I'm back!

[Skids]

So the lump, which was about 50mm in diameter, sat pretty low on the left side of my neck.
The actual cancer was in the second tracheal ring down from the larynx. They had to cut through the flesh, remove the lump and then half my thyroid to access the trachea. They took a section out of one side of the trachea, used some cartilage from my collar bone and some muscle from my front left deltoid to patch the trachea and build up the void left by what was removed.

*TP could probably post a few of the pics on here, if that's ok?

The pain is strange and varies in where it's felt (shoulder, lower neck, upper neck) and intensity. I only had 2 tramadol last night and I've had one today (50mg). The main thing when I stopped taking them was trying to sleep. The main sensation felt like somebody had a grip around my throat. I've had other tingles, numbness and pains mainly where the incision was.

The doc explained that there has been a lot of nerve disruption in the whole area and it could take months to clear away fully.

I have 4 more doses of the slow release Tepantadol, I was taking one every 12 hours, but have only been taking one in the evening for the past 72 hours.

I have kept a diary of every dose of everything I've taken through this whole process ( My GP was very impressed ). I obviously want to get off these meds as soon as I can. It was explained to me that trying to push through pain without medication can actually be detrimental to the condition of your pain receptors.

[think positive]

Cheers, I like the diary idea too, well done you

I’ll upload/post a link tomorrow when i get home mate

[Skids]

Champion TP.... I never did work out that photo thing.

* Pics are not for the squeamish.

[stui magpie]

^

Hey, they aren't that bad, at least you don't have a video of your colonoscopy.

[pietillidie]

I'm all good with gory medical shots. Not the colonoscopy keepsakes, though! That makes sense on it being worse without the pain killers.

[Skids]

[think positive]

[think positive]

link to the gory stuff!!!

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAKPmX

[pietillidie]

^Holy cow, that's amazing. No wonder it hurt, Skids!!

[Skids]

Thanks TP.

I've slept ok the last couple of nights.

No more of the slow release tapentadol and have cut back the Tramadol to 50mg once in the morning and once in the arvo, then take 100mg before bed.
Take those with panadol. Was explained to me (chemist & nurses) that taking panadol with them helps them be absorbed better and somehow work to their full potential?

The seroma build up has subsided, now the area just feels 'bumpy'.
Neck doesn't feel as numb this morning, that seems to come and go, along with other strange sensations.

[pietillidie]

^Just came here to check on how you're going. I was worried about you getting bored and impatient after nine re-watches of the win against the Bulldogs! That sounds like some improvement.

[Skids]

Cheers PTID. Yes, feeling pretty good. Go and see my GP tomorrow morning to get a clearance to go back to work on the 26th. I then have to get cleared by the company doctor. So I only missed 4 swings

Bit of info on the condition I misread. It's actually 30 odd cases in the world since 1960, not Australia.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cnr2.1537

My surgeon has previously contributed to this journal, so we should see his story on my operation in the coming editions. Especially when you read the conclusion on this paper..

6 CONCLUSION
As most tracheal chondrosarcomas present as low grade, nonmetastatic tumors, they are treatable with surgical resection alone, which results in long-term oncologic cure in most cases. Available evidence suggests radiotherapy and chemotherapy are generally not indicated, although they could be considered for advanced disease or in cases where surgery is a contraindication. Given the rarity of the condition, future cases of tracheal chondrosarcoma should be rigorously reported to allow for better characterization of its presentation, appropriate treatment, and outcomes.

[pietillidie]

^Look forward to the case study!

That win today will have flooded the body with healing chemicals!

[Skids]

Most definitely PTID.
I must say, the way the Pies have been going certainly helped keep my spirits high over the journey.


Appointment with company Doctor is tomorrow.
I have been gradually reducing the dosage of tramadol the past month, down to one 50mg tablet a day since Wednesday.
Almost 2 months on them and I am noticing some of the withdrawal symptoms affecting me. Body aches & nausea being the two main ones.

Tramadol dependency

Tramadol is prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain. Although tramadol is a synthetic opioid, it is considered to be “weaker” than other opioids, like morphine. Tramadol is approximately 6,000-fold weaker than morphine.

Tramadol is thought to have a low potential for dependence, but chronic, long-term use makes dependence more likely. People with a history of substance abuse are also more likely to become dependent on tramadol.

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-tramadol-withdrawal-3553886/

I tapered off the Lorazepam with no problem. Had the last dose of that 5 weeks ago. I was only taking a minimal dosage (1mg-2mg/day) at the peak of using that.

Had a cone last week, didn't enjoy it at all... the gunja days might very well be over too.

[stui magpie]

Try again once you're off the painkillers and you've had a week or 2 to get it all out of your system