Roger, hello. You will do ok with swallowing after the total Glossectomy.
Kris found it quite easy. He just tips his head back slightly to get everything to the back of the oral cavity, then just swallows. The SLT says she has no idea how he does this, but finds all Glossectomy patients find their own way. You will too.
We also were terrified at the prospect of this surgery. It really was a horrendous thought. All the thoughts on what would life be like. Would Kris be able to eat and or drink. What would his speech be like. Would his appearance be altered. What about neck function post the neck dissection. Would he be able to lift his arms up again after the dissection. There were so many questions and I know my imagination ran riot.
My advice? Just go with the flow. Everything sorts itself out in the long run. What you think may be huge problems turn out not to be. You end up worrying over nothing and it is not productive. Know that you will be ok and that there will be great living after this is over. Be patient and give yourself time. Practice, practice with both the swallowing and speech.
I will follow both Nina and her husbands journey and yours. Any help I can give, I will be here. Take care,
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!