Did anyone have a really strong 'metallic' taste only 7 days in to radiation???

this site (and a few other HNC sites) he'd find out that it's not at all uncommon to get the metalic taste.  I don't undertstand either, the reluctance the Dr. has to giving nausea meds....I mean nauseated is nauseated regardless where it stems from, and food and hydration are absolutely necessary during treatment!  That persistant nausea is a bi*ch to live with.....knowing that nothing is going to stay down, even the thought of food can get a person gagging...and he has to eat! 

I didn't have the metallic taste....but I remember the day I woke up and everything tasted fine....about noon I was sitting at the kitchen table with the Home Health Nurse, and took a sip of water, and it tasted like salty sweat....that was the beginning of the end of my "buds". 

I'm hoping that Pat will pass thru this metallic phase, and move into no taste whatsoever.....that can be a blessing in disguise.  Maybe remind the Dr. that nauseated people don't eat....and eating is essential to getting through this. 

p

j4mie said:

I think I need to clarify...

The Dr. on call didn't think that the 'metallic' taste was unusual, but more so that Pat is dealing with such nausea becasue of it. He told us that nausea is not usually something that somebody who is not going through chemo deals with. Yes, P, I agree...the nausea is what it is no matter the cause, and it is definitely NOT helping his appetite!! We will try the plastic utensils and also maybe try to have him drink more milk throughout the day. If that doesn't help I guess we will probably have to insist on some nausea meds.

on here who have suffered nausea from the rads....it might not make "clinical" sense, but that doesn't change what it is....I did try Nux Vomica for nausea (it's a homeopathic med you can get at the health food store), and I also picked up Ginger caps from the same place, which is supposed to help nausea.....I know the Ginger is ok to use during treatment, but I'd ask about the Nux Vomica....

Just got a chuckle at a mental picture....the Dr. hearing you're going to pick up the Nux, might push him into saying "oh hell, here's a script for some Compazine"....LOL.  Sometimes ya gotta play poker with these guys.

p

j4mie said:

I think I need to clarify...

The Dr. on call didn't think that the 'metallic' taste was unusual, but more so that Pat is dealing with such nausea becasue of it. He told us that nausea is not usually something that somebody who is not going through chemo deals with. Yes, P, I agree...the nausea is what it is no matter the cause, and it is definitely NOT helping his appetite!! We will try the plastic utensils and also maybe try to have him drink more milk throughout the day. If that doesn't help I guess we will probably have to insist on some nausea meds.

I was on of the one who had nausea the ENTIRE 6 weeks of rads, no chemo.  I was on anti nausea meds for 4 of the 6 weeks and the saliva gagged me so much that I had to get a PEG because I couldn't eat without vomiting.   I'd insist on the meds.  I am a person who REFUSES medicine unless it is absolutely needed and I took mine every day (gladly) during radiation.  I had awful side effects (the doctors said I reacted as if I was allergic to radiation) and I felt like a freak!  They assured me that nausea was quite normal and nothing to be concerned about.  I hope he feels better very soon!

j4mie said:

Thanks friends...

Thank you all for making me feel like I have a leg to stand on if I/we need to call back and try to get some meds prescribed. Glad (glad...???) to hear this is pretty normal. I too was surprised about the Dr. not wanting to prescribe nausea meds...I can't imagine they would do much harm, and good point Pat, there is more harm by far if he stops eating.

Pat did get up and go in to the office, so if he's still feeling rotten when I get to talk to him I will put a call in to the weekend staff and insist on getting something to help him. 

Hope you all have a great weekend. It's a beautiful day here...weather is crisp, and the leaves are full of color!

Jamie

is a strange word to use, but it's true!!    I was always glad to hear that I wasn't having something unusual happen.  You know the old saying "misery loves company".  The people here on CSN totally understand and were VITAL in getting me through treatments.  I wish I had found the site long before I did! 

I love Fall!  It's crisp here today and I'm ready to throw open the windows!!

TracyLynn72 said:

My oncologist

said this WAS a very common reaction to rads.  I only had rads and had somewhat of a metallic taste in my mouth (still do) and I noticed I had to drink my water NOT ice cold...cool, but not cold and using plastic utensils helped a lot. I didn't have chemo, but the metallic taste was mentioned in ALL of my radiation paperwork they sent me.   The suggestions were using the plastic utensils and drinking milk.  I hope that will help some, I'm so sorry he's experiencing that. 

I was also warned about a metallic taste. I had a strong taste of salt throughout tx. While not pleasant, atleast it was a taste I was familiar with. I don't think the metallic taste is an unusual one to get. Plastic utensils make sense.

Good luck! 

Hi,

In general, many suffer loss or altered taste. For me, my taste just went soft and things never went off taste. My tastes became very sensitive and any seasoning and flavors were actually very strong. Any salt was just too much. The most comfortable foods were all natural and I loved tasting all the naturally occuring flavors without any salt.

Now, at 4 months post-tx, my taste buds are getting stronger, so to speak, in that they can take more spice and salt and more flavorable prepared dishes. I LOVE to savor foods bursting with flavor and spice and now progressed back to where average spiced foods are tasting pretty good. Will have to wait to see if/how long before my taste buds return to full duty and embrace the spiciest and hottest of what is out there. LOL

Hi Jamie,  first never feel like your a Squeeky wheel :-). Bring it...that's why were here.  I did have the metallic taste.  I also found that Plastic untensils were a staple at my house.  Kept them in my pocket :-) if I left the houSe.  My hubby was great at amking sure where ever we went that that was taken care of... I loved me some chocolate milk too.  Found foods that seem to bring that taste more than others i just noted and learn to avoid it.  Fruits were not a friend for me :-( guess it was the aCidic ones.   I personally never experienced the nasuea  Really am sorry he's having to endure that on top of the treatments and everything else.  I would also hope that the doctor will offer him some solution.  i agree with Phrannie nasuea is nasuea and not eating does not need to be an option...why have to have nasuea if it's not necessary and there are solutions. 

prayers he takes a turn and this gets better,

P.S.  Bless you especially tonight Jamie...and take care of you too!!

Christie

I had to stop using regular silverware , went to plastic, even taking plastic with me on the ocassions eating out or asked for it. Anything out of a can had the same metallic taste...no issues during chemo...all thru radiation. ...subsided after all radiation complete.