Has anyone else had thier taste buds buned off from the rqadiation treatments? My tongue was as red as a cherry icy. Color has some back more to normal after a month, but I am wondering how long before the tastebuds grow back. I would esitmate 6 months. Then I would guess 4 more months before I can taste things again. Anyone else go through this?

John

We all loss some of our taste from radiation but it does come back for the most part but very very slowly. I'm still not 100% pre TX but it took me 16 months post Tx before I was finally enjoying eating again.

David it right on,
just when you think that hmmm.... so this is it??!! things improve again. Just in the last couple if weeks taste as taken a leap forward. This seems to go in parallel with better tolerance of different food, toothpaste etc.

M

John,

My tastebuds crapped out after the fourth week of radiation and now, after five weeks, nothing tastes good in my mouth at all. From what I've been reading here, the recovery of taste is wildly variable and it seems that it even changes back and forth during the recovery period. I think the best we can do is hang in there.

Your lack of taste is due to both the radiation and the chemotherapy, in all likelihood. Taste starts coming back faster than you might think, but everyone is different. I have probably 85% of taste back, though it is different than pre-treatment. Flavors are more muted, and some things, like dark chocolate, are still a little "off". Lack of saliva plays a part as well, and I do battle dry mouth daily.

As with everything else, it is simply a matter of taking care of yourself and following the doctors' instructions on a daily basis.

Yes, but did your taste buds all burn off as well? The Nurses and Nurse pract. seemed surprised. THey had not seen that before.

I can't say one way or another on that one. All I know is that everything tasted rotten or had no taste at all for quite awhile.

I lost my taste around 4 weeks into treatment. Last radiation was 19 Aug. 2008. By Thanksgiving was able to taste a little but swallowing was a battle. By Christmas taste was much better but throat was still slow often felt like I was trying to swallow gravel. Again chocolate milk came to the rescue. Tried several of the protein drinks but after a blood infection in Aug with a lot of nausea the smell of them made me want to heave. Now almost a year out eating is slow but I do enjoy a lot of different fruit. (we have a small orchard)Chocolate milk is my constant companion. Going to try a rib steak today well marbled. Beef has been dry as even dark chicken is dry. Things are getting better. There is hope!

Johnny

The one thing I learned, is just do not give up. Try something and if it doesn't work that time, wait a bit (4-6 weeks) and try again. Results for me have been surprising. I even got to eat a steak recently, good ole T-Bone

Kevin

I finished treatment on 11 Nov 07 and had no taste for Thanksgiving, by Christmas my taste started comming back slowly, now 10 months post treatment I have 100% of my taste back. I eat what I want and drink 2 glasses of water with a meal. So just hang in there and it will return but as you see it happens differently for everyone. Bob