Partial Glossectomy with free flap rebuild of tongue

@logi My partial glossectomy with reconstruction with a free flap was Feb. 12th. I still have a lot of swelling in my tongue after almost 8 weeks which is quite uncomfortable. I had a trach and feeding tube for a month. Spent 3 weeks in a rehab facility after a week in the hospital. I am now eating most foods except for some meats and crunchy things like salad and other raw vegetables. The wound at my freeflap donor site is still pretty ugly and I prefer to keep it covered when out in public wearing short sleeves. That will be harder with summer coming. My thigh where they took the skin graft to repair my forearm is pretty unsightly too. All of the healing is taking longer than I expected. I too had great pathology report with no further treatment needed. I had tongue cancer before in 2014 that required chemo and radiation so was thrilled to avoid that again because radiation especially was horrific. Best of luck to you - I know how hard it is to be patient through all of this.

@shane1954 can I ask your age?
I am 78.

@logi My partial glossectomy with reconstruction with a free flap was Feb. 12th. I still have a lot of swelling in my tongue after almost 8 weeks which is quite uncomfortable. I had a trach and feeding tube for a month. Spent 3 weeks in a rehab facility after a week in the hospital. I am now eating most foods except for some meats and crunchy things like salad and other raw vegetables. The wound at my freeflap donor site is still pretty ugly and I prefer to keep it covered when out in public wearing short sleeves. That will be harder with summer coming. My thigh where they took the skin graft to repair my forearm is pretty unsightly too. All of the healing is taking longer than I expected. I too had great pathology report with no further treatment needed. I had tongue cancer before in 2014 that required chemo and radiation so was thrilled to avoid that again because radiation especially was horrific. Best of luck to you - I know how hard it is to be patient through all of this.

I had cancer removed from throat February 25. They removed part of tongue and area bottom of mouth.
They did the reconstruction flap with vessels from left arm. I simply had no idea what I was in for. Had a Traech and feeding tube for two weeks. I couldn’t talk for two days but all of a sudden could talk. I left with no Traech and feeding tube after two weeks. Recovery is slow and frustrating. Mucus at night, gagging,choking. Just this week have slept all night, a miracle. A nerve in my neck, damaged, causing pain in clavicle and drooping shoulder. Got a shoulder brace to hold in place. I can eat soft foods but eating is a dilemma. This is all 5 1/2 weeks out. I have lucked out in that they got all the cancer according to pathology and no further treatment. MRI in august..
I simply had no idea what I was in for. You have no choices . Sometimes it’s one hour at a time.
I am recovering bit by bit and has taken me weeks to say that. You can do this.

@shane1954 thanks for sharing. I am scheduled for surgery in about 2 weeks to remove some remaining verrucous ca tissue from the back of my tongue and have a repair. I am currently questioning the surgeon about using my forearm for the graft vs using my thigh. I am sorry to hear about your compications and prolonged recovery. I am uncertain on how far to advocate for myself for the thigh site but I have specific reasons.

@logi facing a surgery with reconstruction of the tongue. I am hoping for a smooth recovery but your post is giving me pause. I hope youfeel better daily!