About 2 years ago I had this problem that feels like something stuck in my throat. Soon after that started I got what is called Burning Mouth Syndrome. It feels like my tongue, and sometimes my lips, are burning. After a series of doctors and tests I've had not answers.

Turns out this is a rare but known issue. Usually it affects menopausal women, but it does affect men. It is speculated that it's a nerve firing issue. The throat part makes me constantly have to clear my throat. The burning is constant pain. It is depressing. I just went to a neurologist and I'm waiting on some tests for vitamin deficiency but she speculates that's not my issue (I don't look malnourished).

I found some groups on Facebook and the bummer of it is no one has found a cure or barely any treatments that help. Some anti-depressants and anti-convulsives help. But the side effects are not something I want to deal with.

Anyhow, it seems nothing can be done for it so I'm just venting.

I've heard that "magic mouthwash" might help with mouth sores from chemotherapy. What is it?
Answer From Karthik Giridhar, M.D.
Magic mouthwash is the term given to a solution used to treat mouth sores caused by some forms of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Mouth sores (oral mucositis) can be extremely painful and can result in an inability to eat, speak or swallow.

Magic mouthwash doesn't have a standard formula, but it usually contains at least three of these basic ingredients:

An antihistamine or anticholinergic agent, which may help relieve pain
A local anesthetic to reduce pain and discomfort
An antacid that helps ensure the other ingredients adequately coat the inside of your mouth
An antifungal to reduce fungal growth
A corticosteroid to treat inflammation
An antibiotic to kill bacteria around the sore
Most formulations of magic mouthwash are intended to be used every four to six hours, and to be held in your mouth for one to two minutes before being either spit out or swallowed. It's recommended that you don't eat or drink for 30 minutes after using magic mouthwash so that the medicine has time to produce an effect.

Side effects of magic mouthwash may include problems with taste, a burning or tingling sensation in the mouth, drowsiness, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea.

Magic mouthwash may provide some relief, but it's unclear how effective it is. Studies of magic mouthwash have had conflicting results. Some have found no benefit. One recent study found that it was better at relieving pain than was a flavored water mouthwash for mouth sores in people receiving radiation to the head and neck.

Since there isn't a standard formula for the solution, it's hard to draw conclusions across the studies. Some medical organizations don't recommend magic mouthwash because there isn't enough evidence that it works.

There are several versions of magic mouthwash. Some are available in pre-measured kits that can be mixed together by pharmacists, while others are prepared to order by a pharmacist. If it's determined that magic mouthwash might be helpful, your doctor will write a prescription.

Talk with your doctor about your specific cancer treatments and which solutions for coping with mouth sores might be best for you.

WORKS WELL FOR CANCER PAIENTS. GIVE IT A TRY. Similar symptoms

I've heard of the magic mouthwash. I've heard of maybe 50 different things that work for some people and not others. For my issue, there is no sore, no physical observable manifestation at all. To all doctors, everything looks normal. Things like magic mouthwash may hide symptoms temporarily but cause numbness, which isn't really what I'm hoping for.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

Side effects of magic mouthwash may include [i]<snip>[/i} constipation, diarrhea, and nausea.

Sounds pretty good. I like all of those.

quote:

I've heard of the magic mouthwash. I've heard of maybe 50 different things that work for some people and not others. For my issue, there is no sore, no physical observable manifestation at all. To all doctors, everything looks normal. Things like magic mouthwash may hide symptoms temporarily but cause numbness, which isn't really what I'm hoping for.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Numbness is not a long term problem. You may continue to suffer while the doctors try and find a cause. BTW the cause is felt to be caused by nerve root irritation.

I guess I could ask about it. They won’t find a cause for me. But it does seem to be a nerve issue for people with my symptoms. I’ve exhausted all the doctors and tests. So far…

ENT: omeprazole for suspected acid reflux. Also told my long uvula may be irritant. Them CT of throat. Then Barium swallow.

GI doc: Upper endoscopy with bravo (pH probe). Had H. Pylori treated. No luck

Chiropractor for neck adjustments. No help.

Back to ENT for uvula removal. No help.

Yesterday saw Neurologist. Lots of tests for vitamin deficiency but not really suspected.

So at this point I’m done except trying certain things to lessen symptoms.

Luckily for me the pain is irritating and depressing but not usually so bad I can’t function. Others have it worse.

quote:

So at this point I’m done except trying certain things to lessen symptoms.

Symptoms can be made worse by seeing different doctors who all have their ideas. Eventually the symptoms go away with no obvious treatment.Best of luck.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

So at this point I’m done except trying certain things to lessen symptoms.

Symptoms can be made worse by seeing different doctors who all have their ideas. Eventually the symptoms go away with no obvious treatment.Best of luck.

Yup I’ve heard that and hope that’s what happens eventually.

Yeah, I had some significant mouth problems as a result of another treatment I was getting. It was eventually diagnosed as a thrush after some time, the culture took a while to test. All I remember about the magic mouthwash is how much I hated it and no relief. Meds that should have addressed/cured it did nothing and I went with something that best dealt with the symptoms. It did clear up in time.

You’ve had this 2 years? I was very sick a year or so ago, and I took some OTC medication I’ve never used before that was supposed to help with symptoms like runny nose.
Within 1 day of taking it I had those symptoms. It absolutely sucked, lasted about 2 months, and I was convinced I had thrush. I just couldn’t find any side effects like that associated with that med, but that was the only thing I could thing of that might’ve caused it by drying out my mucous membranes excessively, leaving room for candida to flourish?


I’ll look to see if I have it and post it here. I’ll never knowingly take it again, but my spouse had no trouble with it, so I just put a big X on the label to remind me.

