Food has no taste

cclambert
cclambert Member Posts: 30
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi everybody,
I finally feel like posting again. I went through hell, but made it back after the surgery. I developed pneumonia and was put on a ventilator for a few days. Stayed in the hospital 2 weeks. Finally able to eat a little and nothing has a taste. Is this a permanent problem or will taste come back. I just started eating soft food today. Started with a poached egg on toast this morning and 1/2 cup of coffee. Nothing tasted. Had snack of cream cheese on Ritz. No taste. I sure hope the taste buds start working again. It is hard to force yourself to eat when it doesn't taste.

Any advice on eating will be appreciated. Also, I want to thank everyone for your support and prayers during this ordeal. I have to say, there were times when I didn't think I was going to make it, but thanks to the power of prayer, I am here to tell the story.

Cathy

Comments

  • lindadanis
    lindadanis Member Posts: 235
    #2
    cathy
    I was reading your post and my husband has no taste either, he lost it right after they started chemo, is going into his third out of six sessions. I don't know the answer, I keep trying everything but he still complains that he has no taste. Can you tell me your story, what stage your are, what treatment you did and noticed you just got out of the hospital, that is great, how are you doing now., also, did you do chemo/radiation, etc. thanks Linda
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #3
    TASTE BUDS
    Hi Cathy,

    Glad you are back I am not sure if I remember reading your post, but I have had alot of things going on.

    Well you ask will the taste come back, PROBABLY NOT!!! Jeff my husband's taste buds still are not back and its been since July when he had his surgery.

    I will say if something sounds good he eats it NOT MEAT, but like eggs, gravy biscuits, potatoes, oatmeal, veggies, sometimes its just a can of greenbeans, thats the only veggie that sounds good and digest.

    You will see as your days go on. Each day is different. Now Jeff cant eat meat cause its get stuck an then we have to go to ER to have it removed, and he said its just not worth it anymore, so he sticks with chicken, hamburger meat, and soft foods.

    It sounds like you had a long recovery in the hospital so did he, he was in the hospital for 14 days, so sounds like you two had the same problems.

    If you have any quesiton let me know, just stay with soft foods like i mention above along with puddings, jello, eggs, mac&cheese, things like that.


    take care

    Lori aka MOE
  • cclambert
    cclambert Member Posts: 30
    #4
    lindadanis said:

    cathy
    I was reading your post and my husband has no taste either, he lost it right after they started chemo, is going into his third out of six sessions. I don't know the answer, I keep trying everything but he still complains that he has no taste. Can you tell me your story, what stage your are, what treatment you did and noticed you just got out of the hospital, that is great, how are you doing now., also, did you do chemo/radiation, etc. thanks Linda

    esophageal cancer
    I have stage 1, I had surgery on Dec.21, now in a few weeks I will start Chemo and maybe radiation. I go back in 4 weeks, and then will find out what the plan is going to be. I had one lymph node that looked suspicous so that is why I am going to do chemo. The surgery was the hardest thing I have ever been through. But of course I developed pneumonia and was put on a ventilator so that made it worse. I have read and talked to people that everything went really well. I sure hope the taste comes back or I will have a problem eating. It is so hard to force food down that has no taste.
    Cathy
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #5
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • BJeastOR
    BJeastOR Member Posts: 18
    #6
    Taste changes
    My husband had chemo/rad pre surgery and surgery in July. He had the same problem with tastes and lack of appetite. IT HAS IMPROVED-- TASTE DOES COME BACK. For the longest time he couldn't eat eggs, just didn't taste right, and he loved them before. Now he can again, and other foods as well. Still sometimes that things don't taste right, but gradually it is improving.

    If things are getting hung up, like meat, it could be due to scar tissue forming and restricting the size of the opening. Hubby had his restretched several times, but now it seems to be staying open.

    He still doesn't ever get hungry, though. Just eats because he knows he needs to.

    Jen
  • Lucky Micka
    Lucky Micka Member Posts: 3
    #7
    Tastre
    I went through surgery (Ivor Lewis method) Aug 11, 2009, and it took about 2 1/2 months to get my taste back. My wife and daughter tried all kinds of things, but nothing could get pastmy nose. Boost and all those protein drinks, smelled like "burnt rubber" and I could sometimes swallow it, but had to hold my nose, alot of the time it just came back up. Finally was given Gator Ade to try, and that worked very well, went down, stayed down and I dont know if it was the replaced "electrolites" or what, but after about two weeks of that, my taste buds came back. Went from 225 before surgery, down to 162, and have now built back up to 178, and am TRYING to get to 165 and hang there. They cut a muscle in my stomach during the surgery and I am now lactose intollrant, but for some reason Ice Cream is not effected, as long as Ihave no more than a half cup at a time. I was very fortunate that they got ALL THE CANCER during surgery, and did not have to go through chemo or radiation. I still battle the runs, and have to make sure I am close to a restroom, if we go out to eat, and also suffer alot from neausea, wake up and throw up probably twice a week, periodic pain in the back where part of the rib was cut out, and once in awhile have a sharp, but quick pain in front, just under my rib cage. Was told that most of this should go away in about a year. It is a long healing process, but is alot better than the alternitive.
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #8
    Lucky Micka said:

    Tastre
    I went through surgery (Ivor Lewis method) Aug 11, 2009, and it took about 2 1/2 months to get my taste back. My wife and daughter tried all kinds of things, but nothing could get pastmy nose. Boost and all those protein drinks, smelled like "burnt rubber" and I could sometimes swallow it, but had to hold my nose, alot of the time it just came back up. Finally was given Gator Ade to try, and that worked very well, went down, stayed down and I dont know if it was the replaced "electrolites" or what, but after about two weeks of that, my taste buds came back. Went from 225 before surgery, down to 162, and have now built back up to 178, and am TRYING to get to 165 and hang there. They cut a muscle in my stomach during the surgery and I am now lactose intollrant, but for some reason Ice Cream is not effected, as long as Ihave no more than a half cup at a time. I was very fortunate that they got ALL THE CANCER during surgery, and did not have to go through chemo or radiation. I still battle the runs, and have to make sure I am close to a restroom, if we go out to eat, and also suffer alot from neausea, wake up and throw up probably twice a week, periodic pain in the back where part of the rib was cut out, and once in awhile have a sharp, but quick pain in front, just under my rib cage. Was told that most of this should go away in about a year. It is a long healing process, but is alot better than the alternitive.

    wow
    All your symptoms was the same as my husband I couldn't have said it better glad things are going well, he also had the surgery in July. so I know exactly what you went through

    and I can relate to it all

    Lori aka MOE

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