Cheryl,

They used a flap from my forearm to reconstruct my tongue. The reason the doctor didn't choose a pectoral flap for me was because I am a newly married young woman. I haven't had any kids yet and they didn't want to mess with my chest for fear it could cause problems with breast feeding.

It took me a while to be able to swallow everything. For a few months after the surgery it was boost, pudding, and mashed potatoes only. After I got the OK to try other foods, I had to take it very slowly.....I would try a little bit of something to see how things went. Sometimes it was a horrible outcome, and sometimes it went down fine. I relied on a lot of water with meals to help swallow, and it took hours for me to eat a small plate of food. With time and practice, I can now eat up to normal speed.

It's good to keep in mind that the tongue is a muscle, and it needs to be built back up just like any other muscle that has sat around doing nothing. I wasn't able to do everything until a little wile after radiation was over because my treatments really knocked me out. Giving your husband another graft will make a big difference, but they will have to wait a while until the effects of the radiation are done. Remember....even though the treatments are over, the radiation is still working havoc on your body for a while.
I wish you and your husband well, and remind you that recovering from this occurs in "baby steps" not in leaps and bounds. It takes hard work and dedication, but if he sticks to it he'll find things can get better.