Altered taste buds

francma
francma Member Posts: 69 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am trying to get off the peg tube. March 3, 2011 was my first radiation/chemo treatment. At first things were way too sweet or too salty. Now I have no problem with sweets, can eat vegetables and dairy fairly well. However, it some foods seem to be really hot to the tip of my tongue and it doesn't have to be a spicy food. Does anyone know if zinc tabs helps this or any suggestions?? It really is hard to get a good dinner to eat. My appetite appears to be coming back, however I also chew my food too many times. Some improvement, but the "hot taste" is so frustrating when you do want to eat.

Fran~

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    The only thing I found that helped
    was time. I just kept a running list of what I could and couldn't eat and worked around it. It is frustrating, but it does improve. So slowly we don't even see it changing, except in retrospect. There were still a few foods I avoided because of taste several years after treatment. It's funny, everytime I read one of these altered taste posts, I'm reminded of how altered my taste was. I can still tell you what order I was able to eat various meats in. Chicken dark meat was horrible, for instance, and I couldn't eat it for a very long time.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #3
    for me
    for me even the black pepper after many many years is very spicy for me,

    time is on your side, i am thrilled at you status now at 9 months post treatment. i can honestly say i wish i had your status at the same stage post treatment.

    keep on keeping on

    john
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    Different
    Pretty much different for everyone it seems...

    While I didn't have the PEG, I did go through the salty taste period, and it took forever to regain the ability to taste all things sweet.

    I was always big on buffet style eateries once out of danger of being exposed to catching anything.

    They gave me the opportunity to try a lot of things to test out what taste better than others.

    At nearly 2 1/2 years out now, I can pretty much taste and eat anything/everything.

    Best,
    John
  • francma
    francma Member Posts: 69 Member
    #5
    fisrpotpe said:

    for me
    for me even the black pepper after many many years is very spicy for me,

    time is on your side, i am thrilled at you status now at 9 months post treatment. i can honestly say i wish i had your status at the same stage post treatment.

    keep on keeping on

    john

    Thank you for your comments
    Thank you for your comments and great support. Sometimes I get the feeling I should be off the peg tube and eating normal already. But realizing it is time, patience and perseverance that is needed. Seems also like I take two steps forward and one step back...it's the treatments not the cancer that has inflicted so many problems for me...from insomnia, frozen shoulders, eating problems.

    It's amazing how you could for many years be in perfect health/shape and then suddenly come to feel like your body is deteriorating. It is good to know that you all have your lives back and take the time to share your experiences.

    Happy/Healthy New Year!

    Fran~
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    francma said:

    Thank you for your comments
    Thank you for your comments and great support. Sometimes I get the feeling I should be off the peg tube and eating normal already. But realizing it is time, patience and perseverance that is needed. Seems also like I take two steps forward and one step back...it's the treatments not the cancer that has inflicted so many problems for me...from insomnia, frozen shoulders, eating problems.

    It's amazing how you could for many years be in perfect health/shape and then suddenly come to feel like your body is deteriorating. It is good to know that you all have your lives back and take the time to share your experiences.

    Happy/Healthy New Year!

    Fran~

    Kinda Simple Like a Jig...
    "Two steps forward, one step back...", it's the dance of the H&N Cancer Survivor....

    My favorite quote while in treatment, "Other than having cancer, I'm in perfect health".

    You'll know when it's time to be PEG free....

    Best,
    John

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