Saliva mysteries - what does this mean

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AnotherSurvivor
AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 383 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I'm nine weeks post 35/7 rad & chemo treatment.  I can be painfully bone dry, put in a piece of sugarfree gum, and be well moistened in under a minute.  Does this mean my glands are still mostly functional, just taking their time to recover?   Xylimelts have no effect, the sprays help for a while, but a piece of gum and I'm close to normal.

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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    edited March 2017 #2
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    dry mouth

    AS,

    If gum works, great.

    My dry mouth has its highs and lows. Sometimes I can go hours without a drink, but other times it takes constant attention.

    I have very good luck with the Xylimelts at night and hit or miss with other treatments.  I also have pretty good luck with gum, I guess it is the chewing that stimulates the saliva.

    At 5 years post I do much better.  Could be I just have a better understanding and I stay as prepared as possible.

    I was offered a prescription by my ENT for some meds (other than Xylitol) to help stimulate my saliva.  I turned him down, for now.  I just don’t want any stimulants at this time.  This to may change.

    Matt

  • armana
    armana Member Posts: 97 Member
    #3
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    Same Experience

    I am two years 4 months post radiation and sugar free gum works for me. Even my oncologist was pleaseantly surprised with the amount of saliva

    he saw in my mouth. I took salegen for dry mouth 3 time a day for about a year and 1/2 and stopped about 8 months ago with no effect.

    My dry mouth has gotten a lot better over time but life would be difficult without sugar free gum.

    Arman

     

     

  • Sprint Car Dude
    Sprint Car Dude Member Posts: 181
    #4
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    I guess

    I guess I will have to try some sugar free gum. I am 4 months out and have extreme dry mouth, Xylimelts, Biotien, ect.. Nothing seems to have an effect. Heck the Xylimelts are still like new when I wake up in the morning. Thanks for the gum tip. Sounds like tomorrows plan.

  • AnotherSurvivor
    AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 383 Member
    edited March 2017 #5
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    Okay, fine, my problem is

    Okay, fine, my problem is this:  for the gum to be working the gland has to be secreding saliva.  So why doesn't it do it on its own?  I'm also looking in to "electroacupuncture" where they use low voltage electricity instead of needles.  Amazingly, I am finding no store in my area sells Okra.  

    Ditto on the prescription drug stimulants, some of that stuff is pretty toxic.  My body is messed enough from chemo.  I'm getting to a point where basic functions are working again.

  • caregiver wife
    caregiver wife Member Posts: 234
    #6
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    AnotherSurvivor said:

    Okay, fine, my problem is

    Okay, fine, my problem is this:  for the gum to be working the gland has to be secreding saliva.  So why doesn't it do it on its own?  I'm also looking in to "electroacupuncture" where they use low voltage electricity instead of needles.  Amazingly, I am finding no store in my area sells Okra.  

    Ditto on the prescription drug stimulants, some of that stuff is pretty toxic.  My body is messed enough from chemo.  I'm getting to a point where basic functions are working again.

    Okra

    when out of season, I buy sliced and frozen (plain, unbreaded) found at Dillons/Krogers.

  • AnotherSurvivor
    AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 383 Member
    #7
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    That's good to know.

    That's good to know.

  • AnotherSurvivor
    AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 383 Member
    #8
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    caregiver wife said:

    Okra

    when out of season, I buy sliced and frozen (plain, unbreaded) found at Dillons/Krogers.

    I found it (frozen) at Kroger

    I found it (frozen) at Kroger's today.  Thanks.

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