More Drool When Wearing PMV?

[Ainsley's Mom]

Anybody else notice their child drools when they wear their PMV but not really when they are not? Any idea why this would be?

[Kate]

Maybe she has her mouth open more-mouth breathing? I do know that Mitchell does a little more at times-but his nose running is the big thing I notice. I'm guessing it all has to do with air movement. I think once she gets use to it then she'll learn to control it better. ?? Just a guess.

[Myself]

Susan,

Gage at first would drool excessively with the PMV on. I think it's because they start breathing through their nose and mouth and are unsure to swallow the secretions rather than them being coughed up.

Lisa

[Lifeisgood]

Oh Susan,

I WISH I could help you on this one - but Harlie drools non-stop, no matter what. I guess until she learns how to swallow, this will be the case :( I'm ready to give up the bibs! They don't make a good fashion statement, you know?

Well good luck with everything. Sounds like things are going well overall!

~Christy

[Ainsley's Mom]

Maybe she has her mouth open more-mouth breathing? I do know that Mitchell does a little more at times-but his nose running is the big thing I notice. I'm guessing it all has to do with air movement. I think once she gets use to it then she'll learn to control it better. ?? Just a guess.

I guess that makes sense. Perhaps it's as simple as that her mouth is hanging open all the time and the saliva just runs out, cuz come to think of it her mouth is normally closed. I wonder if she's swallowing that saliva normally or if she could be aspirating it. And I wonder if there is something about the PMV that increases saliva. Hmmm.

Maybe she has her mouth open more-mouth breathing? I do know that Mitchell does a little more at times-but his nose running is the big thing I notice. I'm guessing it all has to do with air movement. I think once she gets use to it then she'll learn to control it better. ?? Just a guess.

Yeah, we notice that too, the snot. But that makes sense that the air pushes it out of the sinuses.

... :( I'm ready to give up the bibs! They don't make a good fashion statement, you know?

:rofl: Yeah. We should have a contest to see who can design the most stylish bib for big kids. Like we have time. But it would be fun.

[KJKK8437]

Guess what ... of course I know what you are talking about.

Two things -- the PMV changes the dynamic of the swallow by creating positive pressure. It also increases sensation in the mouth, or it is supposed to. By not having a "normal" sensation, Ainsley might well by hypo or hyper sensitive orally, either of which, I think, can cause excessive drooling. She might not know the saliva is there when the PMV is on, or she might be aware and not really know yet how to swallow with the valve.

Second -- we had a lot of problems for the first many months with secretions oozing from the stoma. I thought it was drool for the longest time, but it took me awhile to figure out it was both.

I can't say when the drooling eased up, because there are too many "Alex" things in the way to make a true comparison, including teething, and a diagnosed hyper AND hypo sensitive oral cavity. (Yes, both, depending on what part we are talking about. *sigh*.) Plus, Alex spent most of his life with his mouth hainging open anyway. (A part of his hyposensitivey.)

[LKN]

The PMV causes the secretions to come up into the mouth like someone without a trach. Most trach kids haven't ever had to manage their secretions in this way so they aren't sure what to do with them--some kids drool.