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.
I am 7 months post opp. and still haven’t got my taste back. I have metalic, dry throat and tounge, feel like my breath is so bad, and still feel like I have something in the back of my throat 24/7 constantly trying to clear it which is very annoying. I eat because i’m hungry but does not taste good at all.My Dr. also left this side effect out of our talks which is very frustrating. Would I do this again ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Sandra,
I had surgery one month ago for a tonsillectomy. I was eating fine up till about a week ago. I started noticing a salty taste, mouth is very dry ( even when I drink water) and I haven’t had an appetite to eat for the last 5 days. The strange thing is I can taste and smell ( not as good as before surgery ) but some of it is there. Did you experience any of this? If so, when did it return for you? Thanks, and helpful information is much appreciated!
I am a 52 yr old female and had my tonsillectomy the end of May 2012. I had the metallic taste then it has slowly evolved into a “coated tongue’ taste. Sweet foods, wine, beer taste different and so do many other foods (coffee has actually improved in flavour as I can’t taste acrid any more) Which is a bummer because I LOVE to cook (big Alton Brown fan here) I had a difficult recovery and was out of work for 3 weeks. It still felt like I had tonsil tissue after 6 mos. I take a multivitamin and am plagued with dry throat and constant thirst even after 8 mos. Upside is I haven’t gotten sick at all. I caught a cold a couple months back and it was nothing more than a sniffle! Amazing as before I used to catch a cold and it would linger for months, often going into sinus infection, bronchitis, etc. I also had the post nasal drip thing about 3 mos after surgery but that went away.
Hi L:
I am 25 year old female, I had my tonsils out last Valentine’s day and I too had a difficult recovery. To date, my taste has not returned to normal. I can taste some salty foods and the essence of flavor, but the taste of all foods has been altered. All sweet things taste so bad that I can’t stand eating them anymore, I can only handle fruit some of the time and can’t do any concentrated substances. I have a constant dry throat etc. and sometimes I still have a metallic taste in my mouth. It is disappointing and sometimes very frustrating, it has also created some problems for eating out. However, I wouldn’t trade my tonsillectomy for anything. I’ve only gotten really sick once in the last year and only a couple of tiny colds, instead of the constant need for antibiotics and increasing upper-respiratory infections. Although it doesn’t seem to be the norm for people to lose their taste for such long periods it evidently happens.
Good luck!
I am a 28 year old female. I had a tonsillectomy & septoplasty on 10-25-12. Three months later, I still have not noticed too much improvement in my sense of taste. I cant taste sweets hardly at all. Salty foods are alright, depending on what it is. It seems to be improving slightly over time. Milk, cheeses, & chocolate are still nasty. It seems I semi taste the first few bites of food, then the rest just tastes like blah. It is very frustrating, but I’m keeping my hopes up. I am going to try taking extra zinc, and if I notice a difference I post about it.
It been four months since my tonsillectomy. I’m 70 years old, a very young 70. I had ear pain down the side of my left neck for years. Doctor’s never seem to know what was wrong with me. Had MRI’s and had no water in the ear. I worked with this pain a lot of years. Finally it got so bad that I went into the ear nose throat Doctor and told him I was really sick and I wanted him to do something. It was like he was hesitating because of my age. All he told me was that it was going to hurt afterwards. Now everything, like everyone says, taste like it’s sour, or the metallic taste. Chocolate is the worst. I can’t believe that I found this site. I haven’t been to my medical doctor, but think I will now. I have had a sore throat on both sides of my throat. Been pretty sick with coughing. My throat is so raw from coughing. Got a bug from another person. I am hoping the doctor will put me on antibiotic’s and check my throat. Thank you all for your comments. It has helped me so much. I thought I was the only one with this problem, it’s a miracle….
My tonsils were removed in the end of September 2012, it’s been over a year now. My sense of taste went back to normal after a couple months but my sense of smell seems to still be off. If something is.unpleasant or pungent, it is very noticeable to me and certain smells are terrible and bother me greatly. This may sound weird but the worst is body odors and just skin…maybe it’s the oil the body produces. I’m not sure, but I wish it would go back to normal. I’m not sure what to do about it. I’ve never heard of this happening to anyone else.
@ Amity, I too have noticed that certain smells are very strong. Raw hamburger, which never used to bother me smells horrible. I seem to notice people having B.O. more often too, gross. However, I had a septoplasty along with a tonsilectomy, so I’m sure being able to actually breathe through my nose has something to do with that.
It’s been 2 weeks post op. I’m a 30 year old female and had the area cauterized. My whole mouth was burned. I was choking on bits of flesh from my cheeks and tongue around days 4-9. When I brushed my teeth I saw those red bumps on the tongue just fall out into the sink. I still can’t taste anything down the center of my tongue and I believe its because of how badly it was burned. The whole thing turned white and slowly peeled off. The center of my tongue now has a jagged line down the center as if it cracked. Most foods now are off putting because of the textures. Most foods still hurt as my tongue is still swollen. Don’t know if my taste will ever come back.
I had mine out before Christmas so about the same time as you and the doctor’s were really great, explained everything. I think you should go an talk to your doctor because that doesn’t sound right at all, they should really have only cauterized the area where they took them out to prevent bleeding. Other than taste problems and opening my mouth fully Im fine now and it’s been a month tomorrow for me
I am three weeks po (can stand for a few things)! I too have the salty/metallic can’t taste sweet problem. As I am a professional taste tester it makes me angry not to have been informed.
Eating avocados has helped to cover up bad taste for a bit of a reprieve. And avoiding sugar seems to minimize the
overwhelming salty taste for me. I am seeing my doc today to find out if I’m going to have to get a new job or not.
BTW don’t take large doses of zinc without blood levels being tested. You can get zinc poisoning!
thanks for the avocado idea- it/guacamole does taste good – funny how losing sweet sensors makes me love smooth, creamy stuff
but it may hurt my chances of losing weight…I feel like I constantly want custard or eggnog or guac in my mouth so I don’t taste the metal taste.