How to Treat Dry Eyes & Mouth Following Hysterectomy
If your hysterectomy involved the removal of your ovaries, you may experience some or all of the symptoms associated with menopause, including dry eyes and mouth. Changes in hormone levels after a hysterectomy may account for the dry, inflamed eyes and painfully dry mouth some women experience, because the lubricating effects of estrogen have decreased. Although your dry eyes and mouth can be annoying and painful, there are several ways to cope with these symptoms.
Instructions
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Dry Eyes
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Consult your family doctor. For some women, dryness of the eyes and mouth signal Sjögren's Syndrome, a disorder in which immune cells attack the tear and salivary glands. Your doctor can clarify whether your symptoms are due to hormonal changes or something more, and address any other conditions that exist.
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Lubricate with artificial tears. Many excellent over-the-counter eye drops and mists are available to treat dry, irritated eyes. Your doctor can recommend one that is right for you.
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Wear special eyewear. Moisture-retaining spectacles or goggles are available from many eye-care specialists to help decrease eye dryness.
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Alter your environment. Avoid sitting near fans or anyplace where wind or hot air blows upon you. Consider using a humidifier, or lightly spray curtains with water to help hydrate the air. Smoky or particle-laden air is also best avoided, because it is likely to irritate eyes further.
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Include soy and fatty acids in your diet. Eating four to six servings of soy products, such as tofu or soy milk, for a few months may help. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in salmon, tuna, sardines, and other fatty fish, can also improve dryness. Fish oil capsules have been shown to help some dry-eye sufferers.
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Consider hormone replacement therapy. Although some women experience relief when prescribed bioidentical hormones, receiving estrogen seems to make dry eyes worse for others. Work with your physician to decide what is best for you.
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Discuss with your ophthalmologist the option of plugging your tear ducts. The small openings on your upper and lower lids at the inside corners of your eyes are what drain tears away. Small, permanent plugs can be placed in these ducts to decrease dryness.
Dry Mouth
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Ask your doctor about medications to increase salivation. The drug Salagen increases natural saliva production, and Evoxac may be prescribed for those who have been diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome.
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Use artificial saliva products. These rinses or sprays supplement saliva production. Toothpastes, mouthwashes and swab sticks are available for dry mouth sufferers as well. Traditional mouth rinses containing alcohol or peroxide exacerbate dry mouth symptoms and are best avoided.
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Suck on ice or hard sugar-free candies to stimulate saliva production. Chewing sugar-free gum may also help.
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Drink water. Staying hydrated will help combat dry mouth, so have your water bottle handy wherever you go.
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Alter your diet. Eat cool, moist foods and avoid salty, dry ones. Foods and drinks that contain high levels of sugar or acidity, caffeine, or alcohol should also be decreased or eliminated to prevent dry mouth.
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