Post-surgery taste issues?

[chocolatetruffle]

hello anissa
my tongue was numb for at least 6 mths and i was also hypersensitive to sugar and salt (food either taste too salty or too sweet).  guess it helped me control my sugar and salt intake, but when my tongue went back to normal i was back to eating potato chips and eh............chocolates 

hope this helps!

[EJTampa]

Thought I'd check in again.  I'm not sure when it happened, but my taste seems to be back to normal.  I don't notice any strange metallic tastes anymore.  I'm 4+ weeks post op now.
 
Ernie

[joebloggs]

I haven't noticed any taste issues at all.  I didn't have much of an appetite, but I could still taste what I did eat.  My appetite has come back unfortunately...with great gusto!

[SML]

Hi Anissa,
 I had the metal taste before surgery. It started with the right backside of my tongue and moved to the tip of the tongue. I still kept taste on the left side. I still now have the yucky taste, but I think its getting better on the tip of the tongue. For some reason pepper is just horrible for me now. I used it on everything before. Sweets are starting to taste more normal. Watch out waste!

Scarlett

[EJTampa]

I could never lose my taste for pepper!  I use black pepper, crushed red peppers, and even pepper sauces on everything .
 
Ernie

[cecile k]

I had a metallic taste prior to surgery but it was gone after surgery. Actually, I ate like no tomorrow after I was moved from ICU .... everything tasted so good and I was constantly hungry (b/c of steroids, I think). I actually gained four pounds during my two weeks in hospital :-) for a whopping total of 108 pounds!!! So, you can see why I was very happy to gain, rather than lose, weight!

Cecile

[Dusty]

Hey Anissa,

I am 3+ weeks post surgery and have a slight metallic taste in my mouth.  Nothing I eat has tasted the same as I remember but is slowly improving over time.  Not such a bad thing because I am eating less and have lost 5 pounds.  I am looking forward to a nice steak but am waiting for some more improvement.

Dusty

[Sonja]

I am 7 weeks post-op and I have an on and off again slightly salty taste on my right side. I wish food did taste aweful for a few months. I can stand to lose about 30-40 pounds. I was on a regular diet (except for the ice chips in ICU) and could taste food immediately after surgery. Never seem to lose my appetite, not even after brain surgery .

I am sure your taste will come bacck soon.

Sonja

[Linda Harper]

Anissa,

I am almost six months post op and my taste is just now coming back and I am so delighted and happy to report. I was told there might be measurable improvement at about six months and this is true.  I feel great this past week. My eyes do not tear, I am not as tired as early in the evening and my "tastes" are almost back to normal.

Hope!

Linda

[stoneaxe]

I had radio-surgery so my mileage varies....immediately after treatment I walked across the street and had  pasta at the Venice Restaurante (you have to say that with an Italian accent)...enough garlic to curl your toes. Even though its just a little pizza joint they make some unbelievable pastas...anyway...the guy serving me keeps looking at me weird...I said to my wife.."how come this guy is staring at me?" She says.."Your face looks like you just came out of a waffle maker" I was very bummed out they wouldn't let me keep my mask from the treatment.

Back to the thread...the pasta was great...and food was fine for about a week then I had the taste of pennies in my mouth all the time for about a month before it finally went away.

Jim...do you think they'll have that on the Oprah show soon? The AN diet...lose weight and have food taste better than ever.

[LOIS]

Hi Annisa,

Just caught up to this thread.  I'm 8 months post-op retrosig surgery on left side.  Still have a weird taste on the left side.  Cant really describe what kind of taste, just awful.

Lois

[Jim Scott]

Jim...do you think they'll have that on the Oprah show soon? The AN diet...lose weight and have food taste better than ever?

We could call it the Acoustic Neuroma Diet!  Just develop a large benign tumor on your 8th cranial nerve, endure a profound loss of balance, stabbing pains on the tumor site, fatigue, as well as losing your sense of taste.  Practically stop eating, lose 30+ pounds, then have brain surgery and radiation to attack the tumor and when you're done, lose your inclination to snack and eat big food portions because food now tastes better than ever. 

Well, no, I guess the pain, fatigue, loss of balance, surgery and radiation parts might put some folks off.  However, it did work for me, but as I've told my wife, I would rather have just went on a conventional diet to lose the extra weight.   

Jim