Hi

I think you are quite amazing. I am going to have a busy few days from tomorrow. I have also been lucky to have an efficient hospital so far. Christmas eve noticed my lump by tuesday had got bigger so went to doctors. 4th January at ENT had nasalendoscopy to find enlarged abnormla tonisl one side hard mass, non painful. Ultrasoiund booked for thursday 14th with aspiration then got cancellation for MRI tomorrow 12th then today get telephone call asking me to have a preoperative appointment for biopsy and panoscopy? not entirely sure on this one but think it is some sort of chest endoscopy., Not worried about MRI have had a few of thiose before, bit worried about aspiration and will be worried when i get date for biopsy. I am supposing that if anything shows on aspiration I may get a call to go in and discuss or wait for biopsy?? consultant said I could get call at any stage. Was not told about the other tonsil possibly getting cancer perhaps each hospital is also different. Let us know how you are getting on,. 

Hi Elona

Welcome to the whirlwind!  I am glad that I am not the only one :happy:

Thinking of you at your MRI, I too have had a few...  The noise just strangly brings back memories of the 90s raves :laugh:

Sounds like we are going through pretty much the same at pretty much the same stage.  And luckily both with very efficiant Hospitals.

I originally went to the doctors back in May 2020 with an enlarged tonsil that had a couple of white patches.  Because it was the early days of Covid and it was a throat issue I had to see a locum in the surgery car park.  She said there was nothing wrong, but may have a bit of thrush.  She subscribed Thrush treatments and away I went...  Obviously the treatments didn't work :laugh:

I didn't know I was having the good tonsil (only the good one, with biopsy of cancerous one and tounge biopsy) removed until the day of the op.  Didn't even know I was down for a tonsillectomy until I was at my pre assessment.  The Nurse could find no info on the system...  As it turns out there were two perfectly good reasons.  I saw the dental surgeon (One of my MDT members) at my ultrasound and he told me that they were a victim of their own efficiency and that the op could change right up to the moment before I have the anesthetic.  Hence lack of info.  I don't mind, I'm just so impressed with everything.

What is an aspiration?

Let me try and put your mind at rest about the biopsy.  I had a fine needle biopsy which was done under local anesthetic.  This was a biopsy of the lymph nodes taken through the side of my neck. I could feel them pushing around, but no pain.  After the anesthetis wore off it was a bit uncomfortable for a day at the most.

Under general anesthetic I had a deep tonsil and tounge biopsy.  This was at the same time as having the right (good) tonsil removed.  All the staff were brilliant, the surgeons came and saw me pre and post op explaining everything.   Ooh and the bed was soooo comfortable.  I was left with no pain or discomfort from the tongue and deep tonsil biopsy as far as I know.  This may be due to the overall pain and discomfort from the tonsillectomy disguising anything from the biopsies.

All of my appointments were made via phonecalls or I was sent for a test whilst at the hospital having something else done.  

How am I getting on?  The throat is still sore from the op, but the pain is very managable.  It's a great excuse to eat icecream  :wink:  I wont lie there are moments of Ahhhrrrggggg!  But they do not last long.  Earache now in both ears Boooo!   I have been living with an invisible condition, for a few years, that causes a lot of unnecessary pain daily.  So me and pain are good ole friends, he is annoying but without him I wouldn't be here (I have no idea why I made my pain male) The trick with pain is to find other, better, happier things to occupy your mind.  Hence I've written so much here, whilst writing this my pain is dampened.

Keep in touch, as we are in such a similar position.  It'll be interesting to see how our treatment paths differ or assimilate.  It'll also be a good and informative read for others who pass by.

Take care, be strong

Morning Al

Wetsuits I had to laugh I actually could almost do with one here it is so wet!! went to feed the hens and they have practically refused to leave their house because they said they really dont apprecaite the mud!  Sir Reggie my ex racing pigeon agreed he was avoiding walking around too much the only things that had been around were unfortunately some rogue rats after an opportunity feed. 

Hubby can sympathise with phantom pain he gets it as an amputee and I am sure your mouth is the same. Not nice - get those painklillers in !!!! 

Mouth feeling a bit better but a sense of false security as eating still a problem but at least the nails have reduced to gravel now in the back of my mouth. Cant reduce painkillers yet so early morning a friend still. Was disappointed hardtalk was a repeat from the other night. 

I think we both combined covered everything you brilliantly added things that i missed. 

Interesting that they didnt do a proper biopsy on me the first time round? yes I think the hole appeared after the first needle so linning of lymph node must have been friable. It still leaks a bit every now and then but node is still about 2cm length. 

Phone call am nurse at doctors didnt get enough blood yesterday for a full screen so looks like i am going to be spending a lot of monday at the hospital waiting around. At least it means I can read another Jasper fforde book! Bit of a *** though will cost in parking. 

