hey everyone,
so i promised to update every so often. it's now late September and things are almost totally back to normal!
i can taste pretty much everything o.k. now - every now and then i eat something random and it tastes a little
bland, but it's pretty rare now!
the only real lasting trouble is the bitter-sweet taste left in my mouth, pretty much all the time.
it doesnt seem to affect the taste of things i eat (like, it doesnt make food taste gross - things that taste good still taste good)
and is mostly annoying right after brushing my teeth, when one expects to have a nice clean taste in the mouth.
i'm hoping that will soon disappear, too, just like the taste deficiency.
so, anyway, i wont be posting anymore updates, as i think the whole experience for me is pretty much over --
like i said, the random and slight food blandness and bad taste in the mouth remain, but i'm fairly confident they will both
continue to improve until completely gone. i'm no longer worried that any of this might be permanent.
if anyone posts any questions for me, i will certainly do my best to reply.
good luck everyone, i hope youre all better soon! :-P
Hi, I had my tonsils out in January 2011 and found an enormous amount of help on these boards when I was going through it, although didn't feel up to posting at the time. It's good to feel that you are not alone through this horrendous time so thanks to all who have the energy to post. I drank a lot of warm white flavoured tea (purer form of green tea) as this was about the only thing I could handle swallowing at the time.
Now 9 months on I still can't taste chocolate properly, I keeping telling myself that Kraft have changed the Cadbury recipe, but there are other things that also don't taste the same. However, when I think back to the early days when everything only had a taste for the first mouthful, things are much better. I still don't eat bread as it doesn't taste the same and is very bland. However, it is getting better all the time so hang in there.
Also I'm in the UK and my doctor said that it was very unusual to lose your taste.... So I assume that this is a medical conspiracy !!! I was off work for 4 weeks post op and only felt OK for the last week, but I do have a small child as well although my partner was amazing through it all.
So hang in there.... it does get better.... it just is horrendous at the time....
Hello, I just had my tonsils removed in October of 2011. Its been about 3 weeks. Pain is not there anymore but the lack of taste is what is really bothering me. I just read some of the discussions and it's what I'm exactly experiencing. Some food tastes ok but others have just a bland taste. Has anyone made a full recovery. Any suggestions? Thank you.
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make a recovery from losing it since August of 2010. But all of you should start taking B1 vitamin once a day, and also take Alpha Lipoic Acid about twice a day at 100mg. After about a month or two, up your dosage to 3 times a day with the Alpha Lipoic Acid. Good luck you guys, I hope one of us can get their taste back!
Hey guys,
YES, i've made a full recovery from food blandness!
i STILL have that slightly bitter/sour taste when I'm not eating,
but i can TASTE EVERYTHING.
and ive gotta say, that was the most important thing to me.
i mean, EVERYTHING, i can taste it and it tastes GOOD again.
i can handle this bad taste in the mouth - it makes me paranoid about my breath,
but having thoroughly harassed my family into always telling me whether or not
it smells bad, i have been reassured that it does not, i just taste it.
i'm hoping it will disappear one happy day, but in the mean time, i am just
happy being able to TASTE everything.
i dont know what it is that made my sense of taste return seemingly faster than other people's,
but my recovery plus other people saying they've had improvements,
i think proves that it IS temporary, even if it takes long.
dont lose hope - i know it's rough, especially for those of you for whom
it's been years - but there really is no proof that i can find saying that
its permanent for anyone.
what i DO find is doctors saying that it's temporary.
I am three and half weeks post tonsillectomy. I dont have any taste yet except alittle tiny bit at the tip of my tongue. It is a very depressing side effect that I wasn't prepared for. The worst is diet coke or any cola. I do drink orange drinks and root beer. They are strong enough that you get some flavor. I am wondering if there is a chance this could be permanent. I know my husband, family and co-workers are tired of me complaining a bout it but it really is depressing. I keep ordering food that sounds good and after a couple bites loose interest and can't bare to finish it. I am in my forties. I had to have tonsills removed due to a peritonsillar abcess.
hi Robyn,
around here we all definitely understand what youre going through right now!
my family was sick of hearing me complain, too, and all they told me was, "it's not a big deal, it'll come back!"
but it was NOT comforting.
three and a half weeks is still pretty early, and the fact that you can taste a little bit should be encouraging --
i'm guessing youve been scouring the web for other peoples' stories, like we all did, and if so, then you should
have noticed that it really doesn't seem to be permanent for anyone. Just really depressing, scary and a SLOW process.
there are some people around who have lived with the problem for years, but i'm sure you've seen that even
some of them have said they suddenly got better after all that time.
try the zinc supplements - i know someone else mentioned another supplement or two, try those, too!
really really really -- don't lose hope!
try all the little tricks and bits of advice that people suggest and just do your best to forget about it.
i know that's a super annoying but of advice, because how do you forget something that happens
to you every time you put something in your mouth? but...
just remind yourself that tons of other people have gone through it and come out, even if it took long.
the foods that sound good and then taste like nothing?
just don't try them again for a long time - it'll only needlessly discourage you if youre already depressed.
give it a good long time before you try them again.
that gives you a chance to notice if there has been even a small improvement.
in the mean time, experiment with other foods that you havent tried,
be creative - use this as a chance to try healthy things you didnt like before,
you never know what will taste oddly good right now (like tomatoes and spinach did for me) or what has vitamins that are helpful for recovery.
please keep us updated, too, that way the next poor person looking for info. has yet another perspective!
