Raw lemons??

[catherine1234]

Crazy question...the last few months I have developed a craving for raw lemons and eat at least 2-3 a day. Has anyone else experienced this? Other than the obvious enamel decay issue, is there another downside to lemons and SJ anyone is aware of? Thanks!

[Scottietottie]

Hi Catherine 

Lemons and ginger are both good saliva stimulants - so maybe your body is telling you to do just that. The only downside I could see - apart from enamel erosion - is if you ever develop any bladder problems. I was dxd with an irritable bladder and was given a list of things not to eat - citrus being one of them. (Haven't totally given up on it though - it depends what I feel like!)

Take care - Scottie 

[catherine1234]

Bladder problems??? Oh no! One more to add to the list . That sounds awful. I do have constipation but no bladder issues YET. Hope you are able to control it without too much difficulty poor thing.

[SjoGirl]

Oh yes, and acid reflux could become an issue. Have you thought about having your PH tested? Maybe you're system is more alkaline than acidic and is trying to balance itself out.

[catherine1234]

I am starting to have acid reflux at night, so perhaps that is the cause thanks! No I have not had my PH levels checked. Is this a gastro test or blood work my rheumy orders? I have yet to go see a gastro since having giardiasis a few years back (which is what I personally believe triggered this whole SJ for me).

[gurs]

Lemons were the worst thing in the world for me...they make my parotid glands swell up like balloons and actually make
my mouth/teeth seem alot dryer. Any citrus fruits a no-no for me anyways.

Gursie

[A66eyroad]

When I was pregnant I craved oranges.  I see you're age is 40, so it's not out of the question!   

[quietdynamics]

Hi Catherine 

Lemons and ginger are both good saliva stimulants - so maybe your body is telling you to do just that.

Take care - Scottie 

Thanks Scottie...explains why I pick up ginger root at the market. Of course then it dries out when I get home and "forget" about it.. 

[Duchess]

Rinse your mouth out well.



Duchess

[BKreader]

Like Abbyroad, I craved oranges when pregnant with my son and Lavender Lemonade with my twin girls. Hmm....

Recently, citrus especially lemon seem to make my glands and ducts hurt. Bummer.

In general, I am a firm believer in "everything in moderation".

[Cassi307]

Instead of eating a raw lemon wouldn't you get a similar affect if you just squeeze one into water?

[Scottietottie]

Hi again 

Please don't think that because I have bladder problems you may develop them. My irritable bladder may - or may not have anything to do with SjS. The thing with SjS is that it is perfectly possible to get other things that are actually unrelated.

Take care - Scottie 

[catherine1234]

Instead of eating a raw lemon wouldn't you get a similar affect if you just squeeze one into water?

Yes, but I crave eating them for some reason!!! And NO on the pregnancy. It takes a lot to get me pregnant and my three boys are enough for me as it is! Plus with all this dryness, TMI but sex life ain;t what it used to be my poor hubby

[verythankfull]

It could be anemia.  Craving non-nutritive substances such as lemons, ice, peppermint, even paper, chalk, dust or clay are it's hallmarks.  I have mod-severe autoimmune, iron-deficient anemia (not all anemia is iron-deficient.)  I become an ice connoisseur--freezing methods, shapes, flavors/smells, textures--and I get a wicked craving for a particular brand of peppermints.  I could eat those two things exclusively and it can start with just having a thing for smoothies or frozen fruit, then sno cones or granita with fruit puree on top, finally wanting just the ice.  As soon as I have a transfusion, it seems to clear itself up.

The test is quick and painless and the results can be substantial, esp. in terms of energy and overall health.

Otherwise, maybe your doctor could screen you for electrolyte deficiency or electrolyte imbalance.  Both go hand in glove with craving raw lemons.  You may want to try coconut water.  During WWII it was considered such a near-perfect, sterile substitute for patients with low electrolytes/requiring rapid hydration so the coconuts themselves were hung on i.v. poles for direct infusion (being stationed in the tropics of Asia, coconuts could be found almost everywhere, benefiting American, English and Japanese soldiers alike.)

Whenever I'm recovering from something like surgery (there's been a lot of dental surgery lately), I always drink a couple quarts of coconut water so I can get back on my feet a little faster.  Sports drinks would work, too.  I'm just not crazy about all the acid and artificial ingredients they have, though. 

Hope this helps,
Take Care, Catherine1234

verythankfull

(No chance of pregnancy for me either.  An acute autoimmune disease finished that off about 17 years ago.  Not that it's been entirely a bad thing--with so many autoimmunes it's given me one less thing to worry about )

[Velcro]

I was going to say the same thing?  When I was pregnant, I became extremely anemic (always been anemic) and I was buying the 5lb bags of ice and eating a bag every couple of days.  Then I started eating lemons.  I would cut one up and eat the whole thing.  When I went for my next check-up, she asked about unusual cravings and when I told her, she drug me down to the lab and tested my iron immediately.  She said those were classic signs.