I agree with you beef wotsits not as good as cheese suspect will be cheesed out soon though!! it has become a staple more on saturdays delivery!. good idea may have to try skips and quavers. What a healthy diet lol I bought a melon the other day should try that before it goes of. Also annoyed Tesco has run out of smash hmmm. No energy to cook properly yet. 

take care look after the mo9uth and neck 

finally 16 days post tonsilectomy I am finally getting control of pain and eating a bit better - sloppy mince and smash being the latest yay! still prefer not to talk but thats ok. 

loads of to and fro from hospital yesterday sorting out mondays appointment - had to find a lift to the hospital in case neck goes in spasm after biopsy apparently. finally sorted so now to try and have a relaxing day before then 

hoe your ok AL 

tried bread today can eat it but. struggle to swallow, also some jaffa cakes they were a bit harder due to the sharpness of the jam. you learn a lot. thankfully pain has resided to a very sore throat rather than sharp pain. very annoying. 

hows your mouth AL. 

tke care 

if the snow hangs around will be a fun trip to the hospital tomorrow! 

Hi Elona

Firstly good luck for today.  I really do hope that your neck behaves and that you're not too impeded by the snow.  I will be thinking of you.

We haven't had any snow here, which is unusual as we are prone to it.  One of the hospitals I have to attend is over a mountain that gets closed if its too snowy or icey.   Fortunately the cancer hospital,  although an hour away, is on a main route and the local council are very good at keeping the roads clear.

I had to smile when you mentioned the rats.  We had a hen house when I was growing up and it was one of mine and my brothers chores to rat catch.  And Sir Reggie, what a great name for a pigeon :happy:

So glad to learn that your throat is improving and that you're managing to eat more, you did have me worried for a bit. It may not feel like it but, reading back over the thread, it seems like its improving daily.  Ah mince, I love mince... Mince and tatties, spag bol, Chile and chips.  Sadly I cannot eat it at mo, trying to avoid any foods that can get stuck in my 6 gummy holes.  Which also includes rice, and I love rice.  Still all is not lost,  great excuse to eat trifle and ice cream. 

Tell your husband that I feel for him and not to get too comfortable as your voice and ability to talk will be back before he knows it :wink:

How is my mouth you ask...  How long have you got haha!  Well we were back at the hospital late Friday night for around 3 and a half hours.  Remember the phantom tooth ache, well that got progressively worse to the point, even with meds, I just wanted a big hole to open up and swallow me.  Long story short turned out the infection had got into the bone,.  They removed the stitch and packing, gave it a good clean and left it open to drain and heal.  Sent off with another weeks worth of antibiotics and strong anti inflammatory meds.  They're going to call today to check in on me.

I had only had around 9 hours sleep between Wednesday and Saturday slept for 12 hours on Saturday into Sunday Yay!  Short lived as was up at 5 this morning listening to a tin can blowing up and down the street.. . Boo!

So this week I am expecting calls from Dentist and  Macmillan, l have my first covid jab on Tuesday,  bloods on Wednesday and mask fitting on Thursday...  The rock and roll lifestyle we lead!

The reason there is a can rolling up and down the street is because its rubbish day.  I  noticed when we put the bags out that there didn't seem to be much, I mentioned this to the wife and she replied that its because I haven't been eating much... Well I didn't quite know how to take that :laugh:

Ooo before I go I would like to pick your brains if I may.   My eldest dog Spoonie has hobbit feet and we have all hard floors which she tends to slip on every now and then.  This wasn't an issue when she could go on long runs,  but recent walks around the streets has meant her furry feet are well furrier.  Is it ok to trim them?  Any advice would be much appreciated. 

Again good luck for today, let me know how you get on.

Just click your heels three times.

Al

hi 

started then had to stop as came over feeling faint. it has been an ordeal today but thankfully all done even though it will take my body a while longer to get over this trauma lol. 

snow made the journey trecherous but thankfully friend came nice and early and took it really slowly. 

had to go and have re4peat bloods thankfully again nice and early and all fine for clotting etc. 

appointment came and went and about 1 hour late i eventually got taken in. another ultrasound and three biopsies were going to be taken one near carotid artery. apparently there is some deep inset infection or what appears to be present that has not clesred even though i had antibiotics like you. 

got covered in drapes then the ultrqsound took a while to locate various areas for the local anaesthetic. Injections are a little painful but could be worse but it took a long time to get the biopsies from the sounds of things it was not easy. Like you i would not stop or be put of. there was quite a lot of manoevring and stretching neck etc before i could feel the biopsy needle and hear the spring. have had some blood in mouth straight after op although did not say anything, then some more now after trying soup and a little bread - probably not a good idea. - gutted my ice cream did not turn up in order!! 

