In my last post, I mentioned that menopause has been linked to altered sensitivity in the roof of the mouth and a decreased ability to detect sweet taste. Interestingly, I heard from a friend that she recently started experiencing a burning sensation in her mouth and that her doctors have been attributing it to menopause. Say what?!
Seems that the Queen Bee of Menopause, the Sister of Love and Destruction, the Lady of Light and Dark, estrogen herself, is wreaking havoc on more than the tastebuds.
I was intrigued so I did a search. I found over 500 articles in the National Library of Medicine Database, PubMed, and also located this article in the journal American Family Physician.
Although burning mouth syndrome primarily appears to primarily affect women after menopause, some 10% to 40% of women in menopause can suffer from its effects. These may may include burning in the tongue or oral mucus membranes, dry mouth and taste alterations.
The causes of burning mouth syndrome range from depression and anxiety to underlying illness, high glucose levels and of course, hormones. Researchers have also identified alterations in the cranial sacral nerves that serve taste and pain sensations as possible culprits.
Currently, unproven treatments include benzodiazapines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and capsaicin. However, I’m wondering whether or not craniosacral therapy might offer an alternative to women who don’t want to go the drug route. Mind you, there are lots of naysayers out there who claim that CST is quakery but having used it successfully for pain, I am a huge fan.
A fellow blogger also directed me to this extensive site on burning mouth syndrome. I can’t vouch for its content but it is definitely worth checking out for backgrounding purposes. Do you suffer from Burning Mouth Syndrome? What are you doing to treat your symptoms? Inquiring minds want to know!
July 8, 2008 - Posted by Liz | women's health | burning mouth syndrome, estrogen, menopause, perimenopause | 4 Comments
4 Comments »
1.
you have to love a woman who ties disco inferno (one of my husband’s faves i might ad) to burning mouth syndrome.
thanks for the post liz. bizarre symptoms are our specialty!
Comment by amyz5 | July 8, 2008
2.
Hi. Your blog came to me because I have a Google Alert set up that sends me anything/everything on Burning Mouth Syndrome. I’m 62 & have had BMS for 3 years. I still teach
elementary school and survive by sipping ice water all day. I also take Lyrica, which has been a big help. Docs think the BMS is related to a neuropathy that developed at the same time as the BMS, following bilateral knee replacements. I love your Burn Baby Burn link to BMS. Your sense of humor will get you through this! Hang in there! Kate Nelson, San Jose, CA where we are burning
Comment by Kate Nelson | July 8, 2008
3.
Hi Kate! Interesting history and thanks for the feedback on what’s working for you. I hope that this can inspire other readers who suffer from BMS. Feel good and thanks for stopping by!
Comment by Miz Liz | July 8, 2008
4.
I have been experiencing these symptoms for 5-6 months and have seen my dentist twice and my internal medicine doctor,neither of which have heard of this condition. Some days are worse than others. Instead of the dry mouth, I have had alot of saliva and constant swallowing. I have also experienced sore throat. My doctor recently gave me some acid reflux medication. In the past few days, the condition seems to be somewhat better. I have not seen an ENT doctor and have been scared of mouth, tongue or throat cancer. I am 62 years old and have been off of estrogen for about 1 1/2 years after being on it for 10+ years.
