My husband had experience with acupuncture.

We flew to Maryland one weekend to see a miltary doctor who is a radiation oncologist and also studied acupuncture. He saw private patients on the weekend. The visit was about 4 months after radiation was finished. We went to the doctor's office on Sat & Sun. The doctor placed needles in my husband's ear lobes and fingers. He told him that he should stay until he was able to spit. After about an hour, he was able to have a good spit! After that session, my husband had the best lunch he had in years. On Sunday, he did the same thing.

My husband thinks that it didn't work, because his saliva is not normal. But, it obviously improved a bit, and I think it is because of the the acupuncture.

My husband recently had jaw surgery to remove about 1/3 of his jaw due to osteoradionecrosis. He also had a titanium plate implanted. Surprisingly, he has experienced increased saliva after the surgery. We hope that holds up.


avw
wife/caregiver
SCC base of tongue 2004
teeth extracted (7) 2004 and (6) 2010
Radiation & Cisplatin 2004
PEG tube 7/2004 to 5/2007
ORN 2009
HBOT: 80 total (2009 to 2011)
Mandible resection & titanium implant 12/20/10
Post surg infection 1/1/11
PEG tube again 1/26/11 to 10/2011
Aspiration pneumonia 2/1/11
Pain free since 2011!
Bridge to replace all bottom teeth 2012