Excessive Saliva for 2 yrs – Not from GERD – Help!

Posted by peggyella @peggyella, Jan 12, 2019

I’ve had severe GERD for 30 years and been on just about every kind of acid reduction medication. One of the side effects of long-term use is osteoporosis which I developed over 10 years ago. I’ve broken several bones since then. It all started with a chronic cough when I was in my early 30s, and after being treated with antibiotics many times with no success, I was sent to an ENT specialist who diagnosed me with GERD. I thought that was ridiculous but when I started on medication, the cough went away. Unfortunately, the break-through periods of burning acid has caused many other stomach condition.

Two years ago I started coughing again but this time I could not lie down at all and had to sleep sitting up for 10 months while they tested me trying to figure out what it was and what to do. Eventually, in January 2018, I had a fundoplication (1/3 of my stomach was wrapped around my esophagus). It did stop the cough but not another primary symptom that I still have after two years:

HAS ANYONE HEARD OF SOMEONE HAVING EXCESSIVE SALIVA IN THEIR MOUTH CONSTSNTLY? AS THE DAY GOES ON AND IT WORSENS, I FEEL LIKE I’M DROWNING! I take 20 mg. omeperazole twice daily with no relief.

My gastroenterologist decided it was not the result of reflux but probably gastroparesis which I’ve also had for many years. He said the only solution was a PACEMAKER implanted in my stomach to make me digest food. I have put that off for almost a year because it seems radical, and from my research it is not always effective and varies from person to person.

I was also seen by an ENT again who thought it might be from my salivary glands secreating too much saliva. He did a scope on me and they appear normal. He said they do not go inside them unless they suspect cancer. So I went on a medication to reduce the amount of saliva one secretes. It did not help so they increased the dose and that did not help either.

I am back at square one AFTER TWO YEARS AND AM GETTING DESPERATE! I don’t want to go to the wrong specialist. Have any of you ever experienced this or heard of it? And does anyone have any ideas what this could be from?

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There are lots of things that can cause excessive salvation. I had a problem with it and other symptoms that added up to a diagnosis of Parkinson's. I also have excessive saliva when my nutcracker esophagus flares up and food won't go through my esophagus to my stomach. Food and liquids back up and I sometimes drool. NE is when your esophagus has the correct motions to move food down but the pressure is too high. Esophageal spasm is when the movement is uncoordinated but the pressure is very high.

In any case I would also talk to your general md. GI's think about digestive stuff. Go's look at the whole picture.

Just my opinion

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@konniehoover

There are lots of things that can cause excessive salvation. I had a problem with it and other symptoms that added up to a diagnosis of Parkinson's. I also have excessive saliva when my nutcracker esophagus flares up and food won't go through my esophagus to my stomach. Food and liquids back up and I sometimes drool. NE is when your esophagus has the correct motions to move food down but the pressure is too high. Esophageal spasm is when the movement is uncoordinated but the pressure is very high.

In any case I would also talk to your general md. GI's think about digestive stuff. Go's look at the whole picture.

Just my opinion

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Thank you so much. I will ask my doctor about these possibilities. I don’t know what to do, so any information I can get is helpful. Peg

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I always have a ton of saliva but I was told it was because of acid reflux? I am taking protonixs twice a day but the saliva issue remains!

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I dont have that problem but I also was taking prontonix
40 mg twice a day. I found that the dose of medication made my skin on my arms very thin and it would start bleeding without my knowing why. When I was able to drop down to once a day, the problem stopped. I didn’t know what was causing until I came down to 40mg per day. Has anyone else had this problem with the medication?

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Peggyella, that sounds really awful. Have you found any help meanwhile? I've just started with this excessive salivating, as you wrote, it feels like drowning. I asked my very on-the-ball gastro MD if it's to do with hiatus hernia / GERD and he said no. Internet searches haven't achieved much. I don't take PPI's, they make me feel terrible, and just take Gaviscon Advance last thing at night (the worst time for salivating). Would love to hear that you've made progress!

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I don't know if this helps. But eating meat will cause excess saliva. My mom and me both do it. I've noticed though only when we eat meat of any kind. Hope this helps

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Thank you! I'll certainly keep my eyes open for this. It never happens after breakfast (which is always oats & banana)...

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@moragsmum The body usually produces from 2 to 4 pints of saliva each day .. that saliva helps make things easier to eat, helps with good teeth, and many other good things.. My dentist says I produce a lot of saliva that gets in their way but they just vacuum it out and all is well. I had a lot of GERD and I had a botched surgery that gave me Post-operative gastroparesis... now I am so thankful for that saliva as I have to eat everything with a lot of liquid, sauce, gravy or such.. Try this link.. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-saliva#1

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@ken82

@moragsmum The body usually produces from 2 to 4 pints of saliva each day .. that saliva helps make things easier to eat, helps with good teeth, and many other good things.. My dentist says I produce a lot of saliva that gets in their way but they just vacuum it out and all is well. I had a lot of GERD and I had a botched surgery that gave me Post-operative gastroparesis... now I am so thankful for that saliva as I have to eat everything with a lot of liquid, sauce, gravy or such.. Try this link.. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/what-is-saliva#1

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That's something I never knew - the 2-4 pints daily - wow! I realize why you're grateful for it. Will check the WebMD link.

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i have this excessive saliva for two and a half years. i have been to ent, dental ,oral surgeon, primary care doctors and have no solution, any help from anyone

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