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Salty Lips......

About a month ago I woke up with what was first a "soapy" taste in my mouth. It was quite strong. It tasted susspiciously like the soap I was using, so I changed. It didn't go away, but changed into a mild metallic taste for a day, and is now a  strong salty taste that has degrees of taste ranging from mild to extremely salty. It seems to be coming from my lips, and they dry out and started to crack until I put lip balm on. I am healthy otherwise except for an bad sinus problem that I will be seeing an ENT about. I smoke a half a pack a day drink way to much coffee. I am 44, male, with few familial diseases except for kidney disease (dad), and "minor" skin cancer (mom). I don't drink much water at all, and sleep fitfully. I am not myself lately!
Thank you so much for your time,
LKern
13 Responses
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Since I stopped smoking was started.
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A related discussion, my lips are constantly salty was started.
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Avatar universal
Dear Frank:

I don't think it is a liver problem, for the liver does not control sweating or salt metabolism.  Maybe you ought to see a endocrinologist.  I do not know what might be causing your problems.

CCF Neuro MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had the same symptoms for a few years now. I wake up with an awful taste in my mouth. The other day I kissed my wife goodbye and when I got home she said I tasted of salt. I do have a salty taste or bitter taste quite frequently. I have been diagnosed as having a low white blood count now and then. I also had my gall bladder removed some time ago. I also had Helicabacta pylori and had 3 seperate lots of treatment for it... is this the afterburn from that treatment... is it some king of liver problem ?. Any ideas.  By the way I get this on cold & warm days so I don't think it is sweat related.

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Avatar universal
I took have suffered from a salty taste in the mouth for the last 3 years.  I thought it was being caused by a chemical or mineral imbalance as  'over the counter' medication for healthy bones seemed to relieve it.  Since I stopped taking this, the salty taste has returned.  It is particularly bad during the night as there is no food or liquid to dilute it.

Is this a possibility or is your previous questionnaire's nasal polyps the only disgnoses?
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Avatar universal
Dear Les:

I hope the problem is solved.

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Strange, but my ENT said he hadn't a clue, but my visit revealed large nasal polyps and sinus problems. Since treatment started the taste is almost gone and in fact today it is not there at all. I was on methylprednisoninal (sp?) for a week and am using a spray, with a follow up visit to discuss the possiblity of surgery. Also, after treatment began, I smelled something for the first time in about 10 years. It wasn't smoking related after all.
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Avatar universal
Dear H. Wilson:

This is a strange posting under salty lips.  It is always difficult to tell you what is happening without being able to examining you.  Numbness and pain might be a neurolopathy but it might also be something else.  I would recommend seeing a neurologist who can do the hands on physical exam.  This way, he/she can differentiate between a nerve root problem, nerve problem or even a spinal column problem.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
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Avatar universal
Please post an answer to my comment on 2/11/00?
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Dear Les Kern:

Since your having it at all times during the day.  I would see a neurologist and get it checked out.  Not that it is life threatening but it must be very annoying.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For the last 5 days, I have had pain in the upper left side of my chest, numbness in the left arm, wrist and hand. I am also light-headed occasionally, have shortness of breath and dryness of the mouth.  These symptoms occur mostly in th AM. Medical personnel suggust neuropathy-have not been examined for this ,yet, but did go to th ER to rule out heart attack and stroke, through diagonostic testing.  What procedure to follow? Medication for pain and/or discomfort?
For the past 3-5 years , While I worked as a mail sorter and stood in one spot ,8 hrs. per day, I had sore, numb toes,numbness of feet, toes and fingers ,elbow and wrist.  Also the feet were commonlly swollen.  I attributed this to my arthritis problem-is this also neuropathy?
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Avatar universal
No, it can't be sweat, as it manifests itself all through the day. I can't detect and increase or decrease in degrees in asociation with anything I do but it does seem to increase and decrease (never to undetectable levels!) many times throughout the day. Since I drink a lot of caffienated coffee, I cut way back, and since coffee causes dehydration, I'm "forcing" myself to drink more water. Right now, at 9pm and after drinking about 60oz. of water today, the salty taste is there, and on a scale of one to ten (ten being pure salt!) it's about a 3.
I do sweat at night (according to my wife) but only for the first hour or so.
Huh??
I'd like to thank you VERY much for offering your expertise in nalyzing this rather annoying and somewhat troubling problem. If you need any tech help, I'm a Director of Technology.....just ask!
LKern
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear LKern:

I am not sure what to make out of your problem.  It may be that your sweating in your sleep (from your fitful sleep) and that your tasting the sweat.  Are there any signs that you are sweating at night?  There are disorders of sweating, either too much or too little.  Does the taste occur during the day as well?  I would do alittle test, wipe your 1/2 of your lip with a cloth in the middle of the night. Then when you awake, If the taste is less on the side you wiped clean, then I bet it is sweat.  If both sides taste the same, then it is likely something else.  Give it a try.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD
Helpful - 0

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