Am I just unlucky, or is it common to suffer from excessive mouth saliva after a stroke, mine has become horrible, and disgusting.
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Hi @Injebreck99
I am so sorry to hear you are struggling with excessive saliva.
Whilst I cant reply for everyone else, my experience has been the opposite to yours. I have a constant dry mouth due the medications I have to take now. I wonder if you have spoken to your stroke nurse or doctor about it as there may be a medical reason for it and they may be able to help?
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Hi
My husband suffered from this after his stroke. It was very bad and then the other day I realised that it had pretty much stopped!
So good news it can resolve itself but it has been 2 years!
I am just constantly surprised by how things are very slowly getting better - it really does.
Good luck!
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Does it taste like rubber?
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@Injebreck99 - there was a period of a few weeks recently when Mum had the condition you describe. She had lots saliva and was drooling quite a lot. This was only a few weeks ago and lasted for about a month or so. She has been a stroke survivor for seven years now and so I can’t say this is related to the stroke.
She ended up in hospital as she was unable to sleep (we thought it may have been due to acid reflux) and whilst in hospital, one of the consultants she saw suggested his was the body’s way of getting rid of fluid (she had oedema) and they also said she has pneumonia.
I can’t say for sure if the doctor was right with his explanation but during the stay in hospital, she was given antibiotics to treat the lung infection and water tablets to treat the oedema). Upon discharge she was no longer no longer drooling and she has been fine since (it is now over a week since she came back home).
Maybe you should consult a healthcare professional as suggested by @Lizzie22 or as @Stringyj says it may resolve itself!
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Yes, common. But like Lizzie I have dry mouth especially at night. After a stroke, the body does not usually produce more saliva than before. Instead, the stroke damages the nerves and muscles that control the mouth and throat. There are three main reasons for the pooling of saliva:
- Loss of swallowing reflex: The automatic “empty your mouth” reflex is impaired. The patient cannot swallow as frequently or effectively, so normal amounts of saliva accumulate.
- Lip closure: The stroke may cause weakness on one side of the face (facial droop), making it difficult to keep the lips sealed. Saliva then leaks out.
- Sensory loss: The patient may not feel the saliva pooling in the cheek on the affected side (this is called “pocketing”), so they don’t realize they need to swallow or wipe it away.
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I suffered from excess saliva in my early recovery days and was informed by my gp that it’s called hyper salivation. He also said that medication for this had horrible side affects and advised me to work through it and that it would improve and I’m pleased to say that it did.
Regards Sue
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my silava tates like rubber & drool quite a lot also sore throat & chest feels like its in a vice as back pain also effects rib cage im going to pysio this week to see if he can help
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Sounds more like you need to see your gp than physio. You could have an infection particularly as your chest feels like it’s in a vice and back pain.
Lorraine
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I must say I have to agree with Lorraine @EmeraldEyes as this seems more like a question for a doctor rather than a physio, but I suspect you know what you are doing and you have your reasons for going to see the physio to see if he can help.
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@Injebreck99 thanks for posting, that’s interesting, though I’m sorry you are suffering from this. I also have this problem and don’t hear much about it on any forums / groups.
I have excess saliva, it’s embarrassing, I dont swallow drinks / liquids very well so presume it’s connected to that. I also have awful taste problems since stroke which I also imagine is connected to the production of extra saliva to rid my mouth of vile taste. Nearly 3 years since stroke, still hope it improves with time . Good luck
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No, just neutral tasting
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Yes I agree it is very difficult and off putting, I have a hospital appointment next week, so will hopefully get it sorted.
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