Tongue Tie Release as an Adult
What a Tongue Tie Release Did for Me
Growing up, my dad was a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, which was a huge advantage for me. Whenever my back hurt, I’d ask him to adjust me—and I asked often. I was diagnosed with scoliosis very young, and my parents did everything they could to alleviate it. I had physical therapy and a stretching machine, but back pain was my constant companion.
When I was in high school, I started to have migraines at least once a month, which we attributed to my menstrual cycle. Later, when I was pregnant with my 6th child, my acid reflux became so severe, I thought I was having a heart attack. I learned I had Barrett’s Disease, which is pre-cancer from reflux in the esophagus. My doctor started me on acid reducers, which I was on for twelve years. No matter what I did, I was unable to wean myself off.
My gut health plummeted—likely due to the use of acid reducers—and I became intolerant to gluten and dairy. A single serving of ice cream or milk would leave me in so much pain that I was unable to walk up the stairs. I’d have to crawl until the inflammation came down.
At the same time, I began to develop a Dowager’s Hump that was painful and seemed to have a pinched nerve in it. Nothing helped. As I gained weight from my pregnancies, and struggled with poor gut health, I started to have issues with my airway during sleep, and my sleep quality took a dive. All of this combined really impacted my quality of life. I was constantly tired and in pain.
Several years ago, I attended school to become a lactation consultant. I had the privilege of interning with Bryna Sampey, IBCLC. Her knowledge about tongue tie was mind-blowing. The more I learned, the more I began to suspect that I was tied, and that at least some of what I was physically struggling could be attributed to the tie. The only problem? Everyone I went to told me I wasn’t tied, despite the fact that I had almost every single symptom of tongue tie.
I eventually had the opportunity to attend a conference where I heard Dr. Ghaheri speak on tongue ties, and I decided to make an appointment to see him. He was able to diagnose my tie and was willing to do the release.
The difference post-release was life changing. I immediately felt a release of tension not just in my mouth, but throughout my entire body. For the first few days, I had to be very cautious as I walked, because I felt so loose that it was easy to lose my balance.
As a direct result of my tongue tie release, I was able to go off acid reducers completely. My migraines vanished. Dowager’s Hump? Gone. My scoliosis, which had been my constant companion since I was very young, is almost entirely resolved. And I can eat ice cream now without having such a severe inflammatory response. Best of all, I recently had another scope of my esophagus, and my pre-cancerous cells are no longer present.
My 11-year-old son’s tongue-tie was released at the same time as mine. He had suffered from intestinal ulcers for years, along with moderate scoliosis. He was unable to eat certain foods and had been on and off acid reducers for years. One year, he missed 31 days of school due to severe stomach pain. Since his release, his digestive issues have resolved entirely, along with his scoliosis.
Just three years ago, another of my sons—who suffers from ADHD—had his tongue tie released. He had taken Concerta for 10 years to help with his concentration, but soon after his release, I noticed he’d stopped taking it. When I asked him why, he said he didn’t like the way the meds made him feel any more. I was initially concerned about the impact on his academic work, and he did struggle for a time. However, three years later he is three semesters into college with nothing but A’s and has earned a full scholarship. I believe the improvement in his concentration is connected to his improved gut health and better-quality sleep post tie-release.
Both my grandbabies have also greatly benefited from a release. Both of them did not have breastfeeding issues initially, in fact, they were gaining extremely well. However, for my first grandbaby at 6 months could not swallow applesauce. She just tongue thrusted and gagged on every puree we gave her. After trying for 2 months, parents decided to do a release and she has been eating fine ever since. My second grandbaby was doing well for the first two months, however, when I went to visit herI noticed her spine was curving and my daughter started to have chronic clogged ducts with a bout of mastitis. After her release, her spine straightened and the clogged ducts stopped reoccurring. Tied babies will make many compensations that can continue to cause more and more dysfunction. I also believe as they grow, that the fascia at the base of the tongue becomes more restricted and thus symptoms that were not present initially, can start to present and become more apparent.
As a practicing IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) specializing in tongue ties, I see babies every day that are struggling. Often, they aren’t transferring milk well, causing gassiness and fussiness, as well as nipple damage. The issues are extremely difficult for these families, and we often see severe postpartum depression in the mother and even the father as they struggle to cope with these challenges. It’s thrilling to see how a successful tongue tie release can impact the health and well-being of the entire family as baby’s feedings and sleep improve.
An individual with a tongue tie can have a normal-looking frenulum, or even one that is hiding—called a submucosal frenulum. When a baby is having tie-related symptoms, it’s crucial that they be assessed for ties. Early intervention is key to avoiding failure to thrive, or long-term milk supply issues.
With the knowledge I’ve gained of tongue ties, I have helped several hundred families through tie releases, and we almost always see a dramatic improvement within days. A functional tongue is crucial for optimal health, and a sub-functional tongue can impact quality life in a number of ways.
Parents are often concerned about the procedure itself, but when performed by a good provider, the process is not as invasive as you might think. Only connective tissue is cut, and no damage is done to the muscle of the tongue itself. Most babies will be fussy for the first day after the procedure but are almost always happier once the initial pain resolves and they begin to experience better milk transfer.
Here are some things to watch for in babes that can indicate a tongue tie:
· Poor weight gain
· Frustration at the breast
· Low milk supply
· Nipple damage
· Painful feeds
· Thrush
· Mastitis
· Clogged ducts
· Frequent feeds
· Long feeds
· Gassy
· Fussy
· Vomiting
· Lots of spit up
· Choking on liquids or foods
· Torticollis
· Recessed chin
· Ezcema
Here are some of the symptoms in adults if tongue tie is left untreated:
· TMJ
· Migraines
· Headaches
· Scoliosis
· Tight neck and back
· Acid reflux
· Food intolerances
· Allergies
· Asthma
· Sleep apnea
· Speech issues
· Recessed chin
· Grinding teeth
· Anxiety
If you suspect you or your baby may have a tongue tie, it’s incredibly important that you see a health-care professional who has the knowledge to correctly assess a tie. Many professionals in the medical field are not trained on how to assess a tongue tie, and posterior ties in particular are missed often. If you decide to proceed with a release, it’s even more important that you see someone who knows how to do a proper full release, or you’re unlikely to see the results you hoped for. Your best resources are to go to your state’s Facebook tongue tie release support group, and ask who they recommend for assessment and release. In the case of infant ties, it’s also recommended to work with a tongue-tie-educated IBCLC before and after release, to ensure proper preparation and follow-up wound care to avoid reattachment.
From what I’ve seen in my career as an IBCLC, the tongue is the second most important muscle of the body, next to the heart. A dysfunctional tongue impacts the entire body, resulting in a wide variety of seemingly unconnected symptoms that can be traced back to a tethered tongue. It’s hard to dispute the benefits I’ve personally witnessed in myself, my own family, and the many babies I have worked with. The impact of a functional tongue is truly life-changing.
For more information on ties feel free to follow me on Instagram @babybonds_boise
Or go to my google drive resource page:
Melanie Henstrom, BS, IBCLC
www.babybonds.us