Hi Jingle Bell
My husband had half his tongue replaced with a flap from his arm last Oct.7th. He too had hair on his new tongue which "fell out" during the radiation process and has not regrown, he also does not have to shave in the area radiated which he is happy about as it is pretty scared up with his past surgeries. He does still have his peg, and in his case it has taken therapy to convince him he can safely eat, it still is hard work for him to do so and for him it was just easier, quicker to use the peg for food. (He asked the Dr. to put in a peg because he hated the nose tube.) Looking back, I realize depression played a huge part in his refusing to even try to eat food for many months after treatment, he never tried eating before starting rads/chemo. As his life spirled out of his control, eating was something he could make a decision about the therapist explained to me. To his day he wants his peg to stay in in-case the cancer returns and he needs it again, it is like a lifeline to him. So as you can see from the posts every patient handles this major change in their lives differently. I have gotten a lot of information and support from this site this past year - your in a good place for help as you need it.