Peg questions

[PDaddy]

1. my nose runs after I've been given water, is that normal?
2. I tend to breath my mouth when I sleep, and I get a completely dry, how can I moisten it without swallowing?

[BethU]

1) Maybe propping your head up higher will help, and don't bend forward after eating for half hour at least. I get a lot of runny noses ... and there are more nose surprises to come, but I'll let you discover them one at a time. There is some little muscle that is supposed to prevent this that gets weakened with ALS, too, so you can't win for losing with this stupid disease.

2) Me too. I think ice chips are safe. You can also get travel swabs, for brushing teeth. They are soothing to gums and tongue. There are (I think) OTC dry mouth sprays you can spritz in your mouth. Most mouth washes contain alcohol, so they dry your mouth out further and also change the PH in your mouth, so I've stopped using them. Dissolving something in your mouth is ok if it doesn't increase saliva. I use Hershey kisses, but they do thicken saliva, and I think I'm really not "allowed" to have them. Avoid citrus flavors.

[paulw]

My wife does not have any problem with nose running after water.

We purchased some mouth swabs to keep her mouth moist.

[Erica]

Pdaddy,BethU,
Biotene mouthwash( doesn't contain alcohol) is excellent. It's very moisturizing and antibacterial.

[asantiago]

You didn't mention it so I'm guessing you don't sleep with a bipap, but if you do get one with a built in humidifier. You might also want to run a humidifier by your bed at night, the vicks hot steam ones are pretty inexpensive and really make the room moist. I would do this in addition to trying the mouth swabs.