came home to more stress of house work the builders could not do what was planned due to one of the stud walls being a bearer for water tabnk - didnt fancy hundreds of gallons of water on my head as well lol. re plan to smaller room and still a bit more kitchen not too bad we hope! i could have done without that. just wanted to go to bed but thats not happening. mild headache coming on probably due to blood pressure stress lol. 

need to learn to relax.

eek so sorry about your infection sounds like that tooth was in desperate needs of removal. hope the antibiotics and pain relief kick in soon. 

sounds like you have a bit of travelling to do for all your appointments hope you get time to relax inbetween. Rest is going to be really important for your healing. good to hear how you are getting on. 

yes i always clip furry feet stops things getting caught between toes etc. my boy gets his done regualry on top of toes and inbetween and underneath where able. 

apologise the spelling too tired to go back and check lol 

dont worry did click my heels together several times unfortunately i did not wake up or get home any quicker lol 

take care 

well neck came up like a golf ball yesterday thankfully has gone down this morning to three smaller lumps. very tired this morning did not sleep well. 

All I can say is Brrrrrrrrrr..!

Minus 5 here at mo, tho somewhere in Scotland hit -16 last night and London is due to hit -8 this week.  I  think we're due a -9 wind chill this evening.    Thank goodness for a high tog duvet. 

Just watched the funniest news report about a viral video of an American judge, I think, who had a cat filter on, which he couldn't turn off during an important Zoom meeting.

Glad to learn your neck is recovering.   I can only see your last post so I can't refer back to the last but one so my apologies if I ask something you have already answered...   Most importantly,  how are you today?    Any idea when you'll get your biopsy results? The noise is loud when they take the slices isn't it, you have to do your best not to jump... especially when you know they're near your cartoid.  I joked that at least I'm in the right place lol.

If I had replied to you yesterday I would have cried that I just want my head taken away.   On top of everything else I'm now suffering with light sensitivity which in turn is giving me migraine Grrrrr.   Of course it could be the migraine affecting my eyes.  Anyway they sorted my meds out yesterday,  started on the good stuff.  I was weary of taking it, but oh my goodness it made a huge difference to my day.  Even managed 7 hours sleep last night.  And when I woke I woke with manageable pain... First time in what feels like forever. 

Off to the cancer hospital for bloods today,  then back there tomorrow for CT Set Up and mask fitting.   Apparently you can keep your mask at the end of treatment, the artist in me is filled with ideas of what to do with it lol.

Any way, really hope you're feeling even slightly better today. 

May every step be in the right direction. 

Al

Hi Al

so glad you are now on the good stuff and managed to get a decent amount of sleep thats good. sounds like you really needed it after yesterday. i hope they start sorting out the radiotherapy soon not good that the pain has got worse this quickly. fingers crossed. love the idea of your own mask at the end of the treatment will have to stay in touch to find out what you do with it. 

any ideas whats causing your light sensitivity?

hows the mouth?

boy felt ill yesterday and still feel lousy today have not wanted to do anything. Neck is still swollen and uncomfortable but still on my high painkillers so tolerable. swallowing not brilliant and affects breathing. dont feel the tonsilectomy has had any effect.

presuming results will be another two weeks. 

got up at 3.30am for meds and was disappointed because they showed the same programme hat had already been repeated once a couple of days ago about a female detective. 

i saw that zoom too it was hilarioous especially when he had to say "i am not a cat!" i would not have any idea how to do that. reminds me of the wicks advert and the kitchen where she puts the fairy tle unicorn picture behind her. the ending of that advert keeps getting missed of which is a shame since the other ladies all put up backgrounds when she shows of her new kitchen lol. 

your right it has been cold the snow has turned to ice here and the animals water bowls are all frozen over. the hedgehogs who were not hibernating have decided enough is enough we will try and sleep through this - what a good idea! the only reason tortoise is awake is because of my heating in my bedroom. the cats have hardly moved of the bed! 

newest fad is watching casualty 24/7 real life - no idea why perhaps makes me feel better lol last night had to cringe poor man fell over a plant pot took the lawn mower with him that then fell on his foot taking ovr his big toe and two other toe tips was totally yuck! there were alwo a lot of drunkards who made me feel a bit annoyed when you consider the time they were taking away from needy people. 

also been watching the supermarket show talking about foods etc she mentioned that a lot of foods had increased in size over the yers. had to smile since i had thought the opposite - remember the wagon wheel, the curly wurly and snickers surley they were bigger when we were younger? 

good luck with the bloods and ct. 

take care x

hope your being careful with this ice wow its lethal outside!!! 

throat being controlled better now with painkillers albeit still swollen and neck feels nobbly lol. 

hope things are going ok with appointments. 

i hope youve got a good ice cream for valentines day! i am trying for the tesco cookie dough again - fingers crossed!! 

take care Al

Hello you and your nobbly neck lol 

Cookie Dough one of my favourites...  although to be fair had you mentioned any flavour I would have said 'one of my favourites ' lol, except rum and raisin,  don't even know if you can still get that flavour.    I myself have gone for a traditional raspberry ripple this time,  which hopefully we will be picking up today.   I say hopefully as we've booked a click and collect for between 12 and 1pm today, but its supposed to start snowing in a bit. (Its now 7am ish)

We live 600ft up a mountain valley which has its own micro climate,  the mountains either trap weather in or hold it out.  Fortunately they are good at keeping the main roads clear here and we do have an old Jeep which enjoys the challenge of adverse weather lol.

