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