After Tonsillectomy: Sense of Taste
Taste after tonsillectomy or sense of taste are subjects of much discussion on the tonsillectomy forum. The experience of tonsillectomy has rippling effects upon individuals, beginning with the anticipation of surgery and, hopefully, extending long after surgery in improved quality of life. During the first two weeks of recovery, tonsillectomy patients’ daily lives are turned upside down. The daily diet is often limited to liquids and very smooth, soft foods like gelatin. Narcotic pain medications are usually taken several times per day. Sleep is erratic and often fitful. Activity levels are greatly reduced. When the fog of pain, fatigue, and disruption lifts, one of the first irregularities patients complain of is an altered sense of taste. Let’s take a moment to look at tonsillectomy and its effect on sense of taste.
The American Academy of Otalayngology- Head and Neck Surgery describes how taste sensation works as,
Gustatory (taste nerve) cells are clustered in the taste buds of the mouth and throat. They react to food or drink mixed with saliva. Many of the small bumps that can be seen on the tongue contain taste buds. These surface cells send taste information to nearby nerve fibers, which send messages to the brain.
I suggest that several factors contribute to disturbances in a person’s sense of taste after tonsillectomy. Firstly, tonsillectomy surgery itself can cause bruising to the tongue, where taste buds reside. Most patients complain of tongue pain after surgery.
It’s also likely that the post tonsillectomy diet has an impact on the patient’s sense of taste for some time after recovery. Many experts point out that taste buds are in a constant state of growth. As people eat various rough textured foods, small amounts of tissue scrape off and are replaced by new growth. Many believe that the almost liquid diet of most tonsillectomy patients disrupts this process and thus, affects their sense of taste.
Still another camp holds that deficiency in zinc after tonsillectomy contributes to these taste disruptions. JOSEPH M. BICKNELL, MD and ROBERT V. WIGGINS, MD published in the Western Journal of Medicine in October of 1988. [Bicknell JM, Wiggins RV: Taste disorder from zinc deficiency after tonsillectomy.West J Med 1988 Oct; 149:457460] They followed two tonsillectomy patients who complained of unpleasant taste sensation after tonsillectomy. The patients complained of changes in their sense of taste after tonsillectomy. They used descriptions like, coppery, or metallic when interviewed. Both had these complaints two months after tonsillectomy surgery. The doctors tested liver and thyroid function, as well as hepatitis. All were normal, but serum zinc levels were low in both patients. They were given 220mg zinc supplements twice per day. Within three weeks, the zinc levels were normal. They reported tastes improving after ten days, and after 22 days, the metallic sensation had ended. I’ve read anecdotal accounts on the tonsillectomy forum from people having success with zinc supplements after tonsillectomy. Ask your doctor before trying the zinc supplement for tonsillectomy and sense of taste.
Considering all the variables, one must also consider the effects of both antibiotics and narcotic pain killers over a two week period on the sense of taste. The FDA does not list taste disturbance as a side effect of either penicillin or hydrocodone. (the two most commonly prescribed medications after tonsillectomy in the U.S.) There has been a connection between the use of oral antibiotics and oral thrush, (Fungal infection – mouth; Candida)
It is very common to experience an altered sense of taste after tonsillectomy. Most people feel that their taste returns to normal within three to six weeks. However some may experience unpleasant taste sensation for several months.
It was truly depressing for me that my favorite cocktail, (the bloody Mary), tasted like something from the planet salt for months after surgery. Thankfully, within 5 months, my sense of taste was completely back to normal.
sweet thing still taste bas after 4 months of surgery.
Its being 4 months post tonsils surgery but still no taste in my mouth. Same metallic taste all the tym.Salty things are still ok but then sweet really taste horrible and i m fond of sweets a lot.I really dont know what to do. Also i have taken vitamins supplement for 2 months continously still the metallic taste is same. Plz suggest when i will get rid of this ?
I had a tonsillectomy on June 25, it’s been exactly 8 weeks today and I still cannot taste some foods. Some days are better and it gets worse on some. I have lost so much weight that I’m not happy about it. I am taking multivitamin supplements and some appetite boosters but it’s helpless because I do not enjoy the food. Any positive outcomes?
