NO TASTE OR FLAVOR

COBRA666
COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
edited March 2014 in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Anyone out there experienced no taste or flavor in the food during chemo? If so how long does it last and will it come back? What causes it, the Rituxin or the prednisone or the other chemo drugs?

Comments

  • kayebadoe
    kayebadoe Member Posts: 81
    #2
    That happened to me after my
    That happened to me after my first course. Its because it messes with your tastebuds. Your mouth maybe sore. This time my tongue isn't as sore. I still can taste my food. Make sure you rinse out your mouth every time you eat.
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #3
    NO TASTE
    with my first round of cancer I was recieving Cysplatin, had no taste what so ever, water even tasted like battery acid, but i was recieving radiation too, I did not get my taste buds back till after all my treatments were finished, really was hard, don't ask me why but all I did was watch the TV Food Network! THINKING OF FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! commit me!!!! hahahaha
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #4
    NO TASTE
    I finished the 5 days of prednisone and notice all the food has a metallic flavor now. While I was taking the predisone (100mg) it had no flavor at all. Never realized how much I appreciated the taste of food till now. Even though it taste funny I still want to eat it. Maybe if I could taste it I would not be as hungry. I just hope it is not permanent. Anybody that has gone thru this that can share more results.
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #5
    COBRA666 said:

    NO TASTE
    I finished the 5 days of prednisone and notice all the food has a metallic flavor now. While I was taking the predisone (100mg) it had no flavor at all. Never realized how much I appreciated the taste of food till now. Even though it taste funny I still want to eat it. Maybe if I could taste it I would not be as hungry. I just hope it is not permanent. Anybody that has gone thru this that can share more results.

    NO TASTE
    John it will definitely not permanent, like I said I went through this the last time, what helped me was believe it or not was Ramien noodles and mini pastine soup,(small pasta with chicken brooth).Eat often ,but small portions, experiment with different foods, you will be surprised that you will find something that will taste ok!!!! good luck Vinny
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #6
    vinny59 said:

    NO TASTE
    John it will definitely not permanent, like I said I went through this the last time, what helped me was believe it or not was Ramien noodles and mini pastine soup,(small pasta with chicken brooth).Eat often ,but small portions, experiment with different foods, you will be surprised that you will find something that will taste ok!!!! good luck Vinny

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, I tried the noodles and it was worth the try. I did taste a little but that metal taste is still there. I will keep trying other stuff til I find something that I can taste. Seems like we are the only ones on here anymore. I go back and check the posts from a few months ago and a lot of the people do not reply or post any longer.I hope they are not having a bad time. I just never thought chemo would be like this. Then again who really thinks about chemo until it rolls around to them. Certainly an experience a person will never forget. Its only been a week today an I don't have much strenght at all. I am better in the morning, but by evening I am drained. I hear it gets better just in time for the next round. I don't mean to talk your ear off,its just these things I have in my head and its so new to me. I know it is new to a lot of other people as well. John
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #7
    COBRA666 said:

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, I tried the noodles and it was worth the try. I did taste a little but that metal taste is still there. I will keep trying other stuff til I find something that I can taste. Seems like we are the only ones on here anymore. I go back and check the posts from a few months ago and a lot of the people do not reply or post any longer.I hope they are not having a bad time. I just never thought chemo would be like this. Then again who really thinks about chemo until it rolls around to them. Certainly an experience a person will never forget. Its only been a week today an I don't have much strenght at all. I am better in the morning, but by evening I am drained. I hear it gets better just in time for the next round. I don't mean to talk your ear off,its just these things I have in my head and its so new to me. I know it is new to a lot of other people as well. John

    NO TASTE
    Your not talking my ears off, it's great to hear from other people that are going through this, and you are right, people are going through this and it is tough to get up and post, I'm still working for one more week so I'm always on my computer, so it is easy to respond. when i went through this the first time, it was a battle just to get up and take a shower. Not to sound so doom and gloom, my last time I could not drink water without throwing up, but again I was getting radiation too, so far for me it's not as bad as expected, but I kmow it's going to get worse before it get's better. Know that you can do this!
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #8
    vinny59 said:

    NO TASTE
    Your not talking my ears off, it's great to hear from other people that are going through this, and you are right, people are going through this and it is tough to get up and post, I'm still working for one more week so I'm always on my computer, so it is easy to respond. when i went through this the first time, it was a battle just to get up and take a shower. Not to sound so doom and gloom, my last time I could not drink water without throwing up, but again I was getting radiation too, so far for me it's not as bad as expected, but I kmow it's going to get worse before it get's better. Know that you can do this!

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, did the chemo knock you on your butt right away? It did me. john
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #9
    COBRA666 said:

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, did the chemo knock you on your butt right away? It did me. john

    NO TASTE
    the first three days were rough, bouncing back a little now, that shot is what's killing me the most, I'm so sore everywhere......... John if you don't mind me asking, how old are you??? I'm going to be 51 in week........
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #10
    vinny59 said:

    NO TASTE
    the first three days were rough, bouncing back a little now, that shot is what's killing me the most, I'm so sore everywhere......... John if you don't mind me asking, how old are you??? I'm going to be 51 in week........

