence the jaw bone starts to crumble and die, it is known also as death jaw, which can kill you very quickly so its an avoid at all costs and having just gone through all this shit I do not have any plan to die just yet!

First sips of water

 It sounds like a strange thing to say, but I am now sipping water and have been for the past week.

What's strange is what used to be normal no longer is, it's like I am having to learn how to swallow again and it's not easy. Obviously there is still a lot of swelling in my mouth and neck, especially my tongue which is reducing but still quite obviously swollen, likewise my neck still have swelling but it's also very solid despite exercising it everyday!

The other problem is the loose implant, as this really seems to affect the balance of my mouth, I do now have an appointment with a dental surgeon to look at this but not until the end of September 😝😟

I also now have an appointment with the Thyroid surgeon (end of October) which hopefully when I see him he can decide what's needed as all swelling by then I am hoping has gone, but I guess I'll have to wait and see, after the length of the surgery I am not clear how long the swelling will actually take to disappear - I have been told recovery can be up to six months - just in time for Christmas!

I am waiting to see the speech therapist as this has moved from Oxford NHS to Bucks NHS which I think must go over snail mail as haven't heard anything yet and could really do with getting on with this.

With my swallowing (and I'm sure others going through this must feel the same), I seem to have an inordinate amount of saliva when I am taking sips of water, I'm assuming this is normal, but even the smallest sip seems to generate 2-3 times as much saliva

And this is me today 7 weeks after the op, as you can see my trachy "hole" has completely healed and most of the swelling on the left side of my neck has gone. the right side still has a way to go, but again this is reducing.

I am hoping within the next week this will subside more and I am looking fighting fit for my daughters wedding, where I am pleased to say I will now speak as well as show the video I prepared earlier. I am excited and pleased to be able to do this as it is a very special and proud moment, one that I thought I may not make and certainly wouldn't have made the original date in July.

My fitness is getting better and I do feel stronger and now that I am back in the gym hopefully over the coming weeks and months this will improve.

Next steps for me - when can I drink something (Coffee) other than water, will I be able to sip a glass of wine at the wedding - well I will try and then obviously how do I move to eating real food - the protein drink stuff is so dull! and finally and probably not for a few months yet when can I get this PEG feeding tube out of my stomach, it doesn't really bother me now but that will be a huge "gate" to go through and I will know I am almost back to normal

Until next time stay healthy and safe