Hey everyone,

I am basically two weeks post tx and I have little to no taste. Although, today my mouth seems to be very tart. I'm taking pilocarpine for my saliva, some pain meds and the occasional ambien. But this tart taste or sensation has me a little confused...I'm not complaining because I can feel my saliva glands working...it's almost like I have lemon in my mouth but without the lemon taste but it is a tarty sensation if that makes sense. I use to have a constant salty taste but now it's tarty...like my cheeks want to constantly pucker up. (Okay--I know there is a joke in what I just wrote but I'm not going there!!) Just wondering if any of yous had this sensation? The tarty taste.

btw, i'm pretty much on the basic liquid diet...fluids, juven, vhc, fiber, ensure and boost...nothing out of the ordinary...no meals yet...our typical basics

Ray 1971

Oh yes, we have all had that strange taste for a long time. It will take you at least 6 mo.To start tasting things a little different. Make sure you keep an eye out for thrush infection. It will make your mouth burn.

Take care, Diane

and don't think there has to be white patches to have thrush - this is a false impression many have (including some doctors).
if your mouth is burning or just doesn't feel right, a simple
swab test will show if you have thrush...

Ray,
I honestly don't know how you can have salivary function back so soon. It typically takes about 18 months post RT for it to fully return.

My taste buds took over a year for full recovery but I was able to taste many things about 6-8 weeks post Tx,

Gary,

I've been taking Pilocarpine since the first week of radiation and have continued taking it post tx. I'm not sure if this has helped or not...but my Doctor said he has his patents take it before saliva problems occur. He said it might help or it might not...but the idea was to keep the saliva glands working as much as they could through tx. My saliva changes all the time...very thick to watery back to semi-thick...but I never lost it 100%...always had something. I guess I was lucky...but then it makes me nervous and I think that if it didn't kill my glands maybe it didn't kill the cancer!?

btw--at times i had very little to almost useless saliva...but then warm tea would get it going a little better...the amount of saliva is insufficient enough to eat..so i would need water or milk with my meals...when i was eating--as of now i'm on liquids--i can't bear the foul tastes of eating

and at one time i was making so much thick slimy saliva that i would spit and gag constantly...sometimes i would gag and cough up enough saliva to fill a dixie cup and then some--the gagging would make me gag!...it would freak my GF out--i would look at her and say, "and you want me to go out and exercise?" that has since stopped...thank goodness...coughing up mucous not he get out there and exercise part!! hahahaha

Congrats on being done with the tx! Now, let the real healing begin. Try to be patient as it does take some time as noted.