Dry mouth - till when?

Vincera · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject: Dry mouth - till when?

Hi all,

Had my sixth and last R-CHOP chemo session about 5 weeks ago. Although almost all of my physical side effects are gone, I still wake up with a dry mouth. It also lingers during the day. Have any of you ex R-CHOPPers experienced it and how long after chemo is it expected to last?
Other than drinking and drinking and…drinking, what else can be done? I’m sick and tired of chewing gum.
_________________
61 y.o M, Diffuse large B cell NHL, stage 3. Lower back. Diagnosed Mid May 09. Completed 6 R-CHOP treatments on 9/8/09. In Remission: 10/19/09

ChemoMan · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:13 am Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Hi

I never had this during or after chemo. Try a good multi vitamin and mineral supplement it worked for me.

Cheers
_________________
Age 53
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 2a
Finished six cycles of R chop 21 26th May 2008
Officially in remission 9th July 2008
Remission confirmed 1st October 2008
Remission confirmed 17 June 2009
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9620
RULE NUMBER 1.....Don't Panic
RULE NUMBER 2..... NEVER GIVE UP
RULE NUMBER 3..... Don't forget the first 2 rules

joepet · Senior User Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 Location: Japan

Hi Vincera. Congratulations on joining the R-CHOP Alumni Club!

I usually prefer a hard candy to gum for dry mouth, seems to moisten it better and less stress on the jaws as well. A popsicle or something cold might work better as well.

Hope this too will pass, and that your hair will come back similar to they way it was before (this newly curly hair is still driving me nuts... Confused

)
_________________
Age 37 (36 at diagnosis)
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 1AE (localized in colon)
Began six cycles of R chop 21 3rd Dec 2008
Finished R chop 21 Apr 2009
Complete remission as of May 2009

Vincera · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:44 am Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Chemoman: I take multi vit. In what way did it work for you? What was the situation before and after?

jeopet: You’re right about the stress on the jaws. I think I’m starting to get TMJ.
You sound as if you had had dry mouth. How long did it last?
As for the hair, I really don’t care much – I’m a male, LOL. Besides, some people say bold is nice…. It’s the Bruce Willis look.
_________________
61 y.o M, Diffuse large B cell NHL, stage 3. Lower back. Diagnosed Mid May 09. Completed 6 R-CHOP treatments on 9/8/09. In Remission: 10/19/09

aisha1 · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Hi,

You don't know me, but I'm bursting in on your conversation like a woman in the sugar aisle of the supermarket with suggestions for how to cook! Laughing

I was beginning to get dry mouth, and my taste buds were changing quite a bit (still are a bit weird) - BUT...... my sister works in a dentist and she had mentioned it to a new recruit at work. He told her that I should eat live yogurt.

I now eat some every day and it seems to have helped me a lot. Besides the fact that I love muslei and yogurt, it has been good for me. I bought an organic full fat one. It is probiotic as well, and it is described as 'Greek style'.

Hope this helps you. It only took 3 days for my mouth to return to normal!

Aisha (Aisle 5, moving into aisle 6 for some frozen veg).
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

SingleDad · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Yeah biotic yogurt is terrific but won't cure dry mouth.

Does help your digestive system normalize cancer or not.

I'm still plagued months after chemo....can't hydrate properly - I think there is damaged to the capillaries..and tissues don't get hydrated - makes it hard to heal up too.

I still have a salt taste which I'm told is hyrdation issues. I try for 1.5 litres of unsweetened liquid a day - but seems I'll need more

pinch your skin on the back of your hand - if it holds the pinch shape at all when you let go you are dehydrated.....sucks....

Sad

If your's was lower back you kidneys may be in low gear as well.
_________________
Age 62
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 completed Oct 1.
Cancer free scan Jan 2010 - remission confirmed
In South Africa for three months

Badri · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Hi,

It is six months after the last Chemo but I still have problem with my taste buds. Some of the symptoms that I still face are
a) Food tasting salty and b) Spicy food burning the tongue

I took plenty of water and diet included lot of fruits and raw vegetables.

Though the situation is improving every passing day, I feel it would take atleast four to five months to be near normal.

Other issues that I have had to face are
a) Chemotherapy induced Axonal Motor Sensory Neuropathy. The nerves of both feet have become weak and have difficulty in walking. Considerable pain after prologed sitting and while walking. This too has improved.
b) Inguinal Hernia caused due to muscle weakness of abdomen. This may be due to severe weight loss. From a peak of 92 kgs I had come down to 65 during chemo. Last 26th I got the hernia surgery done and recovering from it.
_________________
Age : 44
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma
Stage 4
Finished Six cycles of R Chop 14 - 21st Jan '09
Officially in remission 9th February 2009
Remission confirmed 24th April 2009

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=49797&highlight=#49797

Vincera · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Aisha – you weren’t serious, right? Laughing

This is no private conversation and the more “bursting” the better. After all , this is what this forum is all about. It seems that different R-CHOP recipients or alumni react differently, although some side effects and recovery patterns are in common, which makes this forum so valuable for all of us. What is “live yogurt” and how is it different from regular yogurt? During my chemo days not too long ago I developed a few cravings and one of them was for buttermilk. I trusted my cravings to be a good signal from my body. I do eat regular yogurt, although not daily.
Changing taste: Before the chemo days I used to like spicy food, but during chemo I couldn’t touch it. Now my taste buds have recovered. Yesterday (5 weeks after chemo) I went to a Tai restaurant and for the first time I could handle a level two spicy food.
Also, before chemo I was a 2-3 drinks a day man. I savored martinis, single malts, and wine. During chemo I couldn’t touch any alcoholic drink. Now I have no craving for it and I drink very little, although my body can tolerate it now.

