Tongue tie questions

[brisco]

DS is 10 months now and we're pretty sure he's got a tongue tie. He's unable to stick his tongue out. Long story as to why it's not been dealt with, but basically I've run into a heck of a lot of bad medical advice and had my concerns about this brushed off repeatedly.

I had intermittent pain with breastfeeding for 9 months, but kept being told it must be a latch or positioning issue. No one brought up the possibility of it being his tongue, even after I said he couldn't stick it out. He had hand, foot and mouth at about 9 months with very painful mouth blisters and has been on a nursing strike since. I've tried everything else and am hoping maybe this will help.

We have an appointment with a surgeon in a few weeks. If he needs anything done, it will have to be under general anasthetic as he is too old to do it without.

I'm looking for good information about tongue tie.

DS cannot stick his tongue out, like I said, but he can move it back a bit and side to side. I was told that meant he wasn't tongue tied by one health visitor, but she couldn't explain why he couldn't stick out his tongue then.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[alegna]

I hope it works out for you!

FWIW here in the US age is not a deciding factor in needing general for this surgery. There are some more complicated surgeries for more complicated tongue ties that do require general. The simple snip usually works though and I've heard of people having it done on babies and toddlers without issue (and without general) I realize you're not in the US, but the "needing" general after a certain age will be unfamiliar to many here.

-Angela

[Ammaarah]

That is so odd that it has to be under general. What about mild sedation instead if he can't be conscious? I know one girl at another board you and I frequent just got her daughter's clipped at 4 months and it was like a two-second procedure from what she wrote. I know 4 months and a year are different, but if possible, get another opinion because it seems like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer.

[brisco]

Everyone I've spoken to here and everything I've read says a general. It should be very short, but still a general.

I don't think it's a super simple snip involved either. I've seen some babies with just a thin strip at the front of the tongue and it doesn't look that easy on DS.

I've been trying to kind of stretch it every so often with my finger under his tongue and I think that seems to be working a bit. Maybe he won't need surgery at all. Fingers crossed.