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, I am 61 years old. I do feel a little better today though. Just hope its not this way every round, but if it is I will have to bear it out.
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #11
    COBRA666 said:

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, I am 61 years old. I do feel a little better today though. Just hope its not this way every round, but if it is I will have to bear it out.

    NO TASTE
    Just keep thinking about the prize at the end of this road, as bumpy as it is........just keep thinking only 7 more treatments, not weeks, then 6........
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #12
    vinny59 said:

    NO TASTE
    Just keep thinking about the prize at the end of this road, as bumpy as it is........just keep thinking only 7 more treatments, not weeks, then 6........

    No Taste
    Hello Vinny and John,

    Vinny you are so right, john you will get your taste back. The chemo is attacking fast growing cells and your mouth and digestive track is made up of very fast growing cells. You taste will come back as you get closer to your next chemo and than this will happen all over again. Each week and each chemo will be different. I found the first chemo to be the worst and was ready to quit the first week thanks to the steroids. But the chemos after that were better because I knew what would be happening to my body so I was better prepared. My Onc actually said for me the chemos would get better as I had lots happening the first round. All in all I had sever constipation, close to impaction, loss of bladder control for 5 days every session, loss of taste, vincristine caused neuropothy and paralized vocal cords, fungul infection in throat and under toe and finger nails, sever fatigue, inability to drive as brain could not handle alot of activity first week of every round, fatigue so bad I couldn't climb stairs, double vision........but yes, I will say RCHOP is doable. There are worse chemos and this too will pass. The prize at the end, being in CR is worth so very much.

    Just keep on plugging along. One foot infront of the other.
    Leslie
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #13
    yesyes2 said:

    No Taste
    Hello Vinny and John,

    Vinny you are so right, john you will get your taste back. The chemo is attacking fast growing cells and your mouth and digestive track is made up of very fast growing cells. You taste will come back as you get closer to your next chemo and than this will happen all over again. Each week and each chemo will be different. I found the first chemo to be the worst and was ready to quit the first week thanks to the steroids. But the chemos after that were better because I knew what would be happening to my body so I was better prepared. My Onc actually said for me the chemos would get better as I had lots happening the first round. All in all I had sever constipation, close to impaction, loss of bladder control for 5 days every session, loss of taste, vincristine caused neuropothy and paralized vocal cords, fungul infection in throat and under toe and finger nails, sever fatigue, inability to drive as brain could not handle alot of activity first week of every round, fatigue so bad I couldn't climb stairs, double vision........but yes, I will say RCHOP is doable. There are worse chemos and this too will pass. The prize at the end, being in CR is worth so very much.

    Just keep on plugging along. One foot infront of the other.
    Leslie

    no taste
    Leslie, thanks for the insight, it is unbelieveable what your body can go through!one day at a time!!!!!! thanks again!
  • TheMWord
    TheMWord Member Posts: 23
    #14
    vinny59 said:

    no taste
    Leslie, thanks for the insight, it is unbelieveable what your body can go through!one day at a time!!!!!! thanks again!

    It's a common problem
    I personally had no problems with taste or eating. I actually gained weight from steroids that stimulated my appetite. I lost my taste though for a month during radiation.
  • britta
    britta Member Posts: 107
    #15
    COBRA666 said:

    NO TASTE
    Vinny, I am 61 years old. I do feel a little better today though. Just hope its not this way every round, but if it is I will have to bear it out.

    No Taste
    Hi,

    I just finished R-CVP May 13 and I never experienced the no taste problem, but I do have a friend who is taking chemo for breast cancer and she can't taste anything but ice cream. In fact last night she was stopping at Culver's on her way home from chemo and getting a turtle sundae. I had a lot of aches and fatigue with the R-CVP, but not after six weeks I'm getting my energy back. You will get through this and we'll all be here for you. Also grab ahold of God's hand, he won't let you go.

    Britta
  • Jan survives
    Jan survives Member Posts: 7
    #16
    No taste
    John, I have had R-chop and then 1 year later an auto-stem cell transplant. I was given large doses of prednisone because I also had very low platelets. I took my anti nausea around the clock even if I was not nausous. I aslo took low doses of pain meds. round the clock. I took prilosec every morning. I had little metal taste. i never threw up and I never lost weight but gained I guess because of the pred. I ate ramen noodles and orange jello. I am here to tell you a year and a half later its all worth it! I am back to my pre cancer weight! I have a little more energy. Not like I was but its livable. I have a life again. I eat smaller meals. I find that anything that has tomato's gives me trouble. I surrounded myself with good people and music and movies when I was going through the treatments. I have two young boys and they needed there mama and that was my focus. Prayer helped to. It sounds like your having a hard time and I am sorry for that. Mine was not to awful. I slept alot! I also walked everyday in the hallways of the hospital and hallway at home. I felt most energetic first thing in am and as the day wore on totally drained. I just listened to my body and took it minute by minute. Not easy to do. You will find your own rhytem and routine's. Not everyone is the same. My family at times thought it was over but not me! I don't know if anything I did will help but I will pray for you and maybe that will! Keep the faith! Jan

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