Hi everyone.
I like to know more from loved and respectable members here who have opted to go for free flap option followed after tongue resection(either by personal choice or by doctor's recommendation).
Don't want much of details, but like to get overall outlook after opting this choice in terms of;
1. Age
2. Year Free Flap was done
3. Your overall experience (positive/negative), Please use one of the choice only.
4. Three to four Positive things (usefulness)
5. Three to four negative things (Side effects)
6. Regret your decision to opt for free flap option?

I really will appreciate your little time if you can manage to answer these six questions in shortest way. Here is an example

1. 40
2. 2013
3. Positive
4. Functional, Helps in swallow, fills gap
5. No taste, hair on surface, No saliva
6. No

Thank you so much to all readers for your kind co-operation. And yes, anything happens happens for reason. Reason to start this thread is, I am in a box now, and need some real time feedback from members with Free Flap. I didn't see much about free flap on this forum and decided to toss a new topic for readers over a period of time.

Thanks once again...

1. 60
2. 2012
3. Positive
4. Fills gap. Aesthetic .
5. Non functional. Did have hairs, but no longer.
6. No

1. 39
2. 2012
3. Positive
4. Aesthetic, keeps the old tongue in the right place, has adapted to work with the old tongue for speech and swallowing, starting to get feeling.
5. Partly functional, no hair (ew), no saliva but that would have been the case regardless.
6. Absolutely no regrets

Everyone,

I am glad to add this topic for readers. Thanks all for responses. Hoping more responses being added here over a period of time. To me this is a trend analysis topic that helps others to make aware, educate and helps to make decision on this opportunity.

Thanks

Tina,

Thank for your response. I sent you over PM as you requested, Please let me know you had a luck to find me on FB.
You can send me PM also if you wish.

Thanks

Thank you so much for your time and active participation on this topic. Hope you must have joyful year and pink health.

Have fun..

1. 46
2. 2011 (February 4)
3. Positive
4. Looks real, prevents crap from getting underneath, aids in speech - I too can swallow with no problem and I can feel as well with it.
5. It's still a little big for the space so I have to make sure I don't bite it (chew only on my good side) dr. Will revise when I am ready. Other side effects only if I've talked a lot all day- but I get a small lisp later in the evening sometimes (not often though) my real tongue gets tired as it has to work for both sides.
6. No regrets at all.

1. 43
2. 12/26/13
3. Positive
4. Now that the swelling is down I was able to eat pizza last night and steak tonight. I still sound like I have something in my mouth when I talk but every day is getting clearer.
5. No feeling yet or maybe never where the flap is. I also have to scrape under the tongue to make sure food is not lodged in between...I've been using the water swishing method and seems to be working well for the most part.

6. NO REGRETS! AMAZING HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THIS!

Fish... the sensation will come back slowly - hopefully - nerves take a long time to regenerate, and don't always recover fully but it does improve over time. hugs

I am glad to introduce this topic. Monday, 1/20/14 I am set for 8-10 hour surgery. Will access laptop & iPad after a week. So will update all my dear fellow members here on Jan28 afterwards.

Thank you so much all of you (By Heart) for your time and support to date.

Best of luck on your upcoming surgery Ankur

1. 55 at he the time of surgery.
2. 2006
3. Mostly positive.
4. Can eat almost anything now.
5. It took many year and surgeries to get the flap right. Even now it feels a little full but I mostly can ignore it.
6. I was never really offered any other choice and put my life in the hands of the team.

Best of luck with your surgery.