[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=NMSMViyCVNI]
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!
27 Comments
Leave a Comment
Archives
Tags
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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!
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
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!
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.
Greetings –
I have been experiencing BMS since August. Am 54 – Menopausal and stressed. My Dentists never heard of the sensations I am experiencing tongue-wise. My Kaiser Physician was much more knowledgeable – gave me Magic Mouthwash which dulls the tongue and referred me on to an ENT (who has 2 other patients with BMS). If they can’t find a physical cause – will place me on Clonazapam or Neurontin to settle the brain down. My Physician said to relax – not cancer of the tongue. Some days better than others. Check out another Blog site – Emotional Health – Burning Mouth Syndrom.
Hang in there – you are right – some days are better than others.
Karen
Karen. Thanks for your comment. I think that it’s critical to spread the word about these lesser known symptoms so that practitioners can intervene with effective steps. Hope that it settles for you!
Oh My Gosh!!! In this world of internet blogging, someone actual responded with a personal message. Thanks Liz.
When my physician advised we should try a few physical approaches first (taking B 12 vitamins, having a CAT Scan to rule out some kind of cranial blockage, ruling out GERD, etc.), she noted that we may end up on a psychotropic or anti-convulsant med path as the causation may be neurological. With a Masters in Psychology, I work in the Mental Health field – I asked the psychiatrist and the psychologist at work if they had ever heard of BMS – no! So the critical move for folks afflicted is hooking up with someone who knows of the syndrome and can offer some approaches to cope. Also, accessing all the info (including the Mayo Clinic site) on the internet can make for a better patient able to advocate for oneself.
Stress can really set off the burning after days of just a mild salty, metallic sensation. Biofeedback to help me refocus my thoughts and knowing the acute stage will pass has moved me from being tearful in November to managing much better. Take Care folks and please use this site to support one another.
Just want to reiterate Karen’s last thoughts: Take Care folks and please use this site to support one another.
Thank you Karen!
I too have burning tongue syndrome, it started a few months ago, I recently turned 44 & am experiecing symptoms of menopause. I have been prescribed Gabapetin ( anti-epileptic seizure medication & am currently taking amitryptiline. I also suffer from Fibromyalgia, I don’t know if the two are related. I am very frustrated, because I have yet to find a treatment that really works. If you know of any, please advise me. Laura Everitt
I have been having burning tongue for just about a year now. I thought it was my toothpaste, so I switched it, but still got BMS. It flares up and feels as if the sides and tip of my tongue are being stung. It lasts for a few days and then goes away. Lately, in the past month or so I have also been having a weird metallic taste in my mouth. From the sounds of it on all the sites, BMS combined with my night sweats and irregular periods I am going through perimenopause at the tender age of 41. I’m going to the Dr. next week/
I have been having a burning sensation in my mouth for about 9 years now. Have been to every type of dr. I could think of. I first thought I must have tumor pressing on my teeth. It all started after my father died. I know now it will not kill me and I can deal with it, but I hope to get rid of alot of the pain. April 7,2009 – Today I set down with my family Dr. and told him I know I have Burning Mouth Syndrom. I had taken him all the info I had on it last week for him to study and see if he agreed with me and yes he does. We had tried different medications over the years, but this is the first time I feel like we are going to work together to see if we can find something that will help. I have learned through the years to manage the pain ok by chewing gum. I am starting on Clonazepam .5mg 1/2 tablet tonight for 1 week them increase to 1 tab. for a week then 1 tab. morning and night for 6 weeks. See what happens, if it does not help, we will mark it off our list and try something else. I feel very good about this and hope will find something that helps. It is good to talk to people that understand. I try not to say alot to friends about it, so they think I am fine, unless they ask. Pray alot to Our Dear Lord. The first dr. said that he thought it would go away just like it started> Thought he was nut, but maybe right. We just have to keep trying.
Thank you for sharing that Kay. I am happy that you have solved the mystery. All the best for some resolution and keep us posted!
Cheers and good health!
I’ve been suffering from what I think is BMS since last fall. I only found out about the term last night. I’m already on Lyrica for Fibromyalgia, and my doctor has me taking B vitamins. Neither makes a difference. Has anyone got any information on a possible link between BMS and Fibromyalgia? — Thanks, Joanne
Joanne. There is a wide body literature on oral symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Go to the National Library of Medicine site and do a search.
Here’s the deal – have not written for a while – wanted to get all my tests done – Sinus CT negative; Blood Tests (including B vitamin) – negative except for Rheumatoid factor (reflecting some inflamation somewhere in my body (no doubt my arthritis in my back – ouch); MRI on my brain – negative last week. So, told the Docs if they find the cure for BMS, they just might win the Noble Prize for Medicine. So, no causation found. Symptoms ebb and flow. As you all know, that means some days better than others. Am trying Neurontin, we’ll see how that goes. Anyone else out there in cyberspace that wants to weigh in? Ciao!
My symptoms – sensations of itching, burning and cut lips [lips look perfectly normal] – started about 9 months ago, in hindsight after a lot of stress at work. I am 61.
