dry mouth and lips

[Karen]

Do any of you have trouble with your lips being dry and cracked all the time?  I am doing facial exercises and my lips are contanstly dry and  c racked from all the pulling and tugging.  Nothing seems to help.  Also my mouth is always dry.  Any ideas? Karen

[matti]

My lips are very dry, as well as the AN side of my mouth. I find that I have to use a lot of chapstick/lip balm. I chew sugarless gum and hard candies to help stimulate saliva production. When I wake up in the morning my mouth is incredibly dry.

Also have to be careful because dry mouth is more suseptible to tooth decay. I see my dentist 3 times per year instead of 2.

[Windsong]

Karen,

For dry cracked lips. the best thing for me seems to be a slick of vaseline (works like a lip gloss over lipstick really) and works great overnight. So, same for guys  but minus the lipstick i guess lol (guys have this problem too? dry cracked lips? am wondering)....

Also, drink lots of water, and keep a bottle with you at all times for the dry mouth...

best wishes,
Windsong

[thecakes]

  I live with my chapstick.  I wake up from bed also with a very dry mouth.  I never get use to this.  Its 24/7.  I chew alot of gum., and go to to my dentest every 6 months.

[Pembo]

My chapstick is my best friend! I panic if I don't have it.  I must have 6 or 7 scattered throughout my house.

[SKT]

I found that dry mouth and lips was more of a problem post op too.  Does anyone know what causes it ?

[sunshine16]

Dear Karen,

Vaseline Lip Therapy (white tube)  is really the best.   I tried lip Balms, Chapsticks they only made my lips worst.  My husband uses Vaseline now, too.  And within a day his lips are back to normal.  For dry mouth, I haven't really experience it, I just keep on drinking water and keep eating.....LoL

best wishes and take care

[Battyp]

Believe it or not in shear desperation I used Crisco lard for my dry lips.  They were cracking so bad and I couldn't find any chapstick and the vaseline was in the garage and I couldn't get to it.  The crisco worked great.  I'd put it on at bedtime and usually by in the morning my lips were healed. 

Wonder if I drink the vegtable oil if it would fix the dry mouth?   

[thecakes]

   Hey guys, I not onely have the dry lips and mouth, but I notice more lines around my lips.  This looks terrible.  Or is it the age thing?  Have any of you notice this too?

[californiagirl]

I am 4 weeks post op today and I have found that Burts Bees lip balm works great some days my lips are more dry than others. That may depend on the moisture in the air too.  I also drink 64 oz. or more of water each day. Hope that helps.

[Battyp]

Burts Bees does work good..

cali girl how are you doing?  You're only a few weeks post op are you doing ok?

[Joef]

Yep, I keep a chapstick at work and home ... I dont use in that much, but if I dont .. it actually gets kinda bloody! ..

[californiagirl]

BP,

Thanks for asking. I think I am doing pretty well. I was in the hospital for only 6 days, ICU only 2. My surgery was a bit longer than expected..10 hours. However, the tumor was on the balance nerve and also the facial nerve. The doctors had to leave a small sliver on the facial nerve to preseve it. So, down the road at some point I will look into some other form of therapy.

I have no facial paralysis, no numbness and am walking pretty well. My AN side eye is fine too. I have had a couple of days with nausea and extreme headaches, but for the most part I cannot complain. I have gone out to eat and even a little shopping with my husband.

Thanks,
Lori

[Battyp]

Lori that is such wonderful great news!

What kind of additional therapy are you going to need? 
Yeah to the no facial paralysis or numbness.  The numbness is what weighs me down!
Sounds like you are on the fast track road to recovery!  such an inspiration to those in pre treat mode!

[Karen]

This is to battyprincess, I also have the facial numbness and in some ways that bothers me more than the paralysis.  IOt's not just no feeling it feels like I have been to the dentist and my face is full of novacane.. How about you?  Karen