[Dysphagia] Saliva rush (frothy and quite glutinous)??

[paula.leslie at ncl.ac.uk (Paula Leslie)]

Hello All

I've been receiving posts but not deemed worthy to send them for some time
as our server changed our email address tags and I've only just figured
out how to sort this (to those who are in a similar position - check your
exact email address as your server currently sends it!)

Anyway I would love to hear any ideas on this one sent to me from ENT. 
Advice very much appreciated.

Paula

Paula Leslie
Degree Programme Director
RCSLT Specialist Advisor in Dysphagia

Surgical and Reproductive Sciences
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 4HH
UK
+44 (0) 191 222 6279(T)/8988(F)
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/sars/postgrad/MSc.htm

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Lady aged about 80 yrs, good health and a healthy lifestyle.
Diagnosed with colorectal cancer 3 years ago and had surgery (re-section)
twice, each time followed by a proposed course of chemotherapy, though the
first time she only managed 3 sessions and the second time 4 sessions. On
the last occasion she became quite seriously de-hydrated through vomiting
and diarrhoea and her kidneys started to close down - she was admitted to
hospital.

That was in June 2005. Since then she has a 6monthly check-up and has been
in relatively good health - she regained the weight she had lost and she
looks very well.   However...

Since June 2005 she has a problem with eating as her mouth will start
filling with saliva (frothy and quite glutinous) which she can't swallow
adequately as it happens so fast and so much that she has to spit it out
until it stops.  It can last 10-20 minutes.

She has tried food eliminating (dairy, wheat, alcohol, coffee etc,) but
food does not appear to be the trigger.  She can ONLY eat sweet biscuits
or chocolate and be sure not to have an attack - everything else has set
her off at one time or another.

Her doctor has had X-ray and CT Scan which are clear, and no other
examination.  The diagnosis is anxiety/stress but she and her family
strongly refute this though they agree that anxiety certainly plays a
part; when there is a big family sit-down, the lady can't cope with the
worry of it happening "in front of everyone" and she feels herself that
this brings on an attack. However, she has these attacks while she is on
her own too, which would be most of the time.

Maybe her saliva glands were affected by the chemotherapy?