Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS): Any tips pre & post surgery?

Hello @katrk and welcome to H&N Cancer group. Trans Orbital Robotic Surgery or TORS is used more commonly now for many surgeries including oral and neck work. The advantages are the magnification ability and often being less evasive than opening an area for hand tool access. That being said, recovery from surgery is often but not always quicker and easier.
Your exact surgery pre and post information can be obtained from your doctor or surgeon or staff. Any message sent or called into them should most likely be answered to your satisfaction.
As far as answers on this feed via discussions previously posted, if you enter “Tors” in the search (click on spyglass above) you will find discussions on TORS in this and other groups.
As far as your specific surgery, could you fill me in as to what the cancer history is, type, location, biopsy if any, etc? This will help to get the information you seek.
And by the way, I have your hand now. Try not to worry.

I was diagnosed with HPV16+ OSCC in March 2023. I had TORS robotic surgery April 2023. I had a right neck dissection with all lymph nodes removed and TORS surgery to remove primary tumor of 3cm at base of tongue. . All margins clear. Also, I have just completed 30 rounds of Proton Radiation. As far as presurgery I don't recall doing much but waiting for the Surgery. The biggest issue I had was dysphagia and Not being about to swallow (eat or drink) for about two weeks after surgery. I would start doing mouth, tongue and swallowing exercises today. If you have a Speech therapist they can help you with this. As far as post op. The pain is fairly severe for one week after surgery. I had alot of mucous where you feel like you are almost drowning. It will be hard to eat and drink. Think soft foods and Boost drinks. I had pain medications which helped tremendously. My current side affects are loss of feeling in side of jaw up into the ear on right side. Lip droops a little on that side. Scar has pretty much healed. Good luck to you . You can do it!

Thank you for the reply. Everything that you have mentioned is about the same as I have.
Couple questions: did you know of the radiation therapy pre surgery? As for weight loss, how much did you lose? How long were you in the hospital ?
Thanks again for the reply.

Yes I was aware of Radiation/ Chemo being a possibility. That will depend on how they stage your tumor and If any positive margins where found after your surgery ( they will send off for a pathology report for Staging) . Radiation may not be necessary with Stage 1 and negative margins. Your Oncologist will discuss the findings with you after surgery and Suggest a path of treatment.
I lost about 20 lbs at the peak of when I could not eat or drink. It is paramount you work on swallowing exercises. Look into soft diet menu. I gained it back once I could eat fairly normal within a few weeks. I stayed one night in the hospital but to be honest I wish I would have stayed a few days longer as the first few nights at home where awful. You will take two steps forward and one step back during your TORS recovery. Power of Faith is a positive thing.