Easting After Free Flap Reconstructive Surgery

TNGAMMY

I had microvascular oral free flap reconstruction surgery in May 2020. Half my tongue was replaced with leg muscle and I haven't yet been able to eat solid food. I still have a feeding tube, but am adding in smoothies, soup, yogurt, etc. My question is - when will I be able to eat solid food? As of now, it falls down under my tongue and my tongue doesn't have the dexterity to move the food around. I'm also numb. I took a pill the other night and found it was still sitting in my mouth come morning. 

wbcgaruss

Hello And Welcome

To the forum. I don't have any experience with your kind of situation but there have been some on here who have had this type of procedure done and I would hope they would stop in and be able to give you some advice. I would say lean on your medical team and ask them the normal amounts of time involved for certain aspects of your recovery. And will your tongue eventually get some nerve feeling to sense food and pills, etc? Check with them to see if there are any local support groups you can attend or others that have had it done you can talk to. Here is a recent article that may help--from April 3, 2019

https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/squamous-cell-carcinoma-oral-cancer-survivor-half-of-my-tongue-is-gone--but-i-couldn-t-be-happier.h00-159302256.html

And here is a search I did with results showing from a lot of people that went through similar situations and offering personal stories and medical places like Cedars Sinai and MD Anderson etc. Hope you can find some help with what I found.--

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=6J90X5iIFZf0tAak6ojQCQ&q=Half+my+tongue+was+replaced+&oq=Half+my+tongue+was+replaced+&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQDDIFCCEQqwIyBQghEKsCMgUIIRCrAjoECAAQR1D68xVY-vMVYNiMFmgAcAR4AIABpwGIAacBkgEDMC4xmAEAoAECoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesgBCMABAQ&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwiYnPznlJHsAhUXOs0KHSQ1ApoQ4dUDCAw

Best Wishes-Take Care-God Bless-Russ

Alpinelife

Free flap

I've had the same surgery as you, but they used my forearm to replace 1/2 my tongue. It does take time to adjust to less flexibility in your tongue, but seems to improve with practice. It took me several months (post radiation) to be able to eat even soft food. Today (several years later) I can eat most food, but things like beef and chicken are still every difficult. I tend to eat softer foods and still drink protein drinks to make sure I get the protein I need. This said, you can and will improve.  Do your tongue exercises religiously and give it time. Best of luck.

p.s. - I still have your pill experience..