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How long after treatment ends will my taste buds be screwed up?

Posted by beakmom @beakmom, Feb 6, 2018

I find myself becoming very depressed every time I try to eat, and the food tastes like bitter sawdust. Then I CAN\'T eat. I am a \"live to eat\" rather than a \"eat to live\" personality. They are placing a feeding tube today, so I won\'t lose weight. But I\'m afraid I will never get my taste buds back. For me, \"quality of life\" includes good food. Any insight welcome.

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My taste was 50% after a year, 70# after 2 years and 90% after 4 years. Just give it time and find some foods that taste good. Some foods will never taste good.

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@possum

My taste was 50% after a year, 70# after 2 years and 90% after 4 years. Just give it time and find some foods that taste good. Some foods will never taste good.

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Thank you. It's not as good as I would have hoped, but everyone is different, I suppose, so maybe it will faster for me? Or maybe not. We live with what we're given.

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I now pretty much have my taste back, although it has changed. I can no longer eat tomato-based sauces, and still need for my food to be very moist in order to swallow it. I also can't eat anything spicy. It's like the tissues in my mouth are really thin and sensitive.

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@beakmom

I now pretty much have my taste back, although it has changed. I can no longer eat tomato-based sauces, and still need for my food to be very moist in order to swallow it. I also can't eat anything spicy. It's like the tissues in my mouth are really thin and sensitive.

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This is great news, beakmom! Getting rid of that darn PEG tube and learning to enjoy real food again is a real milestone! If you're like me, it will take some time before you like some of the things that used to be your "go-to's" but it should eventually happen. I am now 21 months post-treatment and only within the past week or so have been able to things like salads and some fruits. Some still make me feel a bit queasy because they still taste funny, but that has become rare. So keep trying new things in order to increase your variety and keep up your nutrition. Smoothies and juices were important to me when I couldn't stomach the actual foods that went into them.

I also hear ya about the weight loss and how you have come to appreciate it, despite the awful way it was achieved. I lost 35 pounds and have gained back about half, so I'm trying to eat only when I'm hungry so as not to gain any more back. I'm also exercising again, so that helps.

Keep up the great work, girl!

Marin

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Sawdust is the exact description my husband gave! It’s been a year and things still don’t taste right but are better

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