Anyone get a dry mouth?

[Mama Sarah]

I have an almost permanent dry mouth and feel the need to drink constantly.

I can't decide if it's a side effect of hyoscine (it's listed on the patient information leaflet but the dry mouth started months after I started on the hyoscine) or whether it's a dysautonomia symptom.  I know dry eyes are not uncommon (I can't wear contact lenses without lots of eyedrops) but not so much said about dry mouth.

I find the medical stuff difficult to get my head around so I've no idea if saliva is controlled by the ANS or not.  I would guess it is because a doctor told me that the ANS controls all the things you can't consciously control.

[zerohours000]

3 hours ago, Mama Sarah said:

I have an almost permanent dry mouth and feel the need to drink constantly.

I can't decide if it's a side effect of hyoscine (it's listed on the patient information leaflet but the dry mouth started months after I started on the hyoscine) or whether it's a dysautonomia symptom.  I know dry eyes are not uncommon (I can't wear contact lenses without lots of eyedrops) but not so much said about dry mouth.

I find the medical stuff difficult to get my head around so I've no idea if saliva is controlled by the ANS or not.  I would guess it is because a doctor told me that the ANS controls all the things you can't consciously control.

Yes.  It’s common.  Medication can of course do this, but I get dry eyes and dry mouth.  Sometimes it’s from sleeping with my eyes open.  If it ever begins hurting you might look into Sjogren’s.  It’s an autoimmune disease.  

[StayAtHomeMom]

Yes I get it as well. Not sure the cause though. It may be as simple as my body is screaming for more water. Mine doesn't bother me. But there is mouth rinses that can help. 

[bombsh3ll]

I've had dry eyes and mouth all my life (negative blood tests and lip biopsy for Sjogren's). I developed POTS nearly 4 years ago. The dryness is just a minor nuisance compared to POTS, not really an illness. I just use eye drops and am constantly drinking anyway. A lot of people with dysautonomia have dryness but then it is also common in the healthy population too. 

B x

 

[Guest KiminOrlando]

1 hour ago, bombsh3ll said:

I've had dry eyes and mouth all my life (negative blood tests and lip biopsy for Sjogren's).

Me too. They did a CT scan of my perotid glands and found they had atrophied and they were full of scar tissue. Same with the ducts. No idea what caused it.

[Dysautonomia Zebra]

I too suffer from extremely dry eyes and dry mouth. I used to wonder if I had Sjogren's before my Dysautonomia diagnosis. Now I just accept it as another symptom on the never-ending list of the condition,  although it might be a side effect of a medication. My specialist, however, told me that we Dysautonomia sufferers need to drink more water than the average person (which I know I should do, but currently don't), so maybe that would help. 

[Anamaria]

Is your dry mouth worse after eating? Mine is always worse after eating and it irritates me so bad because no matter what I drink it’s super dry for a while after eating. 

[Don]

I get dry mouth from medications I take.  Dry mouth reduces saliva which is necessary for dental health.  I used to take anticholinergics (ditropan) for bladder issues thanks to my autonomic dysfunction. 😔.  But I can’t anymore because that and my lithium damaged my teeth.  I tried to take good care of them but I ended up with a lot a cavities.  I’ve put about $1500 into my teeth in the last couple years.  I know others have it worse.  

[KnickKnack]

I've had severe dry mouth issues for years now, even before my POTS symptoms became prominent. I would feel thirsty WHILE I was drinking water. Got tested twice for diabetes because of it and went through extensive allergy testing as well. But it would get so bad I would be near tears. Using mouthwash and lozenges specifically for dry mouth symptoms seems to help. Coconut water and aloe drinks can offer some relief as well.

[yogini]

It’s common to be thirsty but the kind if dry mouth you describe doesn’t sound typical.  Best to check with your dr to be safe.