Slow Recovery

July 2023 through February 2026

Follow Up with Doctors and a Dentist

I continued follow-ups with Dr. Pierce and Dr. Mola. I had a PET-CT in October 2023. Another injection of radioactive tracer.

Everything appeared good, despite lingering pain since surgery.

Dr. Pierce warned me the pain might last a year or longer. Possibly for life, depending on how the nerves heal.

I continued to mention the red spot on my tongue. I was reassured it did not appear cancerous. We did not want to do another biopsy yet because of the pain and infection risk.

I would continue follow-ups to monitor it. I also saw my dentist.

Still, I am alive.

That counts.

Physical Therapy

I was scheduled to see a physical rehab doctor on October 17, but I postponed it. I flew to Texas to see my parents instead.

I kept delaying physical therapy. I did not think I needed it, despite the pain in my neck.

Late in November, I saw a compression specialist. The head and neck garment cost $187. Insurance would reimburse about $116.

Still, no.

I felt fine.

Excuses after excuses.

After repeated encouragement from both doctors, I finally saw a physical rehab doctor.

She said my head and neck movement was remarkably good. Better than most patients she sees.

I told her I practice yoga and lift weights three times a week.

She mentioned the compression garment again. I declined. She did not argue, but she did ask me to attend physical therapy anyway.

So I did.

Early in January. Eight sessions, plus four optional. Twice a week.

I attended all eight sessions, including the one that had been postponed on a snow day.

Did it help?

Probably.

Especially having someone massage my neck. It hurt, but I felt better afterward.

After the eighth session, I felt confident continuing the exercises and massage at home.

The therapist was kind and patient.

Pains

In February, after finishing physical therapy, I saw both Dr. Pierce and Dr. Mola again.

Routine questions.

I still had pain in my tongue and neck.

A year had passed since surgery, yet the red spot on my tongue was still there. I mentioned it at every visit. We discussed doing another biopsy several times, but each time decided to wait.

I began to notice a pattern.

Salted popcorn made the pain worse.

It felt like sandpaper rubbing on that red spot.

So I stopped eating salted popcorn for a while.

The pain eased.

Later I switched to popcorn with less salt or popped my own at home.

Biopsy #3

In April 2024, the pain increased again. I called the office and was given a prescription paste to try.

Two weeks passed.

Nothing changed.

I went back to see Dr. Pierce. Jolynn asked the question directly.

"How can we be certain it’s not cancer?"

"A biopsy," he replied.

I did not want another one, but this time we went ahead and did it.

The results came back clear.

No cancer.

In May, I also had a CT scan before another visit with Dr. Pierce. Everything looked normal. The sore spot was most likely scar tissue.

So we continued watching it and moved on.

Multiple Follow-ups

Later in the fall of 2024, I saw Dr. Mola again. I asked if I could alternate visits between him and Dr. Pierce to save some money.

He smiled. "No. Five years of follow-ups. You’re stuck with me."

The same answer from Dr. Pierce.

Five years.

Three and a half more to go.

In May 2025, I saw both doctors on the same day.

Dr. Pierce first. He ordered a CT scan. I asked about doing a PET-CT instead, but he said a CT scan was sufficient.

An hour later I saw Dr. Mola.

He ordered a PET-CT.

Two doctors.

Two different plans.

I asked him to coordinate with Dr. Pierce. I still do not know if they ever did.

I had the PET-CT the following Friday.

Then nothing. No quick results. No phone calls.

I did not even check the patient portal.

Life slowly returned to normal.

Some days I forgot about it. Some days the pain reminded me.

I avoided spicy food. I avoided salted popcorn.

I did not want to cry wolf if everything was already fine.

The scar on my neck remains.

A tiny tattoo dot, my imaginary “Harley-Davidson skull,” still sits on my chest.

February 20, 2026.

Four weeks ago my dentist mentioned white spots.

Yesterday I finally emailed Dr. Pierce and asked to have them checked.

Now I wait.

Either the story ends here.

Or another chapter begins.