Dry Mouth Syndrome:Who Woulda Thunk?

A quality of life issue recently snuck up on me despite a few obvious clues that should have raised a red flag. An upper back molar didn't feel quite right. What prompted me to do so I am not quite sure, but I reached into my mouth with thumb and forefinger and gave it a gentle wiggle and tug. Lo and behold I pulled my own tooth. "How could this happen" I asked my dentist. "I see you regularly and submit to innumerable x-rays." His response as I recall was: "X-rays do not detect all flaws and defects."A week or two later during repair work on my self initiated extraction my dentist uttered "dry mouth" more or less as a casual observation. "It can cause bad breath, but this does not appear to be a problem in your case." A few months later during a "deep cleaning" my hygienist detected a sizable cavity in a molar opposite the one recently repaired. I attributed these phenomena to the aging process and unfortunate luck.
Over time I became aware of (other) symptoms of dry mouth. Gradually upon awakening in the morning I noticed my mouth becoming less and less moist to the point that my tongue was beginning to stick to the roof of my mouth. Duh...it is at this point I got the message. Accordingly I Googled "Dry Mouth". Lo and behold one of the primary causes listed is an abundance of medications. The next order of business... who to consult? My primary doctor? My oncologist? My dentist, who had already been given ample opportunity to weigh in? My fellow PCa warriors on the internet? I chose the latter. My outreach effort produced the following informational exchange:
My posting:
I have recently begun to experience dry mouth. Google says a common cause for this malady is medications. There can be little doubt but that I am now and have been on a protocol which contains a large number of anticancer agents and supplements ala Dr. Snuffy Myers.
Anyone else on this site experience dry mouth? If so, what did you do about it?
My outreach produced the following two helpful responses, edited slightly for brevity and relevance:
--"I generally do not have an issue with dry mouth, but my wife does. She recently started using a product called Xylimelts, which is working very well for her. It is commonly available at many drugstores or online."
--"I get a dry mouth particularly at night and find that Xylimelts work longer and better for me than other mouth washes and sprays. One between the cheek and gum at bedtime usually does the job"
For the record I have the following concerns regarding this resolution of my malady:
(1) It seems rather odd to treat a problem of too much medication by adding another medication (six pills per day)
(2) The Xylimelts packaging contains the following qualifying statements:
    (A) This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
    (B) Product does not produce and may reduce the risk of tooth decay
Nonetheless I have begun taking Xylimelts which appear to be my best alternative. Upcoming dental appointments should provide information on the effectiveness of this product and whether I initiated treatment soon enough.
Stay tuned.

Update as of June 12,2020

After a little experimentation with Xliments, I settled on one tablet between gum and cheek nightly as recommended by the fellow PCa warrior cited above. Later I supplemented this solution with a single room humidifier purchased at a local Walmart's for well under $100.00. A third change involved an increase in my daily water intake by eight ounces or so.

 Thankfully with these changes my dry mouth syndrome is well under control...Thank you very much!

 

Hope Springs Eternal and the Beat Goes On--La de da de de,la de da de da

Recently I became aware of an option wherein newly diagnosed PCa patients as a matter of routine can have their cases reviewed by a Multidisciplinary Review Board (MdRB). This service is provided by a large, well known hospital located here in mid Michigan--one I am familiar with because (1) I  consulted one of their oncologists in my search to replace Dr. "Snuffy" Myers upon his retirement and (2) I underwent radiation at this facility for my gynecomestia.

In my ongoing quest to determine what to do when Xtandi is no longer effective, I thought perhaps such a review would help me to choose among the options I have under consideration and provide me with one or more solutions that have thus far escaped my attention. It also occurred to me that one or more of the MdRB members may be aware of a clinical trial well suited to my PCa dilemma.

I contacted the nurse coordinator of the MdRB to determine if a review of my case could be arranged. Shortly thereafter much to my pleasant surprise she advised me by phone that a multidisciplinary review could be arranged.

