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#155488 10-02-2012 08:47 AM
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LeftyS7 Offline OP
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Please excuse me if there is a thread on this elsewhere. If there is, couldn't find it.

I am five weeks post radiation treatment and dealing with dry mouth. My Dr. prescribed Neutrasal which works O.K. during the day but is no help at night. I also drink "Traditional Medicinals Organic Throat Coat" tea which my ENT recommended. It does a wonderful job of lubricating mouth and throat but is no help at night. At night I wake up every hour, hour and a half, or two hours with extreme dry mouth. Drinking water, I learned and my Dr confirmed, doesn't really help dry mouth although it does help soften phlegm. It does make one urinate which means that I need to get up for that, so I limit my water intake and swish water in my mouth to moisten it. This has limited affect.

Is there anyway to reduce dry mouth at night so that I can get a decent night's sleep?

Thanks


Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
LeftyS7 #155492 10-02-2012 11:00 AM
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Well this is not a refreshing reply but I'm ten years out on BOT cancer and still have problems with dry mouth. It's better but still not good. I don't drink as much water as before. Whatever you do stay close to your dentist (my suggestion only), I've had a time keeping teeth in order. I never took any of the prescribed meds for dry mouth just drank water.
good luck, you'll make it!

LeftyS7 #155493 10-02-2012 11:11 AM
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Hi Lefty. This is pretty much a universal problem for us who have had radiation for H&N Cancer. I brush with Prevident 5000 Dry Mouth toothepaste, available from dentist then spray with Biotene dry mouth spray. This way I only wake up 1 or 2 times, rinse with water, spray Biotene and back to bed. I guess we can expect this to go on for the duration. Hope this helps.

Last edited by Deejer47; 10-02-2012 11:12 AM.

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
LeftyS7 #155496 10-02-2012 11:47 AM
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Lefty, ditto to the others. There's also a product called "Rain" from a company called Xlear. It's a xylitol-based spray and you might try it, keep it by your bed. Pretty sweet actually but maybe it'll help. Biotene also makes a gel. I don't particularly like it, but you could give it a shot. Since you're in a dry climate like mine you also might consider buying a humidifier if you don't already have one.

Staying close to your dentist is also a great idea, btw.

Let us know how you're getting on, ok?


David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
LeftyS7 #155503 10-02-2012 12:43 PM
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Try keeping one of the above mentioned sprays by your bed and instead of getting up try just giving a quick squirt or 2 then you can go back to sleep right away. I get up frequently as I use a nighttime feeding machine for my feeding tube, so whenever I get up I rinse my mouth out with water instead of drinking it. I sure dont need any more liquids at night to make me get up even more. I should also give the spray a try. Im 5 years post rads and it still bothers me a little at night but it is alot better than it was when I was only a few weeks out.



Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
LeftyS7 #155513 10-02-2012 02:56 PM
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I have dry mouth 24/7. I use all of the meds mentioned but they only last about 30 minutes. At nite I use biotene Oral Balance, then wash my mouth with magic mouthwash followed by Biotene Oral Rinse mouth wash, which I rub on my little bit of tongue, gums , roof of my mouth. It prevents severe dryness for a couple of hours. I'm still up every hour for pee time but at least I get to sleep a little at a time. I hope you find something that works even if it's a part time aide.


Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
LeftyS7 #155579 10-03-2012 12:59 PM
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Thanks, all. I had been using a humidifier and started using the "Biotene" spray last night. It helped a lot. I'd used the "Biotene" spray during the day but saw no advantage in it. I've got "Oasis" and "Rain" on order and will experiment with them, too.


Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
LeftyS7 #155594 10-03-2012 04:19 PM
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Saliva production slows down at night, which is why people wake up with dry mouth, bad breath from the reduction of Salivor, and bacteria growth. I used biotene dry mouth products, dry mouth gel at night, along with water bedside. Here is an odd one, but heard some tape thier mouth closed, so moisture doesn't escape as fast..see your dr for that one. I never did it.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






LeftyS7 #155596 10-03-2012 04:25 PM
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Taping the mouth shut is interesting. Maybe I'll test that with my wife during daylight first?


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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Lol.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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