So have been having some taste issues and strange white spots on my tongue, so I went to my dermatologist to have a look. He told me right away that is something called Oral Lichen Planus (olp). Basically in short its something that has no true cause or cure, but goes away on its own. He asked if I smoke cigars, I said no but pipes. Ahhh! he says. See's a lot of cigar and pipe smokes with this. Say's that the smoke could have been a trigger to bring it on. Odd thing is that two of my neighbors have it or had it within the past six months. I live in Ohio which was just rated the worst water in the country for chemicals and pollution. I kinda wonder if that has anything to do with it. But for now everything I try to smoke tastes like saltwater to me. It really sucks too!!!!! I have been smoking pipes for around 15 years and never had any issues.
Every tobacco tastes like saltwater
- Thread starter drwatson
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I had that about two or three months ago. I backed off on the amount I was smoking, switched from Latakia to milder blends, smoked a LOT slower, and then drank almost exclusively water as a beverage for about a week. (Especially when smoking, I'd have a big glass of water sitting next to me, and drink from it, as I smoked my way through the bowl.)
As soon as you said that your neighbors experienced the same thing, my mind jumped to your water and then you actually mentioned it. Here in West Michigan we have an extremely high rate of cancer that has been tied to the water quality. We had tanneries and all sorts of manufacturing and chemical companies that had been dumping into the lakes and rivers for long periods of time. My parents have said time and time again how it's bizarre to see whole neighborhoods or significant amounts of people within a very small radius getting wiped out from cancer.
If you think water really is the issue you should start filtering it immediately. Get a sink filter and a pitcher filter and use them together or buy purified water at a store. Contaminated water is scary stuff! I hope you feel better. I hate hearing water related stories like that.
If you think water really is the issue you should start filtering it immediately. Get a sink filter and a pitcher filter and use them together or buy purified water at a store. Contaminated water is scary stuff! I hope you feel better. I hate hearing water related stories like that.
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Zekest, I assure you that tobacco smoke is certainly NOT the main cause in our area. I have personally seen a current government report from a very well connected mentor that warned of our water issue. The reports on the contaminants in the water were unmistakable and it's common knowledge. Even places like White Lake, which opens right into Lake Michigan, isn't safe to swim in or collect fish for use as food. The list goes on and on and on. Water samples that are taken around West Michigan consistently reveal highly contaminated water. I wouldn't have even mentioned the subject of water if I had not looked thoroughly at the research. It is simply common knowledge here.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-wd-gws-ciu-voc-counties61-65_340251_7.pdf
Please refer to the state provided map to see where a bunch of contaminated samples have been gathered. The state has an ongoing investigation into our water quality. Those maps are only as current as 2002. The newer maps, which I had a chance to glimpse at, are far and away scarier. It's important to note that a lot of manufacturing businesses that had been dumping barrels of chemicals into the lakes and rivers were or are located right on top of the areas with the highest concentrations of contaminates. It would be foolish to think that those dumpings do not seep into the ground and contaminate other areas or have a significant effect on the health of the population.
Feel free to refer back to the Michigan.gov website under "Water Quality Maps" or check out their investigation page if you'd like to learn more.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-wd-gws-ciu-voc-counties61-65_340251_7.pdf
Please refer to the state provided map to see where a bunch of contaminated samples have been gathered. The state has an ongoing investigation into our water quality. Those maps are only as current as 2002. The newer maps, which I had a chance to glimpse at, are far and away scarier. It's important to note that a lot of manufacturing businesses that had been dumping barrels of chemicals into the lakes and rivers were or are located right on top of the areas with the highest concentrations of contaminates. It would be foolish to think that those dumpings do not seep into the ground and contaminate other areas or have a significant effect on the health of the population.
Feel free to refer back to the Michigan.gov website under "Water Quality Maps" or check out their investigation page if you'd like to learn more.
Meph... You totally missed the humor is zekest's post!.. BTW, just about all water in the U.S. is polluted. Fish, crabs, oysters etc all have high levels of PCB's and Dioxin. I good Reverse Osmosis system would be your best bet. They are fairly cheap- about $150.00 for an under the sink model that will give you gallons and gallons a day.
ps... I don't use a filter in my pipe but I do for my faucet!
ps... I don't use a filter in my pipe but I do for my faucet!
Yeah, I guess so. :roll:
I've seen enough people around me become sick or die in this "developed" country from unclean water that I just don't take anything related to it as a joking matter. There are better things to poke fun at. Everybody has some trigger, you know?
I've seen enough people around me become sick or die in this "developed" country from unclean water that I just don't take anything related to it as a joking matter. There are better things to poke fun at. Everybody has some trigger, you know?
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-lichen-planus/basics/definition/con-20028031
Gents, with a tad bit of research I found this via the Mayo Clinic. They state that it is an autoimmune disorder but they are not sure what causes it. Basically the immune system begins to attack membrane within the mouth for unknown reasons. They mention smoking but only much later on in the information stating that it can complicate the disorder.
I hope there is a happy balance that you can get some relief from this without having to put down the pipe more than you want to.
Gents, with a tad bit of research I found this via the Mayo Clinic. They state that it is an autoimmune disorder but they are not sure what causes it. Basically the immune system begins to attack membrane within the mouth for unknown reasons. They mention smoking but only much later on in the information stating that it can complicate the disorder.
I hope there is a happy balance that you can get some relief from this without having to put down the pipe more than you want to.
Had this myself a year or two ago, and everything definitely did taste salty as far as smoke goes. Diagnosed the same as well. It sure is disconcerting. For me I used some Anbesol and took about a month off of smoking and everything is all right again.
Hope everything works out for you!
Hope everything works out for you!
Lots of causes. But pipe smoking is one. Back off for a couple of days and you'll be fine within the week. This happened to me last summer and I remember when Frankenstein (above) had the same issue come up as well.
It is admittedly a bit disconcerting when your entire taste system suddenly goes wonkers.
It is admittedly a bit disconcerting when your entire taste system suddenly goes wonkers.
Well pete a Dermatologist not only deal with pimples and rashes, but a wide range of skin problems. Everything from a common sunburn to std's. Immunodermatology deals with the immune system and problems associated with that. Suspecting there was something going on there, I made the logical choice. Once he gave me his opinion I was able to also able to try and see what triggers may be there. One of my neighbors who is just eight years old had the same thing affecting the skin on his arms back in July. Since this is a no cure/cause problem, and has triggers where the immune system attacks itself I went to look for those triggers. (BACKSTORY) This summer our area shut down all water because of algae blooms in Lake Erie. Water was not safe to drink, bath, wash for little while. Boiling they said made the problem worse! So thats also why I suspect the water.
I had the same saltwater taste a couple of months ago when I fired up my usual morning blend - C&D First Responders. I fired up a different pipe with some Fillmore and was treated to the same saltwater taste. I cleaned all of my pipes and waited a day. Tried it again the next day and no change. Took a couple of days off and it went away. Full disclosure: I did have a mild pollen alergy that I was wrestling with at the time. Perhaps it was a contributing factor.
I hope you didn't take my comment the wrong way, to each his own and all of that. I hope it is just what your dermatologist said. I realize what a dermatologist does but you smoke a pipe. See a specialist if you can and don't take any chances when it comes to mouth sores. That is all I am trying to say.
My family doctor can tell me what they "believe" that little discomfort in my mouth is but since I smoke a pipe I would get a second opinion. That didn't happen but if it did that is what I would do. I wouldn't wait for 6 months and then have my family doc say, hmm well you should see a specialist.
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