I had my tonsils out back in 2008, and till this day I can no longer drink plain water, even filtered water tastes like metal. I have to put flavoring in it so I can drink it. I also lost the taste for food for about 2 months, and very dry food would get caught in my throat and I would choke. Will I ever be able to drink plain water again?
william,
i think and really hope so!
as for me, everything is 100% normal again as far as taste goes. no more bad taste in my mouth, either. about the dry food getting caught in your throat - i didnt quite have that same issue. for me, it was sort of a feeling like food and drink were going up into my almost nasal passage -- like where you feel post nasal drip. if i took too big a drink of something or just had a big mouthful, i'd feel like it was a little hard to swallow. not because of pain, mind you - more like it just felt like my throat was being lazy and so i would try to swallow hard and then i feel everything go up the wrong way. this was really irritating and sort of didnt happen at first. it came suddenly and then went suddenly after maybe a month. so, it's not exactly the same as what you described (i never felt like i was choking) but sounds like it could be related? i also developed this lingering thing that happens sometimes out of the blue: i'm not eating, just talking or maybe doing nothing and my throat (more like that post nasal drip place again) will make this ridiculous noise, something like when guys clear phlegm out of their throat to spit, only much less loud/crazy and it's totally involuntary. my brother's noticed it when it happens and he just goes, "did you just snort at me a little?" and we have a laugh. it was worse at first but seems to be making its exit, too!
as for the water, i just dont know - i never had big issues with water taste, just the after-brushing-teeth thing i mentioned. that's all gone, too, though. that your taste for food did come back after a couple of months make me think you could very well still be on an uphill road back to normal. as i kept saying in previous posts - i have yet to have anyone confirm any permanent ill effects, so that makes me think that it's just a really slow ride for some people.
and as you can tell from reading all my posts here, some symptoms come and go and youll get new weird issues suddenly, and then theyll go. it's a strange journey!
the thing i keep saying to people is to be really on top of your good health habits. it could be totally unrelated, but it's worth mentioning again & again that i'm really super health conscious as far as diet goes. i dont supplement with vitamins that much, and i religiously follow all those famous diet tips about "eat mountains of many-colored veggies, whole grains, healthy fats and only lean meats." i'm no doctor, but when i was in the middle of my worst tonsillectomy side effects, what few tips i could find were always just to make sure all your dietary needs were met (but not overdone) in case it's a deficiency of some kind. plus all those healthy foods aid your body in recovering from any kind of damage or ordeal. that my recovery seems to have moved forward so quickly compared to a lot of other people makes me have at least a little faith in the idea that really helping my body out with nutritious foods had something to do with it. i could be totally drawing parallels between things that are just coincidence, but it's the kind of tip that couldnt hurt you either way!
the only other thing besides a deficiency ive ever heard of for these things is the whole "your nerve for controlling tastes was traumatized and has to recover." the only remedy for that, as far as i know, is waiting it out. but that it involves your body needing to recover from physical trauma -- well, that just makes me go back to the nutrition idea: it's just a fact that eating properly speeds up recovery times.
i think youll be all right, and i'll hope for the best for you!
i think and really hope so!
as for me, everything is 100% normal again as far as taste goes. no more bad taste in my mouth, either. about the dry food getting caught in your throat - i didnt quite have that same issue. for me, it was sort of a feeling like food and drink were going up into my almost nasal passage -- like where you feel post nasal drip. if i took too big a drink of something or just had a big mouthful, i'd feel like it was a little hard to swallow. not because of pain, mind you - more like it just felt like my throat was being lazy and so i would try to swallow hard and then i feel everything go up the wrong way. this was really irritating and sort of didnt happen at first. it came suddenly and then went suddenly after maybe a month. so, it's not exactly the same as what you described (i never felt like i was choking) but sounds like it could be related? i also developed this lingering thing that happens sometimes out of the blue: i'm not eating, just talking or maybe doing nothing and my throat (more like that post nasal drip place again) will make this ridiculous noise, something like when guys clear phlegm out of their throat to spit, only much less loud/crazy and it's totally involuntary. my brother's noticed it when it happens and he just goes, "did you just snort at me a little?" and we have a laugh. it was worse at first but seems to be making its exit, too!
