Anyone else with Altered Taste All Day Long?

Posted by neisie13 @neisie13, Sep 5 11:13am

For the past several months I have had a problem with a terrible taste all day. I can taste food but as soon as I stop eating it goes back to either a sour or very unpleasant taste or an overwhelming salty taste. The dentist sees no issues, the medications and other products to increase saliva have done nothing, the GERD medication does nothing to help either so now I am on Gabapentin in case it's more of a neurological issue. This has helped reduce the amount of days when I have an overwhelming salty taste but has done nothing to reduce the constant sour and more tolerable salty tastes that I continue to experience all day long. Gum helps mask the taste but the only thing that really helps it is wearing my old orthodontic retainer. I have no idea why this helps but it immediately reduces the miserable taste, Of course this does not resolve the underlying issue. Is there anyone else experiencing this and have you found an answer????

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Profile picture for linda1976 @linda1976

I wanted to add that I too have had the salty taste. It's just unbelievable!! No one seems to be able to figure it out.

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When is your appointment with the oral surgeon? I am so curious to find out if there is something going on with your teeth that are bothering you!!

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It is interesting that you were in talk therapy for quite a long time. I am pretty stressed out over this issue and other things going on. and I sometimes wonder if these taste issues are due to anxiety? What exactly does functional mean? I googled it and I'm not sure if it means that they have ruled out all physical causes and maybe it's more of a neurological issue that can't be found by any testing? I am taking Gabapentin now which is supposed to help neurological issues in case that was the cause and it does not help with my taste issue at all, but it's helping with the headaches I was experiencing every single morning which were waking me up. So I conquered one problem but not the one bothering me the most!! Have you been on an antidepressant since that might be be the next thing the doctors try!!

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Profile picture for neisie13 @neisie13

It is interesting that you were in talk therapy for quite a long time. I am pretty stressed out over this issue and other things going on. and I sometimes wonder if these taste issues are due to anxiety? What exactly does functional mean? I googled it and I'm not sure if it means that they have ruled out all physical causes and maybe it's more of a neurological issue that can't be found by any testing? I am taking Gabapentin now which is supposed to help neurological issues in case that was the cause and it does not help with my taste issue at all, but it's helping with the headaches I was experiencing every single morning which were waking me up. So I conquered one problem but not the one bothering me the most!! Have you been on an antidepressant since that might be be the next thing the doctors try!!

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@neisie13 , I’m not an authority on functional disorders, but have explored them since I have been desperate to help my conditions. I was a relatively healthy person until I got a number of odd things which sent me to the neurologist, ENT, and subsequently rheumatology and allergist. My symptoms did scare me and I was anxious, so I sought therapy. I was prescribed Gabapentin at one time and I tried it for 2 weeks. I liked it a lot, but it caused blurred vision and I had to stop taking it. Otherwise, I would have continued it. It didn’t affect my bitter taste though. I was also prescribed Lexapro, but tried talk therapy without meds and it worked out ok. I had a lot of anxiety. Talk therapy really helped me. I am now so much better and don’t have anxiety flares. Even though I recently suffered the loss of my Dad, my anxiety has been manageable. I do intend to reach out to my therapist for a few sessions to discuss that. But, I’m in a good place. Oh, my neurologist prescribed me Klonopin, low dose, for times I needed it. I used it conservatively and it was very helpful. It had no impact on my taste issue. (I was experiencing a lot of other symptoms that occurred suddenly and was evaluated for conditions like MS, Parkinson’s, etc. Paresthesia in hands and feet, body wide fasciculations, sudden hair shedding, sleep disorder, plus smell/taste issues,)It was like a tsunami. I was simultaneously working with my endocrinologist and primary to keep blood sugar managed. I wear a pump with integrated cgm for automated insulin delivery. Pretty good management. Better now.

So, functional to me means they don’t know exactly why you have a symptom…..you just do. So they treat the symptom. It doesn’t mean it’s imagined. Is it caused by anxiety? I’m not sure that matters. If you treat anxiety and it helps, then it works. But, idk. There are functional doctors.

