Post surgery sloughing in the mouth

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KarenSuki
KarenSuki Member Posts: 9
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Well my tongue surger went well. The took part of my tongue and had clear margins. I also had the neck disection to remove some lymph nodes. This happened on Friday July 11. I am having to learn how to swallow all over again. So I feel weak, puny and beat up. 

 

I am also suffering from post surgery sloughing in my mouth to the point of choking on the dead skin in the middle of the night... 

 

So how do I get rid of this and how long does it take to go away? I have to have a water cup and spit cup with me wherever I go...

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  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #2
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    Glad to hear it went well.I

    Glad to hear it went well.I also had part tounge remoeved and they replaced it with muscle from my thigh.My mouth would fill up with sliva and in the hospital used a suckhen machine.Ended up getting one for at home which helped alot.I was told radiation would fix that but it didn't.It has gotten better but still fills up when talking for some reason.My doctor told me it will get better the more I swallow and it has but hoping it will get even better.And yes you have to learn to swallow over over and most likely speak.My down fall is that they pulled all my teeth in surgery so eating pretty much softer food except that I will grind some food and mix them with others.It is getting better but you have to give time some time and take eveything in steps.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
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    karen, so glad surgery is

    karen, so glad surgery is over and your are on the mend.  praying the choking gets better and the mouth clears up.  several here have had to learn to swallow again, it will come. 

    are you scheduled for rads and/or chemo or was surgery the only tx scheduled?  hoping you are done with tx.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
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    Hi Karen

    Glad to hear it all went well now comes the hard part of learning to live with it. It’s not all bad as your body will adjust to your new normal, how long will that take, everyone is different. Just keep positive and keep working on it and you will do just great.

    Take care

    Tim Hondo

  • KarenSuki
    KarenSuki Member Posts: 9
    #5
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    so far it is just surgery tx...

    I have to go back on Monday so they can remove my neck stitches and go over the lab reports. I had clear margins with they cut it out.

  • KarenSuki
    KarenSuki Member Posts: 9
    #6
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    RAN TO THE ER

    So I went up to the ER after work last night and I have a bad case of oral thrush on top of my tongue surgery... I think the thrush hurts worse than the surgery site...

     

    Just have a new med to ad to my collection...

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #7
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    Glad it went well

    Glad the surgery went well. Yes, you have to learn how to swallow and speak all over again. Remember some parts of the recovery is in baby steps and does take time. It will get so much better but it is on it's timeframe, slow at times.

    wmc

  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 727 Member
    #8
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    KarenSuki said:

    RAN TO THE ER

    So I went up to the ER after work last night and I have a bad case of oral thrush on top of my tongue surgery... I think the thrush hurts worse than the surgery site...

     

    Just have a new med to ad to my collection...

    A Lot

    Wow Karen, that is a lot to deal with!  I too had part of my tongue removed way down on the base.  They let that heal for 2 months and then I had the radical neck dissection like you.  Two lymph nodes were positive so that wasn't bad.

     

    What surprises me is that they did both at the same time with you.  I asked whether that would happen to me and my surgeon said it was too much trauma to deal with at one time.  The good news for you is that you'll heal faster than I did.  Everything is temporary.  I used to gack up the worst junk in my throat for weeks on end.  It obviously went away but I just can't remember how long I had it.  I think the mind has a way of hiding bad events from memory.  It did seem like forever at the time though.

     

    Heal quick and keep us updated,

     

    Tom

  • patricke
    patricke Member Posts: 570
    #9
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    CONGRATULATION

    Hey Karen, 

    Congratulations on the surgery having gone well!  In the recovery period, as Rosanna Rosanna Danna says "it's always something," but hopefully the thrush  will be the worst of it for you.  As others have said, healing and adjustment to the new normal is an ongoing process that takes time and is customized by our bodies for each individual, although with many commonalities.  Best recovery wishes coming your way.  It does get better over time, but "time" is the operative word, so I do hope that you have an ample supply of patience at your disposal, as it is an indispensable resource for getting through and mitigating your stress.  Best recovery wishes coming your wa.

    PATRICK     

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