Extended lLoss of Taste
I have a friend, who finished throat Cancer treatment, about 18 months ago.
I ran into him today, and he told me he STILL hasn't regained much of a sense of taste. He says unless it's super sweet, food just doesn't register.
I told him about CSN, but also offered to ask my friends on here for advice on this.
Can anyone give me some ideas on what he might try?
Thanks!
mg
Comments
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There Was Something
People said to drink on here over the years but I can't remember what it is. I think it was a drink that was tart and or tangy or both. Also, I remember others said chili somewhat spicy, or spice it to suit seemed to help. I remember someone leaning towards Wendy's chili. He's just going to have to try anything and everything in small quantities to see if it helps. Take Care-God Bless-Russ
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I read somewhere about
I read somewhere about someone who drank lemonade and got their taste back.
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Thanks,
Now that you mention it, I do recall the lemonade as a potential remedy.
Has anyone else used anything that worked?
Thanks,
mg
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Lemonade
I'm probably the one who mentioned Lemonade most recently as something that may help stimulate taste buds. I was 6 months out from treatment and was not getting any taste back. Someone on this site suggested I try drinking lemonade. Shortly after I started drinking the lemonade I noticed some taste coming back. Was it the lemonade - who knows. To this day I continue drinking about 1/2 gallon per week. I am now 30 months out of treatment and have pretty much 100% of my taste and saliva functions back. I would say these functions were all back 100% 18 months after treatment finished. Remember, everyone is different on how long it takes. It's tough not to have any taste as we all know. Tell your friend to be patient and hang in there. It just takes time in most cases. God Bless.
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rick,
I appreciate your help - thanks!
I have already forwarded it to my friend.
mg
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taste
It might be crazy but I eat hot tamale candy fierce cinnamon if you can get past the burn in the tongue and mouth but seems to help my tastes to come back some. I finished treatments December 14th and it seems my appetite and the love I once had for food is just not there anymore I hope at least some of that returns sooner or later.
Good luck, BA
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Lemonade Recipe?ricksmithgolfer said:Lemonade
I'm probably the one who mentioned Lemonade most recently as something that may help stimulate taste buds. I was 6 months out from treatment and was not getting any taste back. Someone on this site suggested I try drinking lemonade. Shortly after I started drinking the lemonade I noticed some taste coming back. Was it the lemonade - who knows. To this day I continue drinking about 1/2 gallon per week. I am now 30 months out of treatment and have pretty much 100% of my taste and saliva functions back. I would say these functions were all back 100% 18 months after treatment finished. Remember, everyone is different on how long it takes. It's tough not to have any taste as we all know. Tell your friend to be patient and hang in there. It just takes time in most cases. God Bless.
Rick ~ How did you make the lemonade? I thought we were supposed to avoid sugar as much as possible due to the low saliva. My taste is maybe 50% but would love to try and spur it on more (and the saliva). Thanks!
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LemonadeRemington25 said:Lemonade Recipe?
Rick ~ How did you make the lemonade? I thought we were supposed to avoid sugar as much as possible due to the low saliva. My taste is maybe 50% but would love to try and spur it on more (and the saliva). Thanks!
I did not make from scratch. I purchased the fresh lemonade at the grocery store. They have a variety of brands they stock in the area where the fresh oj is kept. My favorite is Califia Lemonade. This one can be harder to find but container says made with myer lemons. Google it and you will see the container. The second one I get is a staple in most stores and is Simply Lemonade. None of my doctors mentioned anything about sugar having any impact on my saliva. I had pretty much no saliva after treatment and am now 30 months out and have 100% of taste and saliva back. I consider myself very fortunate. Keep the faith, it definitely takes some time for most of us. I had tonsil / lymph node cancer and 35 rads and 3 high dose Cisplatin treatments. God Bless.
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Not complaining
I finished my treatments in November of 2016 (right tonsil toward the base of my tongue - no surgery - just radiation and chemo) and am still, very sporatically, very slowly, regaining *some* tastes.
Getting sugar and salt back was pretty fast, then came pepper and "spice heat" and then I could tell whether it was black pepper spice or jalapeno spice, and other things came back over longer periods of time.
But the reason I am responding is to say that even now there are things I simply cannot taste. At all. "Sour" isn't right and chocolate isn't right and softdrinks are badly wrong and **way** too sweet.
