taste changes?

[HeadCase2]

  I've npticed some changes in taste since the AN was treated.  Things can taste metalic.  Sometimes, even when I'm not eating,  my mouth tastes a little metalic.  Anyone else noticed taste changes?

[tony]

OK tough one - there are a number of possible causes
the thing to remember is that taste and smell senses are quite closely related (and often confused) - we taste the difference between sweet and sour - but we smell the difference
between sweet and sour pork, or sweet and sour chicken, for example.
Others have reported the metalic taste change - but there are other possibilties too
With me it was coffee tasted strange - but other things followed over the mths.
The smell function of the brain can be knocked off line temporarily.
So keep an eye on it - any further changes report to your Doc or Surgeon,
and note any other symptoms.
best regards
tony

[matti]

Yes, I also have a metallic taste from time to time. My surgery was in 1998.  My doctor tells me it is quite common and there have been a few threads on this subject in the past.  I could go a few months without noticing the metallic taste and then it suddenly appears for a few days or so.  Since my surgery I can not tolerate the taste of salt.

[Pembo]

My sense of taste is diminished. I can still taste things they just aren't as strong as before.

[Raydean]

Part of the taste changes, especially the metallic, taste could be due to the  facial nerve being affected. There are different branches of the facial nerve and one of the branches  involve the mouth. In time hopefully it'll clear up.  it's something you might want to run by your doctor for a better understanding.

best to you
Raydean

[Boppie]

I am in my sixth month post surgery, and still have days when the salty and metallic tastes are annoying.  If I am busy I don't notice it much.  The sensation seems to be abating very slowly.  I stay away from really strong spices.  This seems to help.

[Gennysmom]

I just went for a checkup at the dentist, and let her know of my upcoming surgery and that my trigeminal nerve was affected.  I wanted to make sure that we kept an eye out for salivary issues with my teeth, and I told her about people on this board complaining about metallic tastes post surgery.  She told me that messing with the trigeminal nerve can cause this phenomenon.  I would have guessed it would have been the olfactory nerve as well, but it's my understanding it's higher up and not usually involved in CP angle tumors. 

[Hillarie]

I most definitely had a super strong metallic taste in my mouth - it was awful!!  The only good thing about it was that food tasted awful, and it was easy to forego the chocolate and ice cream because it tasted like metal - I lost some weight as a result!  I am now 6 mos. post-op and the metallic taste has diminished gradually over that time.  I hardly noticed as it got less and less, and it is still there somewhat, but much MUCH less than it was before...so ice cream is starting to taste good again!! 

[Zokess]

Metallic taste....I wish I had a metallic taste....or any taste on my AN side.  It's like the whole left side of my mouth and tongue lost most of the ability to taste.  More or less, everything tastes the same on my left side, and about 50% numb compared to my non AN side.

[Boppie]

For a time I tasted nothing on the AN side.  After a few weeks of that I discovered salty?, sweet?, metallic taste.  This persisted for months.  I thought the metallic taste was worse than the pesky dry eye.  At least it persisted longer.  Now at 6½ months, I am mostly able to ignore the taste problem.  I think it is abating, slowly.  I still avoid strong spicy foods.  Brushing with Biotene helps.  Keeping the tongue rinsed and clean helps too.  Not using my tongue to search my teeth helps.  Chew slowly to increase saliva.

[Kathleen_Mc]

I still have the metalic taste and it's been nearly 16 years. At times I don't notice it and at times it ruins my meals but I haven't noticed any particular reason for it to be more or less bothersome.
Kathleen

[Jim Scott]

I had lost quite a bit of my taste sensation pre-surgery and a month post-op, it has only 'come back' a bit.  I DO 'taste' but it's as if there is a brief lag between eating/drinking and sensing the taste.  However, I expect this is/was all AN-related so I am hopeful that my normal taste will eventually return.  Meanwhile, I just ignore the 'taste gap' and eat what I like, as - don't hate me - I need to gain some weight.

UPDATE: Now, four + weeks post-surgery, my taste is definitely coming back.  There is always hope! 

Jim S.  (7/08/06)

[Obita]

My taste was way off after surgery.  At three months it was at about 75% and 90% by six months.  I still need to concentrate on chewing on both sides as I was so used to shoving food way over to the good side.  Habits don't take long to develop but they sure take a long time to overcome.