I really feel for you; I remember being very depressed thinking I’d never recover from it. My dad lost his sense of smell many years ago from a very bad sinus infection, and I’ve always felt bad that he never recovered it. Losing a primary sense is a really big deal.

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
You’ve had this 2 years? I was very sick a year or so ago, and I took some OTC medication I’ve never used before that was supposed to help with symptoms like runny nose.
Within 1 day of taking it I had those symptoms. It absolutely sucked, lasted about 2 months, and I was convinced I had thrush. I just couldn’t find any side effects like that associated with that med, but that was the only thing I could thing of that might’ve caused it by drying out my mucous membranes excessively, leaving room for candida to flourish?


I’ll look to see if I have it and post it here. I’ll never knowingly take it again, but my spouse had no trouble with it, so I just put a big X on the label to remind me.

I really feel for you; I remember being very depressed thinking I’d never recover from it. My dad lost his sense of smell many years ago from a very bad sinus infection, and I’ve always felt bad that he never recovered it. Losing a primary sense is a really big deal.

Yes, 2 years. There are people on the Facebook group I'm on that have mentioned over 9 years and they have it so bad they are suicidal. Mine isn't that bad most of the time.

I’m very sorry to hear that. I recall waking up with this every morning for the 2 month time frame and thinking “is this ever going to end, or is this the way it’s going to be?”

I hope your doctors can make sense of this and provide some relief.
The product I mentioned in my initial post that I determined was the culprit was Mucinex.

That being said, I have no idea if it’s true that Mucinex caused the problem; it may very well have been coincidental, but I’ve never taken it before or since, and had no other issues since, either.

I’m sure your docs have already looked into the possibility of it being thrush, but maybe just double check. I don’t know if you have any immune system issues, but candida can easily overgrow if provided the right environment and a weakened immune system.

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
I’m very sorry to hear that. I recall waking up with this every morning for the 2 month time frame and thinking “is this ever going to end, or is this the way it’s going to be?”

I hope your doctors can make sense of this and provide some relief.
The product I mentioned in my initial post that I determined was the culprit was Mucinex.

That being said, I have no idea if it’s true that Mucinex caused the problem; it may very well have been coincidental, but I’ve never taken it before or since, and had no other issues since, either.

I’m sure your docs have already looked into the possibility of it being thrush, but maybe just double check. I don’t know if you have any immune system issues, but candida can easily overgrow if provided the right environment and a weakened immune system.

No immune issues, no fungal nor bacterial infections. No visible symptoms. The neurologist is the only one that had heard of this and she did some research before my visit as I was her first case. It's categorized as primary burning mouth syndrome, meaning no other cause is evident.

I sincerely wish you the best. This is an awful illness, and most can’t empathize, because as you say, it’s rare. It’s one of those “growing older” things where I thought to myself:

“Why the fuck didn’t anyone mention this possibility to me?”

Just so I could prepare, or work on preventing.
Please keep us (or me, anyway) posted. I’d be thrilled to hear if the neurologist figured something out that worked for you.
Take care.

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:
I sincerely wish you the best. This is an awful illness, and most can’t empathize, because as you say, it’s rare. It’s one of those “growing older” things where I thought to myself:

“Why the fuck didn’t anyone mention this possibility to me?”

Just so I could prepare, or work on preventing.
Please keep us (or me, anyway) posted. I’d be thrilled to hear if the neurologist figured something out that worked for you.
Take care.

Thanks so much! I will definitely update.

Maybe a Dentist would have some ideas?

Hoping for the best!

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. That’s something I never knew existed. Any temporary relief from high alcohol, such as listerine mouthwash or even whiskey, for that matter?

it's probably nuts but I wonder if you chewed up a hot chili such as a Serrano might "burn out" the nerves in you mouth for a few hours.

Don't know how I missed this one, I also have suffered from this, mine comes and goes with as much as half a year in between bouts. Been happening for 2 years Thought it was dental, or other medication because it started after switching Cholesterol types, nothing helped. I'm going for a biopsy next week on an area of my upper throat the dentist noticed during a cleaning...Don't know if it's related, right now the burning is gone.

Folks, its hard to find the words to describe how bad this can be and how much it can effect your life, including depression. And for me, the anxiety level is way up over this biopsy thing...
I was bullet proof until 70, I'm 70 now and seem to be a target for any disease out there..

60

quote:

Originally posted by 1860ARMY:
Don't know how I missed this one, I also have suffered from this, mine comes and goes with as much as half a year in between bouts. Been happening for 2 years Thought it was dental, or other medication because it started after switching Cholesterol types, nothing helped. I'm going for a biopsy next week on an area of my upper throat the dentist noticed during a cleaning...Don't know if it's related, right now the burning is gone.

Folks, its hard to find the words to describe how bad this can be and how much it can effect your life, including depression. And for me, the anxiety level is way up over this biopsy thing...
I was bullet proof until 70, I'm 70 now and seem to be a target for any disease out there..

60

Yup, dentist saw nothing and was no help. I'm on a few Facebook pages and everyone with this is frustrated. Some people do have other issues like thrush or sort of infection. But most of us have no other symptoms. Mine is strange because of the feeling of something stuck in the throat, which is usually acid reflux.

I'm trying the omeprazole again just to rule out reflux one more time. Recently the the burning hasn't been that bad. It's always there but the stuck throat issue seems worse.

As far as alcohol providing relief, yes. I drink and when I drink I don't notice the symptoms at all. Then the next day they symptoms seem better. But then the day after that they get worse.

As far as hot pepper causing it, maybe for a few hours but not a few years.