My Radiation/Chemo treatments destroyed my salivary glands...I can only swallow liquids, are there any devices or trreatments that would help provide the saliva I need to be able to eat at least some semi-solid foods???

hi terrylee
welcome to the site,most of us on here suffer from the dry mouth constantly due to the radiotherapy affecting the saliva glands.most of us have to wash our little bit of food we can manage with drinks etc,you can get saliva replacement sprays and also gels which make the mouth a bit more comfortable.ask your doctors who have treated you about the best products to use.chewing sugar free gum sometimes helps to produce a little saliva(well it's saliva but not as we know it lol)why not post about your self on the new members forum on here and tell us your story.we are a very supportive bunch on here and if we can point you in the right direction with help we will.take care love shirl x

Hi Terrylee........I like most of the others with this horrible disease no longer have much saliva, I can probably lick two envelopes and I'm done. I constantly chew Orbit sugarless bubble gum and it comes in a pink package it's better than nothing. I've tried sprays and for me they don't work and I went to an accupuncture doctor many times and again it didn't work but that's not saying these things don't work. I am one of the very lucky survivors but I have a very stubborn body. Get this , I have very little saliva, extreme dry mouth but can eat potato chips.......go figure. I do make a lot of smoothies and they go down quite nicely. Keep checking with this forum, you'll get great support and help.....Joan P.

Hi Shirl,
Thank you for your reply, Nothing much interesting about me. I was diagnoised with throat cancer 2 years ago and have finished radiation/Chemo/Surgery in my throat. Drs. say I am now cancer free...but have no saliva, no taste and no smell. Don't want to sound like a soap opera..but Drs. say they can do nothing more. But it sure would be nice to eat other than fluids. Do you have the same problem?
TerryLee

Hi Joan P,
Don't know if I am replying correctly...Thank you for your reply. I tried gums but they stick to the roof of my mouth, gums and cheeks. I try to drink "Boost" but that gets pretty expensive at $9 for 6 cans. Oh Well, guess I'll just keep fishing till the good Lord finds a place for me.
TerryLee

hi terrylee
i too finished my treatment chemo and radiotherapy 2 years ago for base tongue cancer,i too cannot taste much only savoury stuff and mostly it either tastes sour or bitter and i can't see it improving much more if at all.my saliva has got better but my mouth always feels slimy and it drives me mad my lips are always dry and sore plus i have lost 4 teeth in the last 6 months because of tooth decay again caused by lack of saliva and it seems i always have to take antibiotics for gum infections.although all these problems are pointed out before treatment you never realise what a big impact it has on your life do you?i was just happy that the treatment got rid of the cancer so i think i should count my blessings.some people do recover their taste buds but not like they were originally before treatment.i would love to be able to taste chocolate again or even anything sweet.how is your weight terry?i have a peg fitted into my stomach so although i have started to eat again this past 6 months it is not enough so if i eat less than a 1,000 calories i have a feed through the peg overnight while i am sleeping.please have a good look around the forums on here and any questions fire away as you can bet someone else has been there and can advise you.good luck in your journey love shirl xxx

Link: previous discussions about dry mouth.

Hi Terry. So sorry to hear about your problem. I fear I'm headed in that direction. Into only my second week of radiation and already my saliva has measurably thickened and things are beginning to taste strange. However I'd read about a fruit which might improve the taste of food, seems like the real deal (insofar as it was on CNN.... of course, that's no guarantee as we know), and I started a thread about it just above this one. Or click here:

http://rdoc.org.uk/eve/forums/.../19510549/m/61210257

Might be worth looking into. If you goog "miracle fruit" I believe you'll find some vendors.

Good luck!
David

Thank you all for the inputs and info.
I wish you all the best of luck in your treatments and recovery. I will pursue and try your suggestions.
TerryLee