#52392 11-12-2007 10:12 AM | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 20 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 20 | some pretty heavy posts on here today!...this will probably look very insignificant compared to them, but it's a problem for me that I hope someone will be kind enough to help me with. I am not getting any sleep due to dry mouth. I use a spray bottle to moisten my mouth, but it only allows me 30 - 45 mins of sleep at a time...I'm on a PEG tube so can't just swill a bunch of water or juice down...I just can't seem to keep my mouth from dropping open when I drift into a deep sleep...I've actually thought about taping my mouth shut...husband says, noooooo...any tips would be appreciated...Kathleen | | |
#52393 11-12-2007 10:48 AM | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | My son used a plant mister - he said it worked better than the regular spray bottle. He also had two kinds of humidifiers - a regular and a warm water humidifier and he slept propped up on pillows or in a recliner. The doctor also prescribed a sleep aid . . . I think it was Lunesta. Hope you can find something that helps. I'm sure others will have some ideas.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
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#52394 11-12-2007 10:49 AM | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Just thought of something else. My son also used Stoppers4 Dry mouth. And the Biotene products are good, too, and are over the counter.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
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#52395 11-12-2007 02:53 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | Use the very thick Oral Balance product from Biotene. Before sleep squeeze some of it out of the tube and onto your tongue, then use your tongue to rub it all over the soft tissues of your mouth. You may have to do this at least once in the middle of the night as well. If you have no problems breathing through your nose, you can do what I did which is use an elastic headstrap to keep your mouth colsed until you can train yourself to do this without it. While they make one of these that is commonly used in apnea patients that have a cpap machine, I found that my wife's head sweat band from playing tennis worked very well. Under my chin and over the top of my head.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#52396 11-12-2007 03:51 PM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 | Katie: Buzz' dry mouth condition improved greatly after I placed a humidifier by his bed; and, as Brian states, the Biotene gel has really been helpful. I also rub Vaseline around Buzz' lips at night, and put a little Vicks Vaporub just inside his nostils...
I pray that your improvement will continue, my friend...
Lois & Buzz in NC
CG to 77 y/o hubby;SCC Alveolar Ridge; Wake Forest Baptist Hosp surgery: 07/19/07; bi mod radical resection/jaw replacement;
T2 N2-B M0 Stage IV-A
28 IMRT +
6 Paclitaxel/Carboplatin
Getting stronger every day!
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