Necessity is the mother of invention

Barbaraek · January 2016

So my husband is targeting the end of January to get back to work in the operating room. His particular speciality (liver and pancreas cancer) usually means being in the OR anywhere from 3-9 hours. Here's the problem...dry mouth. So far he's had very little return of salivary function. He needs a way to drink without compromising the sterile environment of the OR, and without the possibility of getting anything in the field of surgery.

Any thoughts out there? So far we are thinking along the lines of one of those small water backpacks that runners wear (camelback) but have to figure out a way to secure the tube under the mask And still make it easy for him to sip. I'm sure there's something that will work- I just can't see a 30 year career in surgery getting derailed by dry mouth!

We have tried the Xylimelts that you put on your molars, that are sort of time release...but they won't cut it by his perception. Any suggestion welcome!

Barbara

kdot2003 · January 2016

Camelbak?

Hi,

I was trying to google. I have been thinking about this because I am in the OR some for c-sections and I was thinking how I would have water. But c-sections are quick and I am hardly ever sterile so I could actually walk out for a quick swig if I did it discreetly. He has to have water for those long surgeries wow. Did you see this? I dont know how to secure the tube. The mask isnt sterile maybe he could tape it or something underneath within reach. What if he had something like a little strap around his neck to help hold it? I dont think the backpack part would be a problem...

Karen

http://shop.camelbak.com/rogue/d/1316_cl_4734

Barbaraek · January 2016

kdot2003 said:
Camelbak?
Hi,

I was trying to google. I have been thinking about this because I am in the OR some for c-sections and I was thinking how I would have water. But c-sections are quick and I am hardly ever sterile so I could actually walk out for a quick swig if I did it discreetly. He has to have water for those long surgeries wow. Did you see this? I dont know how to secure the tube. The mask isnt sterile maybe he could tape it or something underneath within reach. What if he had something like a little strap around his neck to help hold it? I dont think the backpack part would be a problem...

Karen

http://shop.camelbak.com/rogue/d/1316_cl_4734

Karen..great minds think alike

That's the direction I was going in also- I just need a way to figure out how to secure the tubing so it's under the mask and easily accessible. From what I read it looks like you have to bite on the tube somehow to open the valve and sip - so that eliminates it leaking...

Barbara

Hondo · January 2016

Stoppers4 dry-mouth spray

Hi Barbara

Stoppers4 dry-mount spray was the only thing that ever worked for me. I was radiated twice to the same place so my salivary glands were messed up really bad. The stoppers4 would let me sleep at night sometimes up to 4 or 5 hours and during the day working 2 to 3 hours. Anyway it is worth looking into if you want to give it a try.

Tim

MrsBD · January 2016

Sorry, Barbara. This was the

Sorry, Barbara. This was the first thing that popped into my mind. It would make for some interesting talk in the OR though! Have you tried looking at a sports supply store? There might be something mountain climbers, bikers, or hikers wear that would work. Otherwise, a backpack would probably be the least cumbersome. If the mask doesn't have to be sterile, you might be able to rig up something more comfortable than sticking a tube under it. Feeding the tube through the outside would prevent it from rubbing on your husband's face for hours. You'd need to prepare a supply of masks with a hole and maybe a fitting of some sort to hold the tube. Anyone who has seen your creative quilting knows you'll come up with something!

Beth

Barbaraek · January 2016

Hondo said:
Stoppers4 dry-mouth spray

Hi Barbara

Stoppers4 dry-mount spray was the only thing that ever worked for me. I was radiated twice to the same place so my salivary glands were messed up really bad. The stoppers4 would let me sleep at night sometimes up to 4 or 5 hours and during the day working 2 to 3 hours. Anyway it is worth looking into if you want to give it a try.

Tim

We'll give it a try Tim

He has used a xylitol spray which is the ingredient in Stoppers 4, but you just never know if it will work until you try it. We're game - I'll let you know if it works for us. In the meantime the ALTENS study he is doing with the electric stim to produce saliva is having no effect whatsoever (sigh). I think he is 2/3 of the way through the protocol.

Barbara

Barbaraek · January 2016

MrsBD said:
Sorry, Barbara. This was the

Sorry, Barbara. This was the first thing that popped into my mind. It would make for some interesting talk in the OR though! Have you tried looking at a sports supply store? There might be something mountain climbers, bikers, or hikers wear that would work. Otherwise, a backpack would probably be the least cumbersome. If the mask doesn't have to be sterile, you might be able to rig up something more comfortable than sticking a tube under it. Feeding the tube through the outside would prevent it from rubbing on your husband's face for hours. You'd need to prepare a supply of masks with a hole and maybe a fitting of some sort to hold the tube. Anyone who has seen your creative quilting knows you'll come up with something!

Beth

I'm laughing Beth

because that was the image that popped into my mind also! And I don't think it would inspire a lot of confidence in the patient on the table!

I did order the smallest size camelbak backpack and we'll see what we can rig up.

Barbara

Necessity is the mother of invention

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