I had a series of blood tests, which came back ok, and was then referred to the Eastman Dental Clinic [UCH] in London who diagnosed BMS.
They advised an anti-depressant: I take 20mg Paroxitine [SSSR] a day; I also have a fortnightly session with a cranial osteopath which is helping. I am now going to start taking alpha-lipoic acid, a supplement [anti-oxidant] recommended by Eastman Clinic.
The symptoms get worse as the day wears on and by early evening is almost intolerable. I often give in and take Ibrofen, but it doesn’t help much.
The result of the burning lips is that I now have an almost compulsive obsession/habit to purse my lips constantly – the sensation is as if I am pulling apart 2 pieces of Velcro – it hurts but you find yourself having to do it again – and again. I am aware it looks really wierd but I can’t seem to stop.
Does anyone else have these symptoms?
Hilary
Hillary -thanks for sharing. This seems to be more common than most people think. I wonder if acupuncture might be helpful? Have you looked into that in conjunction with the osteopathy you are pursuing? I’ve also heard anecdotally that ice helps.
Good health and best wishes to you.
I am hoping that someone can assist. I have read all your writings and I am getting discouraged. I am 49 years old, I am not premenapausal, on 7/1 I woke up with a soar throat and being hoarse. I was very tired and could not wake up completely. I called in sick to work and went to the doctor. The inside of my mouth was swollen like I was having an allegic reaction to something. My tongue was swollen and burning at the tip as like I just drank scalding hot coffee, my speech was slurred and my daughter thought I was having a stroke. Went to the doctor and he thought it was a food allergy, put me on medtrol pack and atarax. I felt like there was a lump in my throat and that my throat was closing.
A week later and still no great relief. Went back to the doctor, he thought their must be something with my vocal cords, so I am being referred to an ENT doctor. The inside of my mouth and teeth feel dirty and gritty. I still cannot taste everything and lost my appetite, no problem for that, but something is wrong. In June of 2009 I had a weird episode where I was extremely dizzy and was throwing up. I was admitted with possible heart issues everything checked out perfect. No clogged arteries, cholesteral is 109, blood pressure 116/76, everything was excellent. Doctor said he thought that it may be a stone in my inner ear. Accepted this and went about my life then on 7/1 this weird sensation in my mouth. It is frustrating because it is there and then it flares up. I am constantly trying to wash out this feeling. It also makes me drool, not real sexy or appealing. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciate.
Thanks,
Libby
Libby I am not a physician so i can’t give you medical advice. However, since you posted this comment under the burning mouth syndrome post I would encourage you to speak to a dentist; perhaps s/he can lend some assistance. Good luck and good health.
I’ve had bms, and I had it twice–about 10 years in between the episodes,
Each time I had it lasted for about three years. The first time I had it,
I was definitely in menopause–I had some other very severe menopausal
symptoms at the same time. I had hot flashes that were so severe that they
put me out–I fainted. Night sweats–the second time–ten years later, I
wasn’t in menopause, and I don’t know why it came back. I think that it
is definitely hormonal–they don’t know that much about female physiology–
and they don’t seem to care. I spent a lot of money trying to get some
relief from it, and the only thing that helped was dope of some kind. Codeine,
the epilepsy medicine, –it is a horrible thing but does go away eventually.
What a relief to know there are other women out there who have been suffering the same horrible symptoms that I have. I have had problems for one and a half years and feel as though I will never be normal again. I have the thick saliva, am constantly swallowing, my teeth feel cold, numb and my tongue hurts as does my palate. I’m going to start klonopin..no one here appears o know anything about this disease(I’ll call it an affliction) Will I ever be normal again?????
Hi –
This is an excellent posting page. Liz is very supportive.
I am going to suggest you also check out the Everyday Health BMS page. Interesting you commented on cold teeth. Prior to my launching into the unfortunate land of BMS last summer, I also started experiencing the cold teeth syndrome when I was stressed – I’d forgotten that that was a precurser to the onset of BMS.
Thanks for your comment Karen. Will definitely look into the Everyday Health BMS page.
Hi Liz and All –
There’s a BMS Questionnaire running on: http://www.everydayhealth.com/CS/forums/15/323890/ShowThread.aspx for the next month. Would love to have you all answer some questions to help try to find a common thread all of us may have.
Am continuing to take 300mg of Neurontin at night time – seems to settle my brain down so I don’t focus on the BMS as I try to fall asleep. I don’t think it shuts down the symptoms. That’s what the neurosurgeon hoped it would do. But, I’ll take the settling down of the brain as second best at this point – anything to get to sleep. Have only used the Magic Mouthwash a handful of times (during a major flare-up) since starting the Neurontin.
Take Care Folks,
Karen
Karen – I am reposting this so that folks will visit the questionnaire.
I have had BMS for over 3 years now. Also hav been getting Thrush infections regularly since having it.
Have tried vitimins, antidepressants, supplements, and nothing helps.
Does anyone else get Thrush with this?
Ann – I’ve not heard of the correlation but will definitely look into it.