HELP WAS IT CRUSHED ICE?????????

[kelsey]

Some time ago I remember discussions about the problems of dry mouth and preparations for anaesthesia.  I seem to recall several items about some type of ice being used.  This was news to me here in the UK and I made a mental note to find out more.  Well my Ophthalmologist has decided to operate to try to relieve some of my dreadful problems.  He is going to "take out the folds in  my conjunctiva" in other words remove some of the folds and smooth it out.  As my dry mouth has got increasing bad in unison with my eyes I will have trouble with whatever form of anaesthesia is used.  Could someone please advise re the ice?  Regards Kelsey

[Scottietottie]

Hi Kelsey 

I'm really glad they are going to try to do something to relieve your eyes because I know how much you've been suffering with them. I don't know if they do eyes with a local anaethesia and some sedation or whether it would be a general anaesthetic.  If it's a general, I would suggest you ask if you can have water to swill round your mouth and spit out during the time you are waiting before hand.

Crushed ice can be very soothing after anaesthesia when gulping water may cause vomitting but sucking crushed ice is less likely to.

They may have a gel available to coat your mouth with to ease things. Biotene does one and it is possible to get it on prescription in the UK. Also artificial saliva sprays.

Take care - Scottie   (Is the surgery soon? Do let us know how it goes!)   

[eyeamdry]

The best I got (before surgery) was a little stick that looked like a sucker stick and on the end was a little sponge.  They wet the sponge and it did a pretty good job.  They would not give me crushed ice because they don't want "anything" on your stomach.  As the ice melted, it would only have one place to go.  Lucy

[SeaBreeze]

We used to give 'lemon swabs' to patients for dry mouth if they had nothing by mouth... they used to come individual packages... ?? at a pharmacy before you go... good luck...

[kelsey]

Thanks everyone for your help I did have the lolly pop type lemon swabs some years ago when I was very ill (long before my sjogrens was a problem) and I found them a real help.  I have checked on the internet and have found some very good info about my condition and the operation.  The diagnosis is Conjunctival Chalasis and when I googled it I found an actual operation.  It was not quite what my surgeon is going to do but the principle is the same and it helps me to understand more about why I am suffering so.  Incidentally when I was at the hospital last a traveller was in with samples of drops for dry eyes and my ophthalmologist gave them to me, I know it is early days, but they are the best yet, they are Clinitas, Hyaluronate.  Thanks everyone I will keep you up to date.  kelsey