Losing sense of taste.

[Carolina]

OK, dear Sjogren's angels,

I have had the 'sense' for about 6 months that I'm losing my sense of taste.

My mouth has a 'metallic' sort of taste, but food is all so disappointing now.

I put on lots and lots of salt and pepper, trying to find the taste.

sigh

I imagine others have written about this before.

Is it part of the whole package?  One of my meds?  "Old age"?  Or another idiopathic pleasure to add to my list.

I'll go Google it now.

You'd think I'd lose weight, but NOOOOOOOOOOO.

I keep looking for something.

Cold and sweet, salt and hot register.  So Icecream and pizza sort of fun.

I'll keep you posted.

Hugs

Elaine

[Joe S.]

Too much spicy food in Cuba?

[Carolina]

Amazingly, Joe, food in Cuba is NOT SPICY AT ALL.

Go figure.

No, that isn't because of my loss of taste, either.

They don't use chili peppers and stuff like that.

Fairly blah actually.

Elaine

[ohiolady]

Elaine,

I have this to some degree.  Some days are worse than others.  I use a lot of salt to get flavor.  Not fun is it?  We just have to press on.

Anna

[Joe S.]

It may be an issue with neuropathy or more likely a problem with your nose.

I used to do an experiment for the kid  with a slice of apple and two scents, Cedar and Eucalyptus. A bite of apple with Eucalyptus made the apple taste bad. A bite of apple with cedar made the apple taste exceptionally good.

Maybe and ENT would have an answer?

[Shade]

Hi Elaine,

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your sense of taste.  On my first appt. with my Rheumy, she told me I would lose my sense of taste due to the dry mouth.  I also, believe she told me I would lose my sense of smell.

The disease that keeps on giving.

Best Wishes,

Shade

[Luna]

For many years now I have noticed food doesnt taste right to me. Some days it is worse than others. But I can tell you that nothing taste like it did years ago. Sometimes I have that metallic taste. Sometimes food (especially sweets) tastes bitter. I can't eat it. I do not believe my problem is related to medication or age. It started in my early 30's and I was not on medication .

Luna

[Aquarius]

It may be an issue with neuropathy or more likely a problem with your nose.

Elaine, oh yes my taste has been noticeably affected.  In my case it is connected with severe nasal dryness.  One of the things I miss the most is the taste of coffee.  Still drink it and enjoy it but it's not the same as before all the dryness kicked in. 

One thing that helps to avoid the funny tastes is to thoroughly but lightly brush my mouth including the roof of the mouth. 

[TripleC]

  Same here..... food is not as good as it used to be.  Also, used to be able to eat spicy food ( tacos etc ) or food that has a lot of seasoning... no more, it really burns my mouth. 

[Daisy1234]

Hi Carolina:

About 15 years ago, after getting another round of sinus infections, my sense of taste disappeared along with my sense of smell.  I knew that I couldn't smell things anymore and that food tasted very very bland no matter what was in it.  In fact I had to be very careful because I couldn't tell if something was too spicy for my digestive system when I ate it so I would ask my husband to taste it first if there was food at a restaurant or someone's house that was "unknown" to me.

Funny thing though, recently due to the high doses of prednisone I've been on (100mg per day for 3 months and now on a taper) all of a sudden my sense of smell and my sense of taste have returned in full!  I couldn't believe and still can't believe just how good something like a sandwich can taste now and I really am savouring my food these days. 

In my case I've had ongoing sinus complications due to severe Sjs amongst other issues, and I'm thinking that that may have stolen away my sense of taste along with my sense of smell. 

Wishing you better health days,
Daisy

[Carolina]

Thanks dear Sjogren's Angels;

Yes, it just keeps adding 'gifts', this idiopathic combination of conditions which still tests negative for any and all autoimmune conditions.

I will ask the rheumatologist I will be seeing for the first time in January.

But I won't expect any miracles.

I think prednisone would alleviate a lot of my problems, but add a set of new things.

I took prednisone ages ago in the early 60's and became paranoid from the medication.  It was quite scary.

But the dosage may have been higher, and I may have taken it incorrectly (considering how crazy I was anything is possible).

My ENT only finds that I have a deviated septum, which I have considered surgery to correct.  But I'm leery of adding any surgery at this point.

Well, I'm not alone.  I'm sitting here at the keyboard with a chorus of buzzing in my ears and a weird metallic taste in my mouth, just trying to ignore it all.

And my entire body aches and that is normal at this point, at well.

Like Navydad/really! everything seems to be wacky, but I forge ahead.  Where else is there to go?

And you guys are my lifeline to any form of sanity or peace.

Blessings.

Hugs

Elaine

[dry2010]

I have this issue with taste especially coffee but will not give up my morning cup. I also have very dry sinuses but ENT has never offered any suggestions to help. I am going to ask him on Sept 1st when I have my appt.

Dry2010

[hollowoakfarm]

I lost my sense of smell and most of my taste several years ago.  I can still taste "sweet", but couldn't tell you if I was tasting a peach or chocolate.  Same thing with the other categories.  I can tell bitter, or tart, but not exactly what it is.  Texture helps, and has become increasingly important, as I also have dysphagia.  I can't get any hints from smell, as I smell nothing.  Makes it hard to find the rotten potato in the bin!  And with the dysphagia and lack of flavor, it's made eating a chore rather than a pleasure.

[Sooki]

I've been experimenting a lot with what I eat.  It was awhile before I realized that the reason it's so easy for me to choose what I eat is that my taste buds aren't what they used to be.  Giving up things I used to crave isn't such a biggie any more.  Guess it's not my good moral fibre, just my faulty taste buds!!

[really?]

mine gradually went away, I wish i could eat salt and pepper again,, it tastle like battery acid,, thanks to life changing medicine,, idiots,