 |
 |
Bonnie C It is good to see you professionals supporting each other - especially when one's been challenged. Bonnie R daughter of Jim 77/3 In a message dated 3/19/99 1:17:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Dear Will: > > According to everything that I've read and have heard in conferences, (I've > read and heard Dr. Abraham Lieberman, specifically, address this topic), > Kathrynne is correct when she stated that Parkinson's does not cause > excessive salivation. As a matter of fact, she is right on target that the > saliva does indeed pool under the tongue. Normally, throughout the day, we > all subconsciously swallow at regular intervals. In those with PD, due to > the increased incidence of swallowing difficulties, the tendency is not to > swallow as frequently, therefore leading to a build up of saliva. > > When you mentioned post pallidotomy speech and swallowing problems in > relation to "excessive saliva" (drooling), it reinforces this concept. > With post-operative swallowing difficulties, there may appear to be an > increase in saliva, however, once again, it is the decrease in the > automatic swallowing. > > The good news is that there are certain 'exercises' that can be done to > help this problem and a Speech Pathologist can show you those exercises. > > An excessive secretion of saliva is called 'ptyalism' and according to > Taber's medical dictionary there are several conditions in which this can > occur. It also can be caused by some medications (Taber's mentions > mercury, iodides and pilocarpine). > > I know that for so many people, drooling is quite a problem. In Dr. > Lieberman's book (Parkinson's Disease - The Complete Gude for Patients and > Caregivers), he suggests that during the day sucking on a hard piece of > candy will help as it will force the person to "remember" to swallow. He > also suggests that for those who are in advanced stages of PD with this > problem, that their caregivers periodically remove the saliva with a bulb > syringe. Also the suggestion is made to have the person sleep on their side > so that they will not have a choking episode. > > Warm Regards, > > Bonnie Cunningham > NPF > > For once I beg to differ with your esteemed opinion. Since childhood I have > experienced periods of increased saliva production. This is usually brought > about by some reason, like biting into a delicious piece of food. It used > to be so strong that on opening my mouth saliva would come out > in a spray. Another occasion would be a visit to the dentist where the > saliva production could be awkward and probably was psychosomatically > induced. In those cases there was a real cause of increased saliva > production and not a sudden cessation of swallowing. > > I have known several PWP's, who had undergone palidotomies and developed > excessive saliva production as an aftereffect of the operation, along with > speech and swallowing problems. I cannot go along with the explanation that > the drooling these people exhibited was just caused by a sudden diminishing > of swallowing and I don't understand that so many neuro's and other experts > seize on the easy explanation. > > I wonder if there are more people that take issue with this. > > Will A. Kuipers Dallas, Texas 78 / 71 / 70 > <[log in to unmask]> >