Burn Baby Burn
Burn Baby Burn
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.