as for the water, i just dont know - i never had big issues with water taste, just the after-brushing-teeth thing i mentioned. that's all gone, too, though. that your taste for food did come back after a couple of months make me think you could very well still be on an uphill road back to normal. as i kept saying in previous posts - i have yet to have anyone confirm any permanent ill effects, so that makes me think that it's just a really slow ride for some people.
and as you can tell from reading all my posts here, some symptoms come and go and youll get new weird issues suddenly, and then theyll go. it's a strange journey!
the thing i keep saying to people is to be really on top of your good health habits. it could be totally unrelated, but it's worth mentioning again & again that i'm really super health conscious as far as diet goes. i dont supplement with vitamins that much, and i religiously follow all those famous diet tips about "eat mountains of many-colored veggies, whole grains, healthy fats and only lean meats." i'm no doctor, but when i was in the middle of my worst tonsillectomy side effects, what few tips i could find were always just to make sure all your dietary needs were met (but not overdone) in case it's a deficiency of some kind. plus all those healthy foods aid your body in recovering from any kind of damage or ordeal. that my recovery seems to have moved forward so quickly compared to a lot of other people makes me have at least a little faith in the idea that really helping my body out with nutritious foods had something to do with it. i could be totally drawing parallels between things that are just coincidence, but it's the kind of tip that couldnt hurt you either way!
the only other thing besides a deficiency ive ever heard of for these things is the whole "your nerve for controlling tastes was traumatized and has to recover." the only remedy for that, as far as i know, is waiting it out. but that it involves your body needing to recover from physical trauma -- well, that just makes me go back to the nutrition idea: it's just a fact that eating properly speeds up recovery times.
i think youll be all right, and i'll hope for the best for you!
Guest- notice your post a year ago. I just had my tonsils, adenoids and ulva removed almost a month ago. I cannot taste food and do not enjoy eating. A cold diet coke is my fav too. Did your sense of taste ever return?
i had my tonsils out june 13 2012
i can taste but when i swollow soda it taste like nastsy
im eating everything recovering fast and my ear pain is happening every once in a while
I had my tonsils take out 3 weeks ago. I can't taste much at all :(. Like alot of people of this thread, it seems the salty foods are the ones that seem to be the most tolerable. Anything sweet I cannot taste including soft drinks and esp coke & pepsi. What does everyone recommend I do :(! Is there a cure for this?
P.s I work in a Barristers Chamber & funnily enough a client just came in for advice off a barristers for a compensation claim because she had her tonsils removed years ago & her taste still hasn't returned.
B1 vitamin and Alpha Lipoic Acid! Start taking it asap. They have it over the counter. Start with low doses and work up.
Hi
I had my tonsils removed on 17 July 2012. 6 weeks have passed and I still cannot taste.
I have read other articles regarding the taste loss and there doesnt seem to be much info on the net regarding this issue.
I spoke to my ENT and they have said that they have never heard of such a thing as the taste loss in their 25 years of practice.
I spoke to my ENT and they have said that they have never heard of such a thing as the taste loss in their 25 years of practice.
This is concerning as many people suffer from this but there is no help, cure, advise, etc for us.
I must say these groups do help when you feel all alone in this.
Some things I have tried eating which are tolerable are:
> Fresh carrots
> Corn flakes with milk and a drizzle of honey
> Ginger tea
> Some fiber bran flakes
> Boiled rice (basmati) with some butter/marg
> Boiled pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, etc) plain with some salt and pepper
> My wife gave me some pesto paste and I could taste it a bit - something nice to try and add to the pasta
> Eggs
> Mushrooms and Mushroom sauce
> Honey - surprisingly gives a light sweetish taste on the tongue - i cannot taste anything sweet but this helps
> Try chewing on some cinnamon sticks
> Grilled or fried piece of fish with some general spices
> Nuts (all)
Items that I have tried which taste terrible:
- Bread
- Rolls
- Yogurt
- Tomato sauce
- Lemon juice
- Mayonnaise
- All soda and juice
Seeing that there is no cure. it is nice to try and help each other with tips of what we can try to eat and help.
I love tea, coffee, breads, etc but cannot taste a thing when I eat it now.
I take the following vitamins daily, hoping that they can help speed up the process or assist:
> General multi-vitamin
> Iron
> Zinc (around 30mg per day)
> Vitamin B complex
> Omega oils
> Flax-seed oil
Lets hope we can all recover soon.
Good luck and all the best! :-|
I had my tonsils removed August 28, 2012. It's been six weeks since my surgery and I still can't taste anything. I went for my first post op follow up and my doctor said everything was healing wonderfully. This is the worst thing ever!!
I have my second follow up next week and plan on speaking to the doctor about my inability to taste food. I never knew that this could happen, the doctor never mentioned it to me, I thought it was going to be a simple surgery, but I would up dehydrated and a high fever two days later and was back in the ER.
I pray that these symptoms do not last!!!