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.
A new thought:
I lost my sense of taste for nearly one full year after my tonsillectomy in 2012. Sure, my tastebuds were burned off, bruised, damaged etc. but after a lot of experimentation etc. I believe the root cause is acid reflux. Something that I think a lot of tonsillectomy survivors suffer from but don’t realize. Turns out it is something I have struggled with ever since my tonsillectomy and I have to be careful.
Because of the mostly liquid diet, restricted calories, and sugary products often ingested during recovery our bodies digestive system can revolt and flood our stomachs with acid, which can cause dry mouth, cracking voice, dry throat, acidic taste, erosion of taste buds and esophagus.
Talk with your doctor before trying any new medications, but I have had the most success with Zantac. Pop a pill 30m-1h prior to eating no more than twice daily, with plenty of fluids.
If you are interested in a naturopathic treatment try taking apple cider vinegar. The ingestion of the vinegar (acid) signals to your body that it has all the acid it needs and will not flood your stomach with extra digestive fluids (acid) in order to digest your food.
Good luck!
I had my tonsils removed 3/11/14. My taste buds are STILL not restored! The surgery location is still a little uncomfortable. This is one surgery….I WILL NEVER FORGET!
Hi Mary. Sorry to hear this. I felt the same. Then I felt much, much better. I hope you do too!
I had my tonsils removed feb.20, 2014 and it has been about 3 weeks post op. Im still a little sore but finally can eat the sad part is I can’t taste anything really:(( my doctor told me to take 25mg of zinc and that it should get better with in 6 weeks. I’m really hoping it does because I can’t taste any of my fave foods which makes me not interested in eating. I can only really taste some sweets to an extent. Had bleeding complication towards day 9 too but was recauterized and got better. I guess it is just my luck.:(( need advice.
Hi Denise, What you are experiencing is totally normal. It took me a month before pizza tasted right, and a couple months before red wine was enjoyable, Best of luck to you!
I had my tonsillectomy March 6, 2014 and I am still experiencing a terrible taste in my mouth when eating chocolate or really anything sweet. Salty foods taste normal to me but sweets give me a gross metallic taste in my mouth that makes me gag. I really taking zinc has helped others because I am going to try it, its been 5 months and I haven’t had any improvements.
Hi Cameron,
I had my surgery 3/2014. My taste buds sound identical to yours! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one experiencing this. I thought the surgeon may have made a mistake and damaged something during surgery to cause this problem. Sorry you are experiencing this. Best of luck to you!
I had tonsillectomy 12.12.13 due to abcessed tonsils. I had metallic taste in mouth even prior to discovering abcesses. Silly me, I thought that the metal taste would go away after tonsils were gone. Guess not – now taste is more like metal and blood – ick. I swear I could taste more at the two week mark when I started trying non-liquid foods, but then, was still eating pretty bland stuff. Today I actually went through my spice rack figuring out what I could taste and smell. Definitely no problem with my nose! But no sweet taste at all and strongest is salty sensors. Depressing. God, I hope this goes away. Keep wondering if I had stopped pain meds earlier or kept ice on longer if it would have changed anything.
I had my tonsillectomy on 16 Sep 2013. I have to say that the 2 weeks after were pretty rough for me….I had to get my pain meds adjusted 3 times in 2 weeks and I had to get them all in the liquid form being the pills felt like they were getting lodged in the back on my throat and a buring sensation would always accompany the pills and linger. After the 2 weeks the pain just disappeared and I was able to eat whole foods again…..the only problem is everything that I loved…..chocolate, wine, chicken, rice, sweet potatoes, cookies, cakes, chips…….lets just say everything except Mexcian food repulses me…..the great thing is it has done wonders for my weight….I have lost 15lbs from the day of surgery to today. The bad thing is my gag reflex is off the chain and I tend to throw up about twice a day….I have this lingering matalic taste in in my mouth…..I’m in the process of making an appt to see if I could try taking zinc to clear up this issue a little quicker…..The holidays is around the corner and it will suck big time if I can’t enjoy all of the food I have to cook….it would be great for my weight though so maybe I’ll wait till after the new years to consult with my Doctor………Ugh…..stuck between and rock and a hard place right now………..
has your taste come back? i had my tonsilextomy 5th nov straight away knew somethinnot right with taste evertthing tastes rancid.unlike you a nurse checked and i have no gag reflex.already lost 19lb just wondered if yours any better?