Oh, in my reading, I have wondered if there is a possible connection between burning mouth syndrome and my constant bad taste issues. If you read about burning mouth syndrome you’ll see why. Bitter taste can be a part of it. I never had the burning though.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

@neisie13 , I’m not an authority on functional disorders, but have explored them since I have been desperate to help my conditions. I was a relatively healthy person until I got a number of odd things which sent me to the neurologist, ENT, and subsequently rheumatology and allergist. My symptoms did scare me and I was anxious, so I sought therapy. I was prescribed Gabapentin at one time and I tried it for 2 weeks. I liked it a lot, but it caused blurred vision and I had to stop taking it. Otherwise, I would have continued it. It didn’t affect my bitter taste though. I was also prescribed Lexapro, but tried talk therapy without meds and it worked out ok. I had a lot of anxiety. Talk therapy really helped me. I am now so much better and don’t have anxiety flares. Even though I recently suffered the loss of my Dad, my anxiety has been manageable. I do intend to reach out to my therapist for a few sessions to discuss that. But, I’m in a good place. Oh, my neurologist prescribed me Klonopin, low dose, for times I needed it. I used it conservatively and it was very helpful. It had no impact on my taste issue. (I was experiencing a lot of other symptoms that occurred suddenly and was evaluated for conditions like MS, Parkinson’s, etc. Paresthesia in hands and feet, body wide fasciculations, sudden hair shedding, sleep disorder, plus smell/taste issues,)It was like a tsunami. I was simultaneously working with my endocrinologist and primary to keep blood sugar managed. I wear a pump with integrated cgm for automated insulin delivery. Pretty good management. Better now.

So, functional to me means they don’t know exactly why you have a symptom…..you just do. So they treat the symptom. It doesn’t mean it’s imagined. Is it caused by anxiety? I’m not sure that matters. If you treat anxiety and it helps, then it works. But, idk. There are functional doctors.

Oh, in my reading, I have wondered if there is a possible connection between burning mouth syndrome and my constant bad taste issues. If you read about burning mouth syndrome you’ll see why. Bitter taste can be a part of it. I never had the burning though.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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Thank you so much for your detailed post. I have to do some errands this morning but I'll reply when I get back because you have really given me some interesting information!!!

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Profile picture for neisie13 @neisie13

When is your appointment with the oral surgeon? I am so curious to find out if there is something going on with your teeth that are bothering you!!

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My appointment is tomorrow with the Oral Surgeon

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Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

@neisie13 , I’m not an authority on functional disorders, but have explored them since I have been desperate to help my conditions. I was a relatively healthy person until I got a number of odd things which sent me to the neurologist, ENT, and subsequently rheumatology and allergist. My symptoms did scare me and I was anxious, so I sought therapy. I was prescribed Gabapentin at one time and I tried it for 2 weeks. I liked it a lot, but it caused blurred vision and I had to stop taking it. Otherwise, I would have continued it. It didn’t affect my bitter taste though. I was also prescribed Lexapro, but tried talk therapy without meds and it worked out ok. I had a lot of anxiety. Talk therapy really helped me. I am now so much better and don’t have anxiety flares. Even though I recently suffered the loss of my Dad, my anxiety has been manageable. I do intend to reach out to my therapist for a few sessions to discuss that. But, I’m in a good place. Oh, my neurologist prescribed me Klonopin, low dose, for times I needed it. I used it conservatively and it was very helpful. It had no impact on my taste issue. (I was experiencing a lot of other symptoms that occurred suddenly and was evaluated for conditions like MS, Parkinson’s, etc. Paresthesia in hands and feet, body wide fasciculations, sudden hair shedding, sleep disorder, plus smell/taste issues,)It was like a tsunami. I was simultaneously working with my endocrinologist and primary to keep blood sugar managed. I wear a pump with integrated cgm for automated insulin delivery. Pretty good management. Better now.

So, functional to me means they don’t know exactly why you have a symptom…..you just do. So they treat the symptom. It doesn’t mean it’s imagined. Is it caused by anxiety? I’m not sure that matters. If you treat anxiety and it helps, then it works. But, idk. There are functional doctors.

Oh, in my reading, I have wondered if there is a possible connection between burning mouth syndrome and my constant bad taste issues. If you read about burning mouth syndrome you’ll see why. Bitter taste can be a part of it. I never had the burning though.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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I do have burning mouth also.

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Profile picture for linda1976 @linda1976

My appointment is tomorrow with the Oral Surgeon

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Good luck and I hope you let us know if they find cause for the salty/bad taste!!!