Badri: You lost weight during chemo, and I gained! During my pre-chemo days my lymphoma affected my appetite and I lost 24 lbs (about 12kg) which was good, because this has been my target weight. During chemo I regained it! BTW, I hope you can get
non-spicy Indian food (Indian food is one of my favorites and in the pre-chemo days they couldn’t prepare it spicy enough for me…)

SingleDad: Sorry that you can’t hydrate properly yet – maybe this is similar to what I have in my mouth. I did the pinch test (you are certainly one of our “skin gurus) and the pinched skin flattened down in one second. I think the solution to your situation and mine lies in “alternative medicine” techniques such as herbs etc. which rejuvenate and cleanse the body. I know from experience that these techniques can help where our traditional medicine can’t. If we “attack” at different fronts and inform each other we may have a breakthrough.
_________________
61 y.o M, Diffuse large B cell NHL, stage 3. Lower back. Diagnosed Mid May 09. Completed 6 R-CHOP treatments on 9/8/09. In Remission: 10/19/09

aisha1 · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

I've finished shopping and I'm at the checkout............

Yogurt is supposed to be good for thrush - not just women's thrush downstairs! It is good for your mouth. The good bacteria in the yogurt (lactobacillus acidophilus - all sounds Greek to me mate!) helps your mouth and also regulates your ph levels. It also helps inflammation in the mouth at times, and so this in turn helps in other areas as well. I have found that drinking tea/coffee tends to dry out my mouth now as well - so this may be the case with you? Ibuprofen also causes problems in some people.

Of course, drinking loads and loads will always assist in treating dry mouth. Fizzy drinks are not the best option. It's best to have water or a diluted juice, cordial or fruit juice. For some reason - sucking on fruit pips like peach/nectarine pips, cherry pips etc stimulates the flow of saliva. Another good thing to do (but not too often, maybe once or twice a week) is to either suck a slice of lemon, OR to put a sliced up lemon (whole but sliced) in a large glass of water. Drink the water and then hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before you swallow it. DO THIS PROVIDING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE BAD ULCERS OR BAD SORES!

Hope this helps you guys. The main thing I like about all of this is that it's alllllllll natural!

I've paid and I'm leaving with my shopping..........exiting through the electric doors..............
_________________
Diagnosed Hodgkins lymphoma, nodular sclerosis, grade 2.
Stage II/IIIa.
Chemotherapy ABVD started August 2009.
Still looking young Wink

SingleDad · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

I have lots of saliva - it's the edges of my mouth - unless you gargle with yogurt it's not going to impact your mouth.

It's the same aspect of nerve endings being screwed up by the chemo - takes a while to get repaired

That's why our tastes buds are still out of whack and our hair taking it's own sweet time. Least my skin is clearing.

Live yogurt is terrific for stomach and digestion - it's not a panacea.

That said if the radiation burns don't heal soon I may take a sitz bath in it.... Wink

_________________
Age 62
Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma Stage 2/3
CHOP+R started Feb 26th 2009
Completed 6 cycles June 2009
Diary here http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=12003
Officially in remission July 9th 2009 Wink

Three rounds of Intrathecal completed July 29th
Radiation as a prophylactic measure.
1st Radiation Sept 9 completed Oct 1.
Cancer free scan Jan 2010 - remission confirmed
In South Africa for three months

Vincera · Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject: Re: Dry mouth - till when?

Still having dry mouth, especially when waking up, although the condition is improving sloooowly. Doc suggested using Biotene mouth wash. Does anybody have any experience with it?
_________________
61 y.o M, Diffuse large B cell NHL, stage 3. Lower back. Diagnosed Mid May 09. Completed 6 R-CHOP treatments on 9/8/09. In Remission: 10/19/09

julie wright · New User Joined: 26 Dec 2009 Posts: 2

I had 45 treatments of radiation in 1984. The treatments were from the top of my ears down to my pelvic region. It resulted in very dry mouth. It never went away so I constantly chewed gum. I've now got terrible TMJ so I had to stop the gum and now I constantly suck on mints or candy. I also get terrible ear/neck pain...possibly allergies, saliva duct infections, tmj and probably intensified from all the radiation. I also drink water constantly and I hated it when I heard that cancer is caused from water bottles that have gone warm in your car. You just can't win. Does anyone else have the ear/neck pain and have you figured out what it is and how to deal with it?
_________________
juliewright

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lymphoma - Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others