Even for my FIL recovery from the surgery was not pretty easy. There are more long term effects from the radiation treatment, mostly xerostomia or dry mouth. It is now more than eight years since the surgery and radiation treatment. I think starting the medication for him before radiation treatment began helped minimize the effects of dry mouth which have not been as severe as expected. He had been advised to avoid spicy or acidic foods, toothpicks, mouthwashes containing alcohol, candy, gum, and soda unless they are sugar free, instead he can take natural dry mouth products. Although he does spend a lot of time, much more than he did before, taking care of his teeth and mouth.

Hello all. I am new to group. Had fourth surgery on tongue 20 months ago. The first three came back precancer, the last was cancer. I did not have chemo or radiation.
After this last surgery I have had a horrible time with the feeling of dry mouth. My mouth is not really all that dry, but my tongue swells and I have the feeling of being dehydrated. I drink gallons of liquid a day and have to just stop and sit sometimes to let the swelling of my tongue go down. The ENT seems a bit puzzled and has suggested Biotene, which has helped until recently.
Has anyone else had this difficulty after tongue surgery and have you found anything that helps?

David

Hi David,

Sorry you're having this trouble. May I suggest creating a new topic under this forum in relation to your trouble? I suggest this merely because this thread is now buried and a new topic might yield more replies and recognition of the issue.

Just copy this and paste it as a new topic perhaps.

I am 27 months post tx and just went for a follow up with my rad doc last week. He showed me the graph that displayed the exact places where the radiation zapped me, as well as the doses. Based on the location of the tumor (left tonsil), my left salivary glands are no longer functioning because they received direct hits and the highest doses. I asked him if my right salivary glands would ever get any better (more watery like they used to be, instead of thick and pasty like they are now). I told him that I keep reading that the glands can improve UP TO two years after rad tx. My doc said that the salivary glands could still improve even AFTER two years. That gave me hope again, because I thought this was as good as it was going to get. I'm still a little doubtful though. I've talked with some people that say their salivary glands have that nice watery feel again, and to others who say that their glands are barely functional or pasty. I guess it just depends on the location and dose of the radiation that each individual gets and on the location of the tumor/s.

My tongue feels as if it has swollen but it doesn't. It feels like a baloon in there . As for dry mouth , I still have it after aover 2 years. It didn't really get dry until I had the radiation seed implants put in my tongue for those few days. That and phlem seem to be good friends.