Tounge flap

Options
thennies61
thennies61 Member Posts: 285
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Here's question I keep wondering about and always forget to ask the doctor.For those of us that had to have part of tounge removed and replaced with a tounge flap has anyone ever asked what would happen if it wasn't done.Would it make our swallowing and speach even worse or being would we just have a smaller tounge...

Comments

  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    #2
    Options
    Flapping in the wind

    During my surgery I was supposed to have a flap either from my back or my stomach becuase of the amount of muscle needed to replace 85-90% of my tongue.  The doctors did 6 deep tissue biopsys during my surgery and found only scar tissue and dead cancer cells from the radiation and chemo.  They removed the base of my tongue but didn't do a flap to replace it.  They fastened my tongue to the floor of my mouth so now only the tip will move up and down a small amount.

    This has affected my eating and speech.  I can only eat on one side of my mouth and as teeth break off at the gum line or have to be pulled because they are becoming loose, this is reducing my eating ability.  I also no longer use my tongue to speak.  There are some words that I can't say, others that are difficult to say, and yet others based upon letter patterns I can say.  Many people can understand me, if they are listening closely, but I know they have to try and decipher some of what I say.  I guess it all depends on what part of the tongue is missing and how much that part is needed to move food and/or form words when speaking.

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #3
    Options
    SASH said:

    Flapping in the wind

    During my surgery I was supposed to have a flap either from my back or my stomach becuase of the amount of muscle needed to replace 85-90% of my tongue.  The doctors did 6 deep tissue biopsys during my surgery and found only scar tissue and dead cancer cells from the radiation and chemo.  They removed the base of my tongue but didn't do a flap to replace it.  They fastened my tongue to the floor of my mouth so now only the tip will move up and down a small amount.

    This has affected my eating and speech.  I can only eat on one side of my mouth and as teeth break off at the gum line or have to be pulled because they are becoming loose, this is reducing my eating ability.  I also no longer use my tongue to speak.  There are some words that I can't say, others that are difficult to say, and yet others based upon letter patterns I can say.  Many people can understand me, if they are listening closely, but I know they have to try and decipher some of what I say.  I guess it all depends on what part of the tongue is missing and how much that part is needed to move food and/or form words when speaking.

    Great Sash was wondering is

    Great Sash was wondering is all.I can say most words but the words that I use and tounge needs to het roof of mouth are hard.The doctor said with the tounge flap that they  used muscle from my thigh.So he said with the thicker palte on the uppper teeth they are going to make will help with that.Plus it will also help in swollowing.He said he made the flap alittle longer to help with that.I will slur my words but found that is caused by liquid along bottom of my mouth that I haven't been able to get down yet.And when that happens people have a hard tme undersatnding me.

Discussion Boards