A week or so later without further contact I received a phone call from the nurse coordinator who informed me the MdRB had met and determined :

--My best choice when Xtandi fails would be  Lupron

--No clinical trials were currently offered by their facility that suit my diagnosis and PCa circumstances.

While the MdRB review provides valuable feedback for which I am most grateful, I expected a more comprehensive report; I expected and would have appreciated an opportunity to appear before the board to discuss some of the more attractive alternatives I have considered in the recent past. As one example it would have been helpful to hear what the board thought about H D Brachytherapy for me and my circumstances. Had I been given an opportunity to appear before the board I would have advised them of my long term deep-seated aversion to Lupron. I had also hoped one or more board members would be knowledgeable about clinical trials on a much broader scale than only those offered by their facility.

Stay tuned.
*Google the title "The Beat Goes On", a 1967 Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Hit, and listen to the lyrics by Sonny and Cher.

Another Chapter in a PCA Warrior's Continuing Battle

In my (layman's) judgement Xtandi , the primary anti-cancer agent in my current protocol, has begun to fail. For the past year and a half my PSA has registered a reassuring <.01. My most recent  PSA registered .03. A biannual appointment with my oncologist provided an opportunity to get professional feedback on my research effort and focus the discussion on what to do next. Accordingly in preparation for our appointment I developed  a proposed agenda.  The primary response of my oncologist was as follows: "In my judgement your PSA remains undetectable. There is no clinical difference between .01 and .03."

My proposed agenda* with my oncologist's responses (and/or lack thereof) appears below: 

I. Clinical Studies

Are there any promising clinical studies we should consider?
NO RESPONSE

II. Erleada

This medication was suggested as a possibility at our last appointment. I have two concerns:

--Is this drug likely to work following the failure of a similar drug like Xtandi

--Its potential effect on brain function. Roughly two years ago I had a stroke-like episode while on Trental and Jarrow Torosorb prescribed by Dr. Myers to relieve a urinary problem. The episode consisted of a late sudden onset of dizziness preceded by a gentle thump-like strike to the head. A subsequent brain scan revealed (1) no indication of a stroke and (2) I no longer have the brain of a 40 year old.
NO RESPONSE

III. Brachytherapy
Note:In my proposed agenda I included a research study by Kollmeier with fairly positive outcome statistics. This report appears in an earlier journal entry consequently I chose not to include it here.
FOR THIS ALTERNATIVE YOU NEED TO CONSULT A RADIOLOGIST

 IV. Lupron

Based on research following my initial diagnosis, I have steadfastly avoided this option. For brevity's sake let's just say the reported side effects never appealed to me. In addition my previous physician, Dr. Snuffy Myers, was no fan of Lupron based on his research-related scientific background and his personal experience with this drug.

NO RESPONSE

Just prior to my oncologist appointment I received an email from one of my long-time Cyberspace Buddies, a former judge, which reads in part as follows:

"My oldest son has done a significant amount of studying in the science of herbology.  In fact, he has worked for several years at a place called Mountain Gardens in Western North Carolina.  Les is about as level headed a person as there is on this planet and does not dispense advice lightly.

A person Les  knows in Tallahassee is suffering from prostate and bone cancer.  The gentleman is in his 70's. His PSA two months ago was in the 300+ range.   Les suggested that this gentleman consider taking liquid doses of Reishi mushroom along with a liquid dose of Turkey Tail mushroom.  After two months, his PSA reading has dropped to 30.  He has told Les that he has renewed vigor and energy.  Clearly the mushrooms are doing something to charge the immune system."
In brief, unlike anything I have done in the past, I implemented this homeopathic option six weeks ago. As soon as I can determine the impact of this decision I will provide an update.
Stay tuned. 
* Edited to minimize redundancy and exclude one unrelated agenda item.
Update Sept 1,2019
My PSA has remained stable for the past three months. This pleasant surprise may be due to:
  1. My oncologist was correct
  2. The mushroom extracts are working 
  3. A combination thereof
The reader's guess is as good as mine. I have a strong suspicion which alternative is most accurate, but why spoil the fun;you be the judge.