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Burned Out says: | 2009-05-24 04:11:51 |
| I am a 57 year old female. Two years ago I had extensive cosmetic dental work. Within four months I began to experience a metalic/acidic feel in the front of my mouth. Now, my entire mouth is involved. Other symptoms are mucousy secretions that seem to come from the gum line one day and the next day dries up to form a burning film on my teeth that won''t brush off. This every-other-day pattern is now a given. Has anyone experienced this? I have been to the internist, ENT, allergist, gyno and three dentists. Currently taking Lyrica and Trazodone. They offer no relief. | ||
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Roma says: | 2009-06-12 06:02:58 |
| I was diagnosed with Burning Mouth Syndrome several months ago...and suffered with what felt like blisters on my gums, and a scalded tongue, as well at the very beginning I had a very sore throat and my neck felt swollen (but that symptom did subside after a few weeks). Like all cases of BMS my symptoms got much worse at night and certain foods exacerbated my pain. At the same time, I also had extremely low iron levels...to be exact my level was at 6 when normal levels are from 15-180. Also my WBC count was on the low end. It was recommended that I take 300mg/day of Ferrous Gluconate (iron supplement) as well as try to have a high iron diet. Six months later, when my iron levels are just above normal...I feel that I''m healing...I can still feel what I would say is little bumps on my gums, but no burning anymore. My recommendation is to have your iron levels checked and do the same if your levels are low. Another thing that helped me a bit through the roughest time was 300mg. of Gabapentin twice per day. Good luck to all. |
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Alice N says: | 2009-09-12 18:25:38 |
| I am 70 years old and passed through menopause 15 years ago and have never taken replacement therapy. I have had severe dental work for the last two years and came through it with BMS. It makes me think of a neuropathological condition. So,I am taking gabapentine, 2400 mg but I can barely notice the difference. Rinsing with soda bicarb w/ water 3x/day seems to help. I''m also taking Alpha Lopoic Acid, 600 mg/day. I drink gallons of water and chew sugarless gum. Have all of you bloggers given up? Someone sent Liz this site - it seems good. Does anyone else have any suggestions for treatment? Please answer, I need support! | ||
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Joey says: | 2010-10-12 11:10:19 |
| Been suffering from BMS for 5 years. Involves the roof of my mouth & tongue. Started shortly after having a total hysterectomy. So as far as I am concerned, BMS is an aftermath of the surgery & hormones DO play a big part in the development of this malady. After the surgery, I also developed Gout, Gerd, thinning hair, muscular & tendon problems, memory loss & fatigue. Was on hormones for months after the surgery but with the breast cancer scare, stopped taking them. Any way, before the surgery - no problems! Found that if I stay away from hard foods (potato chips, pretzels, etc) & eat food at warm, not hot temperatures, that my mouth pain is far less a problem. My advice: 1)Drink at least 4-6 glasses of water a day. This was hard for me because I was not a big water drinker. Water cools down the mouth & keeps the rest of your system working better. 2)Must have good oral hygiene too because my teeth & gums were having problems all of a sudden after the surgery So see the dentist at least twice a year. 3)Keep busy so as to keep your mind off the BMS – read, work , live.. $) Stress is also an enemy concerning this BMS problem. Was real upset a few days ago & now my mouth is on fire! Maybe there is something to taking the anti-depressant drugs but I hate taking pills! Maybe, I will try an antidepressant for a few months but do not intend on staying on them for too long. Seems like from other postings that the antidepressants only help a little. They may help for a while but still there is an underlining problem that drugs are only covering up. In the hopes of feeling better & the BMS possibly ending, I lost 30 pounds. But weight lose did not seem to matter in helping with the BMS, at least not in my case. I did feel better all around but that pesky BMS was always there! My thinning hair was the last straw for me. I went to several doctors. All blood tests came back "normal." So I researched & researched. Found that thinning hair accompanied with half your eyebrows missing & fatigue indicates a thyroid problem. But - hey- tests were normal! After the 4th doc visit {different types of doctors] I insisted that I get some thyroid meds, hoping that will help with the BMS too. I told the last doc that I would not leave his office until he tried to give me a low dose of thyroid med [synthroid] to at least see if it helps. Stated to the doctor - "Maybe some of us do not fall into the "normal" range.†He finally conceded & now, my hair has grown back very slowly & some of the fatigue disappeared. Still not sleeping well & the BMS is there to some degree every day. So I really think BMS is a hormonal problem of some sort. Just hope someone finds the answer to this soon! Good luck to all of you. |
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