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.
Hi, everyone who is having the same problem I had after my tonsillectomy. I got mine out on December 28th 2015 I had a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and a sinusitis. I’m 31 so let’s just say this was not a breezy recovery for me. But when I got to finally being able to eat nothing taste normal (no flavor) I did some research and found out that it could be a zinc deficiency so I started taking 25mg of over the counter zinc and my taste buds have stared to return I can even taste chocolate 🙂 (not everything is 100% the same flavor but it’s close) it’s February 7th 2016. Warning do not take more then 25mg your hair will fall out. Good luck!!!
I am 41 and am about 3 weeks post-op. Wish I would have found this site prior to my surgery. Was told surgery was the only way to get rid of tonsil stones. Prior to that, starting at age 17 I asked several doctors and dentists but no one could explain the sulphur smelling white things that I dug out of my tonsils. Finally, a month and 1/2 after my son got his removed, I went under the knife so to speak. Anyhoo, I was researching loss of taste and came upon this site. I see that most people have a taste of salt and bitterness but I actually can put tablespoons of salt on my food but still not taste it. I am frustrated because I am hungry but nothing at all tastes good. I do not have an iron taste either. It’s just not what is was. I wish they would have told me that during the consult. Thanks for all the posts, they are helpful.
I recently had my tonsil out at the age of 45 because of horrible tonsil stones and I feel like anything I eat now that is sweet has a salty hint to it. Ice cream is a big one. I am almost four weeks post op… Will this ever go back to normal?
I also feel like I have phlegm stuck in between my nose and throat that I can’t clear. And last but not least my uvula still feels swollen from time to time.
Thanks
Melissa
Melissa, it’s been months since my op; I was 45 and now I’m 46 and the taste thing is still weirding me out! Its horrible, like i have salt rocks and copper bags in my mouth all day, every day. Nothing taste “right. I just this week wen to my regular physician who decided to do a work up of blood test to make sure I have no deficiencies. I suggest you do not wait too long to do the same thing, not being able to enjoy chocolate is the worst thing ever. But, there is a good side- I have lost a few pounds cause eating makes me mad now…. and i’m used to drinking sugarless drinks like coffee and tea.
Hello Milly,
Did the salty taste ever go away? If so, when?
I’m experiencing the same thing and it’s stressing me out. It will be a month since my surgery tomorrow. I had a good appetite up untill four days ago. I have no appetite now and it’s making me a little worriers.
Thank you
I had surgery just over 3 years ago and my sense of smell is fine but I can’t taste anything really. Perhaps the first second of smell makes me feel like I can taste it. I can taste salt and sour/bitter but nothing that is sweet and no general sense of taste after the first second. It’s a little sad. Dairy also has an awful after-taste even now.
I was not warned of any taste disturbance possibilities and post-op I knew more about it than the two ENTs that I saw. I still come across ENTs who claim they have never heard of taste loss of tonsillectomies. I think this is wrong.
I had the bad taste in my mouth for about two months but took Zinc and eventually it left me.
I know people whose taste returned after 6 months or a year, but after that, I’d love to hear of anyone who had their taste return after longer than this.
I’m glad it was only my taste that I lost but I would love one day to eat ice-cream and chocolate without a bitter or wrong after-taste.
I’m not sure going this applies to you but it took me about a year and a half to regain taste, it may have taken longer but I had read something that acid reflux can cause loss of taste. I didn’t think I had acid reflux because I rarely if ever get heart burn. I dug a little deeper and found out that stomach sleepers like me can have really bad acid reflux while sleeping, without even knowing it. I began taking some over the counter acid blockers and after about 3-4 weeks my taste started coming back. I am thinking that before my tonsillectomy my tonsils helped to keep the acid out from coming up to far. Now keep in mind this is all self diagnosed, my ENT told me the same thing as you, that he had never heard of loss of taste so I haven’t been back to a doctor. I am pretty confident that acid reflux is my problem because if i go more then 3-4 days without taking a nexium then I start losing my sense of taste again, I am about 3 1/2 years post op.
Jacqui
I am so glad I read your post. All the posts before yours are people that have lost their flavor for a few weeks or months after surgery. I am eight months post-op and food still tastes strange to me, one of the things I can’t taste are sugary drinks like Coca-Cola, chocolate ice cream, or sour candy, all I taste is bland and metallic. My Dr put me on Clotrimazone and it hasn’t really done much. My Dr said it’s very rare for this to happen. I have read that damage to the Pharngyeal nerve may cause taste disturbance. This damage can take along time to heal. I am going to try the Zinc but I am an athlete and have plenty of good nutrition and vitamins in my diet. It’s just fresh fruits taste blah and ice cream and treats taste blah. My friends tell me, “well at least you’ll always be the skinny” and I just get really irritated because I think there is a lack of understanding how depressing this really can be. I am hopeful that you and I will return to normal function of our tastebuds one day, but it may just take a long time. Please post if anything works
I had my surgery 2 months ago. My mouth taste like salt 24 hours a day, sweets taste like salt. Water taste like alka-seltzer water, EVERYTHING taste weird and salty. Sometimes I taste like I have an iron stick in my mouth and sometimes it taste like when you bite your tongue and have blood in your mouth. I thought the two weeks after surgery was bad, but this is horrible. Even chocolate has no meaning to my buds anymore. I wonder if people can smell the bad taste in my mouth! No one trusts my cooking because I can’t taste check while cooking. White cold milk is the only thing that doesn;t taste weird or different. I can’t stand this taste in my mouth though. Help me- I want ot enjoy food again….