Hey everyone. I have stopped drinking 17 days now, quick question. For two years now I have been waking up with severe dry mouth. This tends to happen whenever I quit drink, either that or I just notice it more. The main concern is that I taste blood in my mouth first thing in the morning, go to the bathroom and spit it out into the toilet. I have mentioned this to my doctor many times and have been told to go to the dentist. Mentioned it to the dentist and have been told it could be either gum disease or sleeping with my mouth open which would cause the dry mouth but that still doesn’t explain the blood. Also I believe the blood is coming from the roof of my mouth and this can happen during the day also. Considering I have had this for 2 years is it any cause for concern? Also would anyone know if this is connected to the liver as just had a blood test and my GGT was high scoring 150 in which I have been told to go back and have another blood test in a months time for a more accurate score being off the drink for longer. Kind of worried here.
Not sure what your bleeding is from but from my experience, any unexplained bleeding can be a serious cause for concern, even if it's caused by gum disease.
I'd been having nosebleeds and bloody scabs coming out of my nose for as far back as I can remember. Turned out I had developed cirrhosis caused by a long term hepatitis B infection.
Since the transplant just over a year ago, I haven't had a single nose bleed so I'm certain it was caused by the sick liver.
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Thank you KLDN, I need to push this on my doctor next month if my bloods have not improved
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Good luck! Hope it's nothing serious.
Hi Cakebain,
After reading both your recent posts then we would suggest that you think about re-visiting your GP and discussing your alcohol history and symptoms, including your swollen stomach, memory problems, change of stool colour and blood in the mouth.
You could also request an ultrasound scan of your liver in order to gain more information about your liver function. Dependent on those results, you may need to also be referred to a liver specialist.
You may find our publications 'Alcohol and liver disease' and 'liver disease tests explained' useful to read, here are the links;
If your problem is gum disease I would expect you would also get some bleeding when you brush your teeth.
My gums used to bleed when I brushed, but this stopped when I started taking Vitamin-C.
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I do from time to time get bleeding brushing my teeth and have for many years but have only in the past couple of years noticed it in my mouth in the mornings. The taste always appears to be on the roof of my mouth when I wake up along with what I can only describe as a black sort of goo on my lips. After hydrating myself first thing in the morning that is when I notice the blood mixed in with my saliva. I really do hope in the end it is gum disease after all. Thank you for your reply.
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Also when I wake up without hydrating myself when I try to produce saliva out of nothing it is very noticeable. Dentist believes it could be down to sleeping with my mouth wide open but doesn’t make a lot of sense
Vitamin-C really fixed my gingivitis. Couldn't hurt to do a trial period. I like low doses (500mg) on an empty stomach. Vitamin-C greatly increases dietary iron absorption if taken with food, which I don't want. Males tend to accumulate iron a they age.
Try using cordosyl products-i get alcohol free mouthwash on prescription as I have low platelets. It should help if it’s gum disease... Also stay as hydrated as possible ...
Thanks Metanoia and earthpixie.. I guess trying Vitamin C won’t hurt I will pick some up today and I will give mouthwash a go again although I didn’t have much luck with it last time I will try the alcohol free one this time. Also I have noticed in recent months the roof of my mouth randomly peels a lot. It appears to be very sensitive. Something that I will mention to my doctor next week when I request this scan along with my liver related symptoms but, in the meantime I will try these. Thanks again
At one point I had the taste of blood in my mouth. I brush, floss. Bruises started appearing as well as more blood taste in my mouth. Went to the dr. and had a CBC. I had severely low platelets. Normal is 150,000-450,000 and I had only 8,000. Dx with ITP in 2015, Alpha1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in 2017. Get a CBC to find out your platelet count.
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Blood in my urine 
Back in the saddle again
GGT and ALT's have increased again 
