| | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 11 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 11 | My dental hygienist sister-in-law suggested I get involved with other OC survivors to see if anyone has found some unique ways to deal with dry mouth. I am 16 years out from treatment and it seems the dryness is getting worse and worse. I constantly drink water and use oral balance etc. I would appreciate any helpful suggestions.
65f dx 7/95 scc poorly differentiated r post pharngeal Laser surg
7/96 reocur l post wall 8wks IMRT 5d/wk
freq check all clear ca
97 approx dx atypical mycobacteria lungs picc line many antibiotics still pos cultures
cough
dysphagia
dry mouth
many dental issues
osteoporosis many fxs
Poor appetite
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Wow, a 16 year survivor. Welcome to OCF. Back when I had dry mouth, I literally carried a water bottle with me from the time I got up until I went to bed in a water bottle holder and sipped constantly. I wish I could give you a more helpful suggestion from my personal experience.. My twisted sense of "tumor humor" means I do have a "unique" way to deal with dry mouth, but it is not practical nor recommended: develop aphagia instead of dysphagia like I did. Since I cannot swallow at all, the almost undetectable saliva that is automatically swallowed without even noticing it by most people will build up suprisingly quickly to the point that I will never have dry mouth again. In fact, I am experimenting with a drug to cause dry mouth. On a serious note, these OCF posts on dry mouth gave three different suggestions (just click on the blue and you will be taken to the post) Nifty Dry mouth trick dry mouth Salagen Hope this helps. Charm
Last edited by Charm2017; 06-16-2012 10:37 AM. Reason: typos
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Omg - welcome it is soo awesome to have you here and congrats!!!!!!!! As for dry mouth someone suggested - an atomizer with oilive oil as a great lubricant.... Might be worth a try?! Take care!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 | 16 years... amazing and wonderful. Congratulations. You're an inspiration to all of us.
Back when I was a professional musician one of my teachers taught me that when stage fright was giving me dry mouth (a bad thing for a woodwind player), biting lightly on the sides of my tongue would stimulate saliva. You've probably tried this extremely low-tech technique, but in case not...
I'm not sure if it will work if there's nothing to stimulate of course. I'm not even sure it works for me, and by now I've got maybe a 70% return of salivary function. I hope you get some relief and that the links here at OCF help!
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 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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