First week done!

I got a dry mouth when RT finished and six months later the only thing that gets my saliva going is chewing gum

Xylimelts are brilliant. At least you can get a good night's sleep with them as you aren't constantly reaching for the water

Hi unfortunately yes it is one if the most common side effects. I will be 1year post radiotherapy  next month and dry mouth is still my bug bear. Water sugar free gum and Xylimelts at night are still my go to items.

At my ent appointment yesterday saw a ent locum bless him really didn’t have much of a clue. Quote do you need water all day reply yep oh dear that can’t be pleasant. Umm tell Me about it . Oh well at least you are alive which yes I am grateful beyond belief but imagine every meal you need liquid  for it to go down does tend to make eating a chore. I can eat probably 2/3 rd of my food which I know is more than a lot of people on here can. 

Anyway I have an acupuncture appointment booked on Wednesday to see if she can stimulate my parotid gland will report back have 2 booked then she is away for 3 weeks 

good luck everyone moan over lol

haze 

Plus mine didn’t really get bad until a few weeks after I do have thick saliva but it’s the parotid gland that produces the thin watery saliva it’s amazing what you learn once you’ve had cancer. !!! H x

Yes. Parotid secretion is in response to food which is why chewing gum makes them work.

Submandibular glands produce 70% of your total saliva and produce background saliva to keep your mouth moist. It  is these that are wrecked by RT which is why we have dry mouths. They are supremely sensitive to radiation. Mine swelled up in protest after just one zap!