Burning Tongue Issues?

I have never lost my taste or smell. Sometimes that is not a blessing. Sometimes food smells are horrific. Chicken salad smells like skunk to me. Other things smell like what I can only describe as a combination of everything that smells bad at once. I have horrible acid reflux, my tongue does burn at times. I am not sure if that is related to the acid reflux or not. I used to love to eat and was a healthy eater. Eating now is a very difficult as I have no idea what I will be able to tolerate smelling and eating from day to day. It has been over 3 years and there are still foods that I have not even bothered trying to eat again. I loved Mexican food and Thai food. I can only eat them if they are not spicy. Sadly Long COVID is like torture. My body aches most of the time. Sometimes it is so bad I just lay around and my GI issues are awful. The pain and GI issues are due to LC attacking my autonomic nervous system and I have POTS.

On the positive side, it has been over 3 years and I am learning to be a half full vs half empty person. I have new hobbies that can be put down and picked up whenever I feel like doing them. They make me happy. I no longer compare where I am now, unless posting on here, to where I was pre LC. My bar for a good day is really low now and starts with the fact I woke up. Then if I can make and drink coffee I am thrilled. If I can eat one meal a day and it tastes okay that is good, if it tastes and smells good then that is very exciting. Luckily I can work from home so that makes me feel like I am leading a productive life but I can no longer work the hours I used to.
I hope you can find some relief. Regardless of what symptoms we each have this has been such a life changer. I wish everyone the best test results, help from physicians, any small or big thing that brings joy to your life in the coming year.

Tested positive Covid on 12/26/2023. This is my 3rd time with covid. Have had all the symptoms of Long Covid like many of you. This time I have lost my smell and taste. This is day 6 so hopefully it will come back after another week.
Have chest burning over past 3 years. Arrhythmias which have gone away. Burning bottom of feet at bedtime. Reflux has become recent. Prilosec has helped.
What has helped me with my chest burning is supplement MSM Methylsulfonylmethane it helps me with inflammation and immune system. I get mine from Young Living https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/product/sulfurzyme-capsules?enrollerId=16734084&sponsorId=16734084
There are companies that have MSM. People take it for joint pain.
I had chest burning the other night couldn’t sleep. Took 2 capsules and in 15 minutes it was gone. I take 2 cap in Am and PM and then again when I have symptoms. Just wanted to share.
Happy New Year. Here’s to a better year.

Great tips. Thanks! I did go on 2 weeks of Gabapentin 100 ml nightly, but had to stop due to vision issues. Eye discomfort and blurry vision. I got a prescription for Lyrica instead, but insurance is requiring override. But, I will revisit that ASAP. Maybe, my ENT or primary will help me with that. During the 2 weeks I was taking the Gabapentin. I still had symptoms, but it was maybe a tad better.

I will explore the rinses. I let most of the mouth rinses go that I bought due to citric acid.

So, I’m now wondering if hypnosis is a prudent investment. I will continue with attempts at scent retraining. The constant bitter taste is what is so distressing.

Gabapentin can do that but it usually goes away over time. The vision accommodates, at least for me. I was also placed on a very low dose of Siniquane ( an old tricyclic). 25mg, very low. They now have 10mg Doxepin ( same thing). I did it for a year. Saved my life! The first few days I thought ( oh my goodness, how will I function) but the blurry went away. Good luck and wishing you have Happy New Year and a Healthy one too!

Hi Celia,

My experience is somewhat similar to yours in that while I’m slowly improving from Covid (tested positive on Dec. 4th) I had smell and taste issues too. My smell is vastly improved but the last couple weeks I’ve had this bizarre symptom of a feeling like I burned my tongue but it’s constant now, along with this bitter taste after any food I eat. It’s like it’s trying to repair itself but it doesn’t know how.

I’ve been using everything from smell retraining, cough drops, chlorhexidine mouthwash, Nystatin oral suspension rinse, drinking warm chamomile tea, saltwater rinses, vitamins you name it.

I’ve seen my dentist about it and he’s clueless because he says “it looks fine.”

Well, obviously it isn’t fine or I wouldn’t be here.

I saw my pcp and all she did was bloodwork which was within normal limits. I had to stronger her to do an oral swab (which they called and said didn’t show signs of any irregular bacterial overgrowth.)

So back to square one.

I’m going to schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon to see if he can do any further investigation and possibly a tongue scraping to check for thrush.

I’ve also made an appointment for a local Covid long hauler clinic here in Chicago but I can’t get in until February because of course. 😑

I’ve also been reading any peer reviewed journal articles I can get my hands on that mention Covid tongue and I did come across some infectious disease specialists that have been trying different approaches such as photobiomodulation therapy and stem cell therapy treatments (a current trial is going on at UC Davis.)

I’ve also joined a Covid long hauler Facebook group to connect with others who are going through similar issues in the hopes that maybe we can help each other figure things out since we’re kind of left on our own it seems.

Hi Celia,

My experience is somewhat similar to yours in that while I’m slowly improving from Covid (tested positive on Dec. 4th) I had smell and taste issues too. My smell is vastly improved but the last couple weeks I’ve had this bizarre symptom of a feeling like I burned my tongue but it’s constant now, along with this bitter taste after any food I eat. It’s like it’s trying to repair itself but it doesn’t know how.

I’ve been using everything from smell retraining, cough drops, chlorhexidine mouthwash, Nystatin oral suspension rinse, drinking warm chamomile tea, saltwater rinses, vitamins you name it.

I’ve seen my dentist about it and he’s clueless because he says “it looks fine.”

Well, obviously it isn’t fine or I wouldn’t be here.

I saw my pcp and all she did was bloodwork which was within normal limits. I had to stronger her to do an oral swab (which they called and said didn’t show signs of any irregular bacterial overgrowth.)

So back to square one.

I’m going to schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon to see if he can do any further investigation and possibly a tongue scraping to check for thrush.

I’ve also made an appointment for a local Covid long hauler clinic here in Chicago but I can’t get in until February because of course. 😑

I’ve also been reading any peer reviewed journal articles I can get my hands on that mention Covid tongue and I did come across some infectious disease specialists that have been trying different approaches such as photobiomodulation therapy and stem cell therapy treatments (a current trial is going on at UC Davis.)

I’ve also joined a Covid long hauler Facebook group to connect with others who are going through similar issues in the hopes that maybe we can help each other figure things out since we’re kind of left on our own it seems.

Hi Celia,
I have already responded to you, but I live in Batavia, Il and am wondering where this Long Haulers clinic is in Chicago. Is it part of Northwestern or somewhere else? I’ve had no taste or smell since last December 14th to be exact and would be grateful for this information. Thank you and I hope you continue to heal.