Thats terrfic!!! Good luck with everything

Yup, excellend news! As Cheryl had mentioned earlier, superficial tumor caught early.

Thanks Cheryl and Everyone

Surgery is done and recouping at home. I had a CO2 Laser glossectomy of the left ventral side of my tongue. No graft needed. The area that was lasered was pretty much more than just the left ventral side it included the front of my tongue and base/ bottom of my mouth too. I have copious amounts of saliva, severely restricted ROM to my tongue cannot talk well. My entire tongue except for the very very right lateral side is completely numb. Lots of pins and needle feelings though (regenerating nerves I gather) Nobody can understand me when I talk. I am drooling and am developing what looks like candida on my tongue.

Has anyone else out there had CO2 Laser glossectomy?

I stopped taking the T3 and they were contributing to my lightheadness and shakes. I don't consume caffeine at all. I haven't been eating much, no appetite, mild nausea. Sleeping is almost non existant, lying awake at 0300am is not conductive to healing. So I stopped the T3s. Today Post Op day 3 I had a shower and am begining to feel better/stronger off the T3.

Waiting for the finale pathology report and my post op f/u is Oct 25. Such a loooong wait.

questions: How long does it take for the tongue to develop some normal function? Not so numb? ROM? I was told that the recovery is similiar to a tonsilectomy, really?? This is what a tonsilectomy is like?

I also have a white 1cm patch under my tongue that I have been told by the Head and Neck RN via email that is part of normal healing, but I am a nurse and this doesnt look like normal epithelial healing??? But then again I am not familiar with Oral surgeries.

I know compared to most here on this site, this sx was a walk in the park and I am greatful for that. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Wondering if I will be ready for work by Oct 19? (I have a 2 day work gig for a School of Pharmacology, I get to be a pretend patient, part of their licensing exam process) Doctors told me 2 weeks, and I am not convinced this is achievable.


Tracy
T. SCCA
CO2 Laser Left Ventral Glossectomy Oct 3 2011

Hi - so glad it went quickly for you! The numbness should go away soon. Try drinking your meals for a bit! Ensure or boost. Up your protein intake to help you heal.(Maybe mix in some protein powder with the ensure or take in smoothies if you can). The good thing about ensure is it's a fairly small quantity and you can sip on the bottle over a few hours to try and limit the nausea but still get nutrition) The nutrition will help with the shakes etc... T3 on an almost empty stomach can make you into a mess (not everyone knows this but it has caffiene in it) Speaking will improve- I'm sure your tongue is swollen once that goes down, and the numbness subsides you will be intelligible. Working - I can't say as it depends on how quickly you heal! The drooling is your body's way of trying to deal with what's been done to your mouth. Try adding a table spoon of salt and one of baking soda to a glass of water (lukewarm) rinse and swish and spit!. It helps heal. ( we use this for radiation muscositis) thrush - is a bugger - clobber it before it progresses. Stay away from sugar that makes it worse. Hugs and good luck!

Thanks Cheryl!!

Numbness will go away soon?? Wow ok, was thinking that nerves can take months to regenerate. Good cause it feels like my tongue is wearing a big puffy tight winter coat. My tongue feels like its curled up on the end even though its straight. Just a pressure-vice like throbbing feeling.

I bought some protein powder which I have used before (after gym workouts) but the chalky taste has turned me off. Boost is out of my price range right now as I have no income but just applied for Sick EI. But I am drinking lots of milk, soups, puddings and diluted at 50% pure natural juice (V8 veg/fruit mix ones) Maybe this weekend I will see if I can find any on sale.

I decided to try some gravol, so I am cubing each tablet, as I don't tolerate drugs well. I am small statured to begin with. The 12.5mg seems good tonight actually made me dozey! So I will continue with that for a bit:)

I have some Na Saline from the hospital and do rinses every 4 hrs. Use chlorohexidine rinse BID and brush my teeth BID. I will send another email to the nurse Lisa about the candida and see if we can get on that asap. Developing a sore on my lip, I noticed tonight...likely from the endotracheal tube. Worried it might open up. I noticed a mildly raised area right after the surgery. I have a cardiac condition so I was probably heavily dosed with abx during surgery but none post. Which suprised me. hmmmm....

In the meantime I gather I should stay away from popscicles(sugar) I have had two.

Thanks Again.

Tracy
T. SCCA
CO2 Laser Left Ventral Glossectomy Oct 3 2011

Hey it does take a while for nerves to regenerate but I think some of the numbness may be related to the freezing. Two out of the three times I had a biopsy believe it or not it took a week! For me to start feeling my tongue. (the last guy was a butcher!) I know this was a surgery but he may only have removed a bit so it's likely not major nerve damage. If you hate the protein powder, I'm sorry some of it can be chalky, but try adding it maybe to your milk in small quantities or making a smoothie out of it. Frozen fruits, protein powder, and milk will make it taste better. Flax seed is cheap, grind some up (just a little) and toss it in. it's good for you as is quinoa - it can be price for a small bag but in cereals you just need a teaspoon and it swells up like tiny tapioca bubbles! It's high n protein. Popsicles- yeah- high in sugar. Maybe some fresh juice? Frozen? It has sugar but not as much and it's better for you! Take care. Going to pm you!