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How long before my taste buds recover after H&N treatments?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 5 days ago | Replies (73)Comment receiving replies
What are the strategies to speed up the taste regaining? I finished mine a week ago after 33 sessions. But I had/have no tube as I've fought to keep my weight not to reduced more than 4kg. My second question, do you thing if i continue to force myself in eating would speed up the taste regaining?
One note, usually others mentioned that they have very dry mouth. I have some dryness but not fully. But the problem, I don't want to drink even water. There is a stupid taste in my mouth.
Replies to "What are the strategies to speed up the taste regaining? I finished mine a week ago..."
Hi there, My last radiation treatment was I believe December 23,2014. I had a feeding tube for a few months. I lived on Boost milkshakes for about a year. Swallowing was very difficult for me. I still have problems with things at times. One day it will be fine and the next time I might as well be chewing rocks and trying to swallow them. I still have a very limited amount of saliva. And my taste buds aren't that great. Things that used to be good aren't so much anymore. I've learned that anything from a can is a NO. I taste the can not the food. I've been freezing as much fresh food as I can. Veggies and fruit. Or I buy as much as I can that is in jars. I was told the same as everyone else. It should only take a few months before everything goes back to pretty much normal. I'm still waiting. Beef is a rarity for me. No hamburger. I've learned that I have to take small bites and not chew as long. When your saliva is limited you dry your food out if you chew too long. I don't eat much bread. For some reason I can eat a wrap easier. I use as much gravy as I can. And like everyone else water water water.
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Hi @naznaz, "forcing" yourself to do something doesn't sound like a healthy approach to me. I wonder if bringing joy into preparing food and tasting food might be an approach worth trying as suggested in this article "make it a production"
- Lost your sense of taste or smell? 8 tips for eating well https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/lost-your-sense-of-taste-or-smell-due-to-covid-19-or-cancer-treatment--8-tips-for-eating-well.h00-159458478.html
I'm not sure regaining taste is something that can be sped up. You might wish to ask an oncology nutritionist.
Here's an article I found with a few tips.
- What Causes a Loss of Taste, and How to Regain It https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-your-taste-buds-back
Excerpt from the article:
- Eat cold foods, which may be easier to taste than hot foods.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Brush your teeth before and after eating.
- Ask your doctor to recommend products that may help with dry mouth.
- Mints, gum, and using plastic utensils instead of metal can help with a temporary metallic taste.
Do you find that you can taste some foods over others?