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It's difficult to get used to the radial forearm free flap. Tips?

Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Jun 17, 2021 | Replies (4)
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@colleenyoung

Hi @will24 and welcome to the Head & Neck Cancers group. I can imagine that the challenges of getting used to a radial free flap graft in your mouth can make you anxious. I'm tagging fellow members @alpaca @rgotto41 @thelisamarie @gaybinator, who have experience with this and hopefully can offer some tips.

Will, what do you find the hardest to get used to with the graft?

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Replies to "Hi @will24 and welcome to the Head & Neck Cancers group. I can imagine that the..."
will24 | @will24 | Jun 13, 2021

Dear Colleen

Thank you for getting back to me

The sensation of the graft in my mouth is extremely difficult to adapt to.

This then causes great anxiety/depression knowing that it is there for life

I am trying CBT to help with the anxiety

I have tried using lidocaine on the cheek to reduce the sensation

Does the brain/mouth ever adjust to the graft and new sensation

Thanks again

Will

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