The only major defect in the surgery ( The Bug ) has become a major worry over the period of days, while rest of the recovery has been amazing.
The swelling, which was a pocket of salivary fluid, that used to collect around 30 ml every day, was religiously aspirated by the doctors every alternate day.
It would feel amazingly relaxed, when the balloon is deflated, on the day of aspiration. For next 30 hrs or so, the swelling would increase as more and more saliva is secreted, until it hits the max limit and then a very stretching pain would begin. Something, I would have to bear for 18 hrs more, before the aspiration happens again !
Those 18 hrs, do feel like eternity. But strange is human phsycology - those 18 hrs would be forgotten the moment aspiration happens and the relief comes in, even if I know it is temporary.
However, it was not supposed to be this simple. Idea was to wait this out with aspirations, until 6th week, when the radiation starts. And during radiation, the salivary gland will be killed any way, solving it for long term.
However, aspirating it for a week or so, has needled the cheek area so much, that the tissues, freshly out from a major surgery, rebelled.
From second week on wards, the needle aspiration drew less and less saliva and more blood.
The ONE big pocket became multiple small pockets. More spread in to the tissues than a mere pocket of fluid to tap in.
The swelling is more of hematoma (blood clotting) and edima (tissue swelling because of local trauma) mixed with salivary fluid dispersed in to the tissues among some what healing tissues.
Its complex issue now, no longer isolated to just insert a needle and provide relief for few hours.
All the plans, root cause analysis, everything is back to the white board ? Do we need Hyocine patch ? source it from UK, as it is not available in India to kill the paratoid gland ?
Will it cause eye infection, as the swelling has reached the left eye. I am back on antibiotic, and painkillers and anti-inflamatory drugs. Something, I was off for more that 3-4 days now.
This bug is taking its own course. Staying ahead of what doctors could think of.
But then, I was not expecting everything to be smooth. There has to be some catch .. somewhere !!
The swelling, which was a pocket of salivary fluid, that used to collect around 30 ml every day, was religiously aspirated by the doctors every alternate day.
It would feel amazingly relaxed, when the balloon is deflated, on the day of aspiration. For next 30 hrs or so, the swelling would increase as more and more saliva is secreted, until it hits the max limit and then a very stretching pain would begin. Something, I would have to bear for 18 hrs more, before the aspiration happens again !
Those 18 hrs, do feel like eternity. But strange is human phsycology - those 18 hrs would be forgotten the moment aspiration happens and the relief comes in, even if I know it is temporary.
However, it was not supposed to be this simple. Idea was to wait this out with aspirations, until 6th week, when the radiation starts. And during radiation, the salivary gland will be killed any way, solving it for long term.
However, aspirating it for a week or so, has needled the cheek area so much, that the tissues, freshly out from a major surgery, rebelled.
From second week on wards, the needle aspiration drew less and less saliva and more blood.
The ONE big pocket became multiple small pockets. More spread in to the tissues than a mere pocket of fluid to tap in.
The swelling is more of hematoma (blood clotting) and edima (tissue swelling because of local trauma) mixed with salivary fluid dispersed in to the tissues among some what healing tissues.
Its complex issue now, no longer isolated to just insert a needle and provide relief for few hours.
All the plans, root cause analysis, everything is back to the white board ? Do we need Hyocine patch ? source it from UK, as it is not available in India to kill the paratoid gland ?
Will it cause eye infection, as the swelling has reached the left eye. I am back on antibiotic, and painkillers and anti-inflamatory drugs. Something, I was off for more that 3-4 days now.
This bug is taking its own course. Staying ahead of what doctors could think of.
But then, I was not expecting everything to be smooth. There has to be some catch .. somewhere !!
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