CHILD POST-OP
We are always available to answer your questions during your recover. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns about the healing process.
PAIN MANAGEMENT
It is normal for your child to have some pain after the procedure. Some children start to feel discomfort during the procedure, usually in the floor of the mouth or the throat, as the muscles in the mouth begin to relax. Others don't feel any discomfort until later in the day. And there are even some kids who don't have any soreness at all and are bouncing off the walls!
The post-operative pain should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol or Advil/Motrin. We will give you a packet to take home that will review pain medication schedules, but in general your child can alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours.
It is normal to have some pain and swelling for up to a week after the procedure, rarely past the one week mark. Most patients report a significant improvement in pain after the first day.
EATING & SPEAKING
Since the tongue will be sore and weak, we recommend sticking with soft, cool, and easy-to-chew foods for the first few days after surgery. Scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pudding, yogurt, soup, and pasta are generally well-tolerated by most patients. Smoothies, popsicles and ice cream are always a great idea!
Most patients have no trouble speaking after the procedure - many even report that speaking (and singing!) are easier immediately after treatment, since the tongue is able to move more freely. However, some patients report a mild lisp for the first day or two after treatment. This is usually caused by new muscle movements that do not yet have enough strength or endurance to hold certain speech positions. Any speech issues are temporary and often resolve within the first day or two.
POST-OP EXERCISES
Follow up with your myofunctional therapist to make sure you know when to begin your exercises after treatment. Some therapists want you to begin right away with gentle stretches, while others want their patients to wait a few days to heal. We defer to the myofunctional therapist to determine the course of post-operative therapy.
The length of post-operative myofunctional therapy varies from patient to patient. And even after the weekly therapy visits come to an end, it is very important to continue to do your tongue strengthening exercises on your own at home. This is because the scar tissue takes several months to heal, and the more you stretch and move it during the healing process, the looser it will be. If you do not commit to the myofunctional therapy and bodywork, there is a chance the new scar tissue may continue to be restrictive.