I am so glad there is a post feed on this! I have been really frustrated and sad about the way things taste! I’ve tried all my favorites and it’s just gross. I can’t describe it any other way. I am 5 weeks post op and I had significant damage to my tongue as my throat was so swollen that it was more than 75% closed and apparently I was very difficult to incubate. I also had what felt like two cuts down the back sides of my tongue after surgery that were really difficult to deal with. Very painful. So now I’ve tried all my favorite foods and very few foods even taste ok. I tried a piece of chocolate yesterday and spit it in the sink! I had to rinse my mouth out because it tasted like horribly spoiled milk. Meat of any kind is a no go. I feel like it keeps getting stuck no matter how much I force myself to chew. Again, I’m so grateful for this post as I was really fretting over losing this sense. I am a food lover and think it’s a simple joy of life. Having difficulty not enjoying summer fruits and veggies is just adding to my sadness after the surgery. I’m glad to have hope that it will come back. My Dr. didn’t talk about this side affect at all but it’s really intense. I’ve never had to make myself eat before. I’m sure it’s very individual but here’s a small list of what is sustaining me…. refried beans, egg drop soup, peanut butter toast, red peppers and the strangest….. anything pickled. even beets! So I’m just going with it for now. Thanks for the hope of it coming back and for the information! This site has been invaluable!
Hi Ashley, I am almost 4 1/2 months post op and my taste is finally coming back. The nasty metallic taste that was in my mouth 24/7 has greatly reduced. I know EXACTLY where you are right now and how depressing and hopeless it can feel. Trust me, your taste WILL come back but give it at least 4 to 6 months. I know it seems like forever but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My doctor also left this HUGE side effect out of any conversations prior to surgery which I think, makes it worse because you are completely blindsided. On the other hand if she would have told me I would have never been able to fully grasp what it meant to lose your taste plus being as sick as I was, I would still have done the surgery. I just want you to know it does come back:) I was told to wait until 6 months post op to be completely back to normal. The really funny part is, is I got pregnant shortly after the surgery so I have spent my entire pregnancy without taste! Not fair! 🙂
Thank you for your updates dyanyoung. I had my tonsils out the beginning of august and still the taste has not come back. I’m so discouraged and sad as one of my biggest hobbies is cooking…now it’s just depressing. Did your taste just slowly come back or how did it progress? So good to talk to others who know what you’re going through.
I am almost 6 months (feb 13) and I almost have all my taste back but it has been a loooooong road. I never thought I would taste again. In addition to the metallic taste I had to chew my food into oblivion to be able to swallow it, I had ridiculous dry mouth, I felt like there was scar tissue at the back of my throat that wouldn’t go away… I ended up at my primary care dr office a month ago with all of my woes and she told me I had bad post nasal drip, that my throat was red and had bumps on it so she put me on a prescription nasal spray. It worked like magic!!! I couldn’t believe that it did the trick. Since using it twice a day my dry mouth has almost cleared up, the scar tissue feeling is gone, my throat isn’t sore and I can taste most things again. Now it could also be coincidence but if you haven’t tried it and you are experiencing similar symptoms so far post-op then I suggest going to see your Dr. – as an FYI I did call my ENT with these symptoms and they said it was “normal give it 6 months and no need to be seen” thank goodness I didn’t listen and saw my primary instead. Good luck.
This is great news! I will be calling my dr. Tomorrow. I am 9 wks post-op and I too have that terrible taste in my mouth. Also feels like something is on the back of my tounge. Dry mouth is the worst part…..I hope the spray works!
Well, it has been a full 4 months and my mouth has only gotten worse. I can barely drink water, I can’t taste salt anymore and I can eat very few foods without being sick. It is truly awful. I tried Zinc for a while, I think it made it worse. I talked with the surgeon and he told me to take 20mg of Pepcid 2/day for 2 months and to let him know then, if things haven’t gotten better. Well, after taking Pepcid for 2 weeks, with things only getting worse I contacted my PCP. She is concerned and asked me to come in. I have an appointment next week. Nothing like losing your taste to lose 15% of your body weight in 4 months =) I’m hopeful that things will resolve soon so that I can enjoy my vacation coming up at the beginning of July.
Side Note: Although this taste thing is miserable, I don’t regret getting my tonsils out. It was a rough recovery, but not having a ton of swelling/bleeding/nastyness in my throat is great! Now, if only I can start tasting things and my soft palate would go back to normal!