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Profile picture for celia16 @celia16

@neisie13 , I’m not an authority on functional disorders, but have explored them since I have been desperate to help my conditions. I was a relatively healthy person until I got a number of odd things which sent me to the neurologist, ENT, and subsequently rheumatology and allergist. My symptoms did scare me and I was anxious, so I sought therapy. I was prescribed Gabapentin at one time and I tried it for 2 weeks. I liked it a lot, but it caused blurred vision and I had to stop taking it. Otherwise, I would have continued it. It didn’t affect my bitter taste though. I was also prescribed Lexapro, but tried talk therapy without meds and it worked out ok. I had a lot of anxiety. Talk therapy really helped me. I am now so much better and don’t have anxiety flares. Even though I recently suffered the loss of my Dad, my anxiety has been manageable. I do intend to reach out to my therapist for a few sessions to discuss that. But, I’m in a good place. Oh, my neurologist prescribed me Klonopin, low dose, for times I needed it. I used it conservatively and it was very helpful. It had no impact on my taste issue. (I was experiencing a lot of other symptoms that occurred suddenly and was evaluated for conditions like MS, Parkinson’s, etc. Paresthesia in hands and feet, body wide fasciculations, sudden hair shedding, sleep disorder, plus smell/taste issues,)It was like a tsunami. I was simultaneously working with my endocrinologist and primary to keep blood sugar managed. I wear a pump with integrated cgm for automated insulin delivery. Pretty good management. Better now.

So, functional to me means they don’t know exactly why you have a symptom…..you just do. So they treat the symptom. It doesn’t mean it’s imagined. Is it caused by anxiety? I’m not sure that matters. If you treat anxiety and it helps, then it works. But, idk. There are functional doctors.

Oh, in my reading, I have wondered if there is a possible connection between burning mouth syndrome and my constant bad taste issues. If you read about burning mouth syndrome you’ll see why. Bitter taste can be a part of it. I never had the burning though.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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Okay now I finally have time to answer. It's been a busy day today with just odds and ends and crazy to say but now I have to put in my retainer before I do errands otherwise I am so miserable...Luckily one of my retainers is clear so no one can really tell I have it in but it still affects my speech a little so I only wear it when I don't have to talk to anyone I know or I am not in a social situation, which these days are few and far between anyway. Your last sentence was about burning mouth and I don't have that either. I have read about it but those are just not my symptoms. I have the altered taste part of it but not the painful tongue or any pain. Sounds like my issue is more functional now that you've explained what that means. I have the symptoms or altered taste, but no one reason for it. Dry mouth seems to be the big reason given over and over but nothing used to treat dry mouth helps me at all so I really don't think that's it and neither do my doctors at this point. Glad again that you have found help with talk therapy and can use it when you need to and so glad you are feeling so much better. I have tinnitus in both ears so years ago I was put on a low dose of Xanax but as much as I'd like to increase it a lot because of all this anxiety now over this taste issue, I know it is very addictive so I won't go up in dose and no one has recommended that anyway. I was put on several SSRI's a few years ago for anxiety, etc. but they made my ringing 10 times worse which upped my anxiety so that was a waste. I may try the Cymbalta generic again though since it is supposed to help nerve damage and it is not a true SSRI...and is better for your brain than Gabapentin which is supposed to cause Alzeheimers and I don't want that!!! I am not taking a super high dose but still it's not worth it if I can find something better. The gaba is not helping the taste issue anyway though it is a wonder against my daily morning headaches. I would like to find out why since it might at least explain what caused the headaches that I had every singe morning at 5 a.m. I'm just so disappointed that it's not helping the taste since the rheumatologist really thought it would..Did all those conditions that you were tested for like Parkinsons, all happen after you got Covid?? Just wondering since so many people have had terrible after effects after having Covid besides the smell/taste problems! Thanks again for providing so much information and again so glad you are feeling better....

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Profile picture for linda1976 @linda1976

I do have burning mouth also.

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I wonder if the oral surgeon will help you with that too? I have not heard that it is related to tooth problems but it will be interesting to hear what he/she says. I do not have burning mouth since I have absolutely no pain with this miserable taste disorder...just a sour/salty or totally unpleasant taste all day long.

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@linda1976 , I hope the oral surgeon will be helpful. I must keep hope alive. Who knows where we will find help.

Yes, most of my symptoms happened in quick succession after I had a relatively mild case of covid. It got progressively worse over a few weeks. (I’m pretty active on the Long Covid threads.) It was scary and I’m sure the anxiety didn’t help. It’s difficult to explain just how impacted I was. Oh, I was undergoing a transformation at the same time. I had started working out, tight diet, nutrition focused, etc. Even with all my symptoms, I never had fatigue or brain fog. I’ve lost close to 100 pounds.

I had chronic constipation for several years…prior to covid, so unrelated. That’s better too! Almost back to normal.

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