Trismus

Trismus can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life by affecting their ability to eat, swallow and speak, whilst compromising oral hygiene, which can lead to further complications.

There are several ways to help. Some people are given a contraption called a Therabite. My surgeon had a very low-tech but effective method. He gave me a box of tongue depression spatulas. The idea is to stack them up and get as many between your teeth as you can. Each day slide and extra one between the existing ones whilst they are in your mouth.

I've been told to do this three times a day, for a minute or two. It will be uncomfortable, but it apparently works well and quite quickly. Today I could only get 11 in, by the time he sees me in a months time, he wants me to get 15 or even 20 in.

Anyway, good news, All tumor has gone, no signs of it at all in what they took 3 weeks ago. Healing well, and doing ok. He was a bit alarmed that I was prescribed morphine by my GP, and quietly had a moan that I should have rung him, - but I did what I had to do at the time. I am no longer on the pain killers now, just the Diffram Oral Rinse.

Ouch

My mouth is very swollen and sore.

The stitch threads seem very long, and keep sticking to the back of my throat.

I am not going to work today, as I feel crap. My head hurts and I can hardly open my jaw.

I have attempted to rinse my mouth out with warm salted water, but it is so sore.

Talking is difficult, and I feel quite low today