What I am afraid-of is that the preponderance of anecdotal evidence here says, "I'll come back soon," and the fact is that for me it hasn't and I doubt it ever will. But that doesn't prevent my enjoying food or life; it just changes what I enjoy about it. I just wouldn't want anyone to be shocked and angry because their tastes weren't back to normal in 90 days.
Remember that having modern medicine available to save (extend) our lives was a miracle and that there are those of us who will use a feeding tube for the rest of their lives. Loss of taste is a minor inconvenience by comparison.
Unsolicited preachy message ends.
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Make lemonade from scratch & Swerve for sweetening for no sugar
I have to agree that Meyer lemons are the bomb! If you are into buying lemons in season and then freezing them...
Freezing Fresh Whole lemons:
Wash with soap before freezing.
Place them in seal a meal bags.
Use whole frozen lemons for juicing.
To thaw microwave for a few seconds, or place in cold water for 10-15 minutes.
Slice the lemon and juice.
Swerve is a granualted sugar substitute that is sugar alcohol derived from corn. This is from the Dr. Gundry school of thought.
Maybe that will help!
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Wild man, tbret, Kim,
I really appreciate all of your help and advice; I will pass it on!
mg
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If he has some taste back
If he has some taste back there is a fair chance more will come. At approaching 5 years post mine is still improving. Others here have reported going months or years, and then one day suddenly recovering something like the taste of sour. One thing I didn't do, but would in hindsight, is continue salt water and soda rinses. It's just very effective stuff, cheap, and continues to promote healing. Things got pretty beat up.
I have found the same thing to be true for dry mouth. Things 5 years ago, and over the range since, seemed like I was at a livable but not ideal level. I had it, but it was thick and slimy. But now, over time I am close to normal. Still use xylimelts, but can go most of a day without, although that's also a way to learn I still need them. That varies day-to-day, today was pretty good.. If I would emphasize anything it's neck stretches. The radiation left scar tissue, and scar tissue does not recover, it only gets harder. So stretching now can be important later.
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Thanks,
for all of the advice. I passed it on, with things like the lemoade - and the last time I talked to him, he was pleased to say he was starting to get it back.
I appreciate all of your help!!
mg
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Logan,Logan51 said:Roadhouse Chili
was the staple of my diet after I took a chance with a sandwich having onion and mustard- which registered. And, that was about 4 months after my last Rads.
I hear chili, in general - and Roadhouse chili in particular ... mentioned as an early "taste enabled food" after treatment.
I myself recall chili being one of the earliest things that "registered", when I was recovering.
My Girlfriend mentioned to me, recently, that I needed to take off a few pounds ... so I guess that's the unfortunate side effect to taste coming back!! LOL
mg
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Funny..
Towards the end of treatment, while my throat was the land of a thousand papercuts, I craved Chilli, and I mean.. CRAVED - specifically, Wendys Chilli.
Not only did I crave it, I ate it. I gargled Lidocaine, then at my chilli like it was the last chilli I'd ever see.
But, 4 ish years later, no tastebuds really - I now go for Texture over taste, and even tho, my stomach is still tiny, I'm putting on weight - possibly a dead Thyroid side effect. Just it has to come off LOL - I need a new knee... All I will say is, my dog causes 95% of my accidents
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SuzJ,SuzJ said:Funny..
Towards the end of treatment, while my throat was the land of a thousand papercuts, I craved Chilli, and I mean.. CRAVED - specifically, Wendys Chilli.
Not only did I crave it, I ate it. I gargled Lidocaine, then at my chilli like it was the last chilli I'd ever see.
But, 4 ish years later, no tastebuds really - I now go for Texture over taste, and even tho, my stomach is still tiny, I'm putting on weight - possibly a dead Thyroid side effect. Just it has to come off LOL - I need a new knee... All I will say is, my dog causes 95% of my accidents
I just got back from vacation, and ate BBQ'd beef, shrimp, and Walleye.
They all taste good, but it always seems like the flavor fades, after the first dozen bites or so.
It continues to make it a little easier to watch the weight, I guess.
But, I still have a dozen cans of various kinds of Chili in my pantry!
Are you on medication for your Thyroid? I hope you're having a good day, today!
MG
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