Question:
Excessive saliva issue.

I am less than one week post-op and have excessive saliva since Day 1. I have no nausea, just a lot of saliva. It has no relation to eating. It is just saliva and not nasal fluid. I saw some older posts on this topic where individuals experienced this issue up to 1 year post-op but have not seen any posts this year. Any advances or suggestions? I am concerned about having to return to work with my newly acquired spit-cup.    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on August 18, 2004)

August 17, 2004
Hi Robert...I had it...gone after 6 mos post op
   — Neese B.

August 18, 2004
Hey Robert, I had this disgusting problem too! It started at 2 weeks post op and lasted for a little over a month. I also suffered with this for both of my pregnancies (before wls). My solution for work-- I kept several roles of paper towels and a pack of large styrofoam cups at my desk. Every time I had to spit, I held a paper towel over my nose and mouth as if I were sneezing and spat into the paper towel. Then I put the paper towel into the big cup then discarded the cup when it was full. Yeah I know horribly disgusting, but a little more dignified than spitting in the cup. Sorry I don't have any real solutions but the good news is it doesn't last for long. Hang in there!! KathyD
   — Kathy D.

August 18, 2004
Why spit? Why not just swallow it? <p> I don't *know*, but maybe that's why you're making more, because you're not swallowing? <p> If you're making tons o'spit because the bod thinks you need it, then spitting is defeating the purpose?
   — RWH G.

August 18, 2004
Robert, it's my understanding that, in this context, excessive saliva is a sign of pouch upset (or a sign of nausea, without the nausea). I had it too, for several weeks post-op. Though I never hurled, I had lots of spit produced whenever my pouch was unhappy, which it was at various times for no apparent reason (other than random healing). It may not seem to have anything to do with eating (mine didn't, either), but I think it means your pouch IS nauseated even if you aren't. Some people produce spit when they're about to throw up even if they don't hurl.<P>I wound up having to keep a "spit cup" nearby, which was gross but necessary until my pouch calmed down. In answer to the previous responder, it does no good to swallow it, you feel as if you're drowning internally and the last thing you want to do is swallow this stuff as fast as it's coming, and it keeps on comin' on. Swallowing also doesn't work to stop it.<P>As an aside, I worked on my spitting technique (distance, accuracy) as a way of making the best of this disgusting phase while it lasted. Ugh!
   — Suzy C.

August 18, 2004
Hi there. I get this but it is direct relation to eating too much or food being stuck. I was told its because the saliva we produce can't go anywhere...but once the food gets unstuck, I'm fine. I hope it gets better for you! Are you having problems keeping liquids down at all? PS- I used to spit into a papertowel when I was out places. It was a bit more discreet and I could just wad it up and throw it away. Take care, Shannon
   — M. Me

August 18, 2004
Hi Robert...........I am with Shannon on this one......I kept kleenexes around me all the time and spit into them and threw them away.........oooooooooooooo, spit cup.....so nasty! It is all part of the surgery .......lots of things change. You just have to go with the flow.
   — cindirella

August 19, 2004
I was able to eat saltine crackers and found they dried up the mouth nicely. This too shall pass...
   — [Deactivated Member]