How long before my taste buds recover after H&N treatments?

I have very similar experience. I am enjoying more solids now 4 months out of radiation. It takes discipline, and will power to push through eating. I am beginning to enjoy some meals again.

Have to agree that most will have their own unique experience and essentially find out along the way as things progress. I had 2 surgeries and 25 radiation treatments. Took about a month after 2nd surgery to start sipping tiny bits (and I mean tiniest of tiny sips) of liquid and I asked to have my feeding tube removed. Forced myself to get nutrition via nutrition drinks. I was gradually able to increase my sipping to where I could drink a small nutrition drink in one hour….then kept progressing from there.

I found vanilla flavored nutrition drinks were tolerable, but other flavors were awful for the first few months. It took me about 2 months to find other drinks or flavors that I would enjoy and/or tolerate.

I’m now 9 months out from 2nd surgery, and 7 months out from radiation.

Drinking is functionally back to normal, but still not back to normal as far as what I can drink. Many things irritate my throat or are outright painful to drink. Carbonated drinks or anything spicey are the worst. Fortunately, taste is back to normal for most drinks, and I’m back to enjoying my morning coffee.

Eating was much more of a challenge than drinking. Food taste was awlful for most foods for almost 3 months. I gradually introduced soups into my diet. Egg drop soup was my go-to for a couple weeks. I had to experiment to see which other soups I could swallow, and also see which ones I could taste or at least tolerate. From soups I moved on to really runny eggs. I found from the egg drop soup that I could start tasting the eggs, so figured I’d try eggs. Success. For about a month I was eating my runny eggs and enjoying them. From there I did trial and error to see what I could swallow and/or taste. Most foods would get stuck in my throat, so moving on took quite a bit of time and experimenting. Even to this day, eating is not really enjoyable any more. I can taste a lot, but swallowing is a challenge, and that makes eating a chore as opposed to an enjoyable experience. Meats have almost no taste to me, so I can’t enjoy a good burger or steak like I used to. Maybe that’s good as far as overall health. Food still gets stuck in my throat, but I’m using that as exercise to improve my swallowing. I try not to use liquids to “wash down” food. I want my swallowing muscles to get stronger, so I make them work to get the job done. Many coughing and choking moments, but I’ve just accepted that as my new normal fit now.

So, that says a lot…a new normal. Eating and drinking is nowhere near what it used to be, but I’ve adapted and accepted it as my new normal, and hope for at least a bit of improvement still to come. I think of it as a character builder and learning experience. Living and staying alive isn’t guaranteed. I figure I’m fortunate to be alive and enjoying most parts of life again, even though eating and drinking aren’t part of the enjoyment.

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.

I used a naturopathic doctor in conjunction with my medical team and she recommended zinc supplements. However it has to be cleared with your oncologist first as it’s an antioxidant which is contraindicated for radiation. I started taking it 3 weeks after treatment. The supplement contained vitamins A,C,E, Selenium and Zinc. It’s called ACES + Zn if you search for it. I’m just short of 5 months after radiation and chemo ( I had 25 sessions not the typical 35 so less damage I’m assuming) and my taste buds are about 80% back. However some things taste different. Hang in there it will get better.

Wish you and everyone quick recovery.

I didn't find the articles helpful. , but you can't blame them, they've probably never had to deal with the pain of mouth/tongue sores. Cinnamon to me is absolute torture. And I love it. Right now the only thing I can taste (still have 9 treatments left)is dunkin donuts frozen chocolate. I don't even like chocolate but the cool feeling along with being able to taste something is delightful. Teresa

I agree with Lori, hang in there. My tastes came back one at a time starting after two weeks post. The bad taste in my mouth remained for several months partly I believe being caused by healing and the radiation itself.
The sores may come and go for months if not years just so you are not alarmed. But like all of us post treatment, you will find a new normal and this will all be in the past.

I completed radiation / chemo the end of June and am just now starting to taste some foods. The tip of my tongue is very sensitive yet to salty foods & hard foods (chips, toast etc). My gums are still sensitive to toothpaste also (I can't rinse it out of my mouth fast enough).
I have inquired about these things also with the professionals and get the same response:
"everyone is different."
Hang in there and do what you have to do.
Lori

Thanks, @colleenyoung, for replying. I will go over the articles and check more.

In regard to your question about tasting some food over others? Unfortunately, no. But my tongue burns me when I eat any spicy, salty, or sour food.

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?