So good to learn that your neck is improving  You do have days where you wonder if it'll ever end, but then you dig deep for a resolve you never knew you had and fight through each minute,  each hour and each day.  Often you see on TV survivors with a grit and determination that no one else has, I am beginning to understand that now.  I for one will definitely be a different person after all this, how could you not be.

Last few days I have felt really fatigued and poorly.   I said to my wife how could someone feel this ill and not have a temperature lol.  I think I have all the adverse effects from the covid vacs (I had the Oxford one) probably in some part due to my body already feeling rubbish and fighting the big one.  In my 51 years on this planet, other than my neurological disorder, never had so much as a cold, I think I'm paying for that luxury now lol.

Mask fitting went well,  in fact I quite enjoyed it!  It was like having a warm face massage.   Also had a meeting with my oncologist who suggested I now take 2 types of morph, an instant hit one and a slow release one.  They weighed me, I've never been weighed so much, and told me that this is now the weight I have to try and stick to.  One of the reasons for this is if I lose too much weight the mask won't be any good as it has to fit snug.  I have invested in a set of scales, which hopefully will arrive today.... snow permitting. 

Only a blood test to have in the coming week and then Radiochemotherapy starts on the 22nd.  As long as my rogue non tooth heals properly.   They may have to delay treatment by a week if it doesn't sort itself out.

Any type of scissors you can recommend for trimming hobbit feet? (Anyone else reading this, its my dogs not mine :laugh:)

Wagon Wheels....  I watched a programme about them and the ceo had a glass trophy kind of thing with an original Wagon Wheel encased inside.   He offered up a new Wagon Wheel to it and they were both the same size!  Don't think that's true for most of the others.  Remember when Snickers were Marathons?

When life gives you lemons,...  Send them back and exchange them for oranges 

Al

Hello you and your nobbly neck lol 

Cookie Dough one of my favourites...  although to be fair had you mentioned any flavour I would have said 'one of my favourites ' lol, except rum and raisin,  don't even know if you can still get that flavour.    I myself have gone for a traditional raspberry ripple this time,  which hopefully we will be picking up today.   I say hopefully as we've booked a click and collect for between 12 and 1pm today, but its supposed to start snowing in a bit. (Its now 7am ish)

We live 600ft up a mountain valley which has its own micro climate,  the mountains either trap weather in or hold it out.  Fortunately they are good at keeping the main roads clear here and we do have an old Jeep which enjoys the challenge of adverse weather lol.

So good to learn that your neck is improving  You do have days where you wonder if it'll ever end, but then you dig deep for a resolve you never knew you had and fight through each minute,  each hour and each day.  Often you see on TV survivors with a grit and determination that no one else has, I am beginning to understand that now.  I for one will definitely be a different person after all this, how could you not be.

Last few days I have felt really fatigued and poorly.   I said to my wife how could someone feel this ill and not have a temperature lol.  I think I have all the adverse effects from the covid vacs (I had the Oxford one) probably in some part due to my body already feeling rubbish and fighting the big one.  In my 51 years on this planet, other than my neurological disorder, never had so much as a cold, I think I'm paying for that luxury now lol.

Mask fitting went well,  in fact I quite enjoyed it!  It was like having a warm face massage.   Also had a meeting with my oncologist who suggested I now take 2 types of morph, an instant hit one and a slow release one.  They weighed me, I've never been weighed so much, and told me that this is now the weight I have to try and stick to.  One of the reasons for this is if I lose too much weight the mask won't be any good as it has to fit snug.  I have invested in a set of scales, which hopefully will arrive today.... snow permitting. 

Only a blood test to have in the coming week and then Radiochemotherapy starts on the 22nd.  As long as my rogue non tooth heals properly.   They may have to delay treatment by a week if it doesn't sort itself out.

Any type of scissors you can recommend for trimming hobbit feet? (Anyone else reading this, its my dogs not mine :laugh:)

Wagon Wheels....  I watched a programme about them and the ceo had a glass trophy kind of thing with an original Wagon Wheel encased inside.   He offered up a new Wagon Wheel to it and they were both the same size!  Don't think that's true for most of the others.  Remember when Snickers were Marathons?

When life gives you lemons,...  Send them back and exchange them for oranges 

Al