Hello Chandra!

Welcome to OCF, glad you found us, sorry you had to! You and I are very similar my dear, as I also have similar issues after my mandiblectomy.

Due to the location and size of my primary tumor, my facial nerve was damaged during the surgery paralyzing the right side of my face causing my lip to droop severely and making it physically impossible to close my mouth entirely, so I experience the same eating/drinking issues that you do. After surgery scar tissue had anchored my tongue to the floor of my mouth making speech extremely difficult as well due to limited range of motion. Like you I was a business professional that relied on my ability to speak, communication skills, and my social etiquettes to make a living.

My question is what is the cause of the right side of the mouth's closure issue? Is it due to how the resection was done or nerve damage (lip droop due to damage to the 7th cranial nerve)? If the lip closure is due to nerve damage then you do have options there surgically (cranial nerve grafts, specifically a C7-C12 switch graft, and a muscle sling are a couple of procedures that come to mind) that have a chance at restoring function.

Personally I've had a C7-C12 graft done to help restore some function. During that procedure my surgeon clipped the scar tissue that anchored my tongue helping to improve speech. Where I still experience the lip droop (which does affect speech and eating still) it has improved my facial function and facial symetry. The eating and drinking publicly is something I've moved passed and make sure I wear darker clothing and always have a store of napkins handy if I choose to do so. I still eat solids however the majority of my nutrition is liquid due to difficulties chewing (like you no lower right teeth) and swallowing after radiation and neck dissection. These are things I continue to work on.

Talking will always be an issue with me due to the after surgery issues. I cannot speak loudly any longer and have to focus on my pronunciation, which I have worked with a speech pathologist on. I am understandable but it is something that I have to constantly focus on and have learned to adapt to.

Anyway, I feel I can relate to you and may be a source of support if you need. I know for me it was great to get in contact with people that could relate to me and share in my struggle. I hope OCF is as good of a resource for you as it has been for me.


Keep your chin up.

Eric