Awful taste in mouth. _{Page 3 of 6}

let me tell you this bitter taste has been going on now for the past 10 months for me ...i realized if i don't eat anything dairy related..cheese, milk,butter even chocolate the bitterness disappears...try that see what happens...but i think u might have some sinus problems...doctors just don't know whats going on...let me know if u get better...

I am new to the site...same symptoms...terrible taste in the mouth. I had dental work on Oct. 25th, 2006....uppers teeth remaining were pulled and got dentures...taste has never been right since that date. At first I had a terrible salty taste for several months...then taste changed...can't really describe it...just really disgusting. It seems to be worse in the evening. The only relief I get is drinking water...and holding it in my mouth for a minute...then taste comes right back. I also have sinus problems...sinus is worse in the winter...I live in the northeast and the up and down temperatures drive my sinus crazy. Thinking about it since I have been reading the posts...the taste might be worse in the winter. It seems like everyone writing has sinus problems.....sure seems like that is a common link. I also am one of those people who hate their dentures....they just feel terrible....I have had them relined three times...and I am having another set made this month. It seems like my life totally changed when I had my teeth out. I wonder if there was some damage done to the sinus cavity. It has been a
1 1/2 years and still have this problem...hopefully we will find a cure. I will keep reading the posts and respond if I find any help.

I have this same problem and have had it for about a year. i have been treated for gerd but it is not succesful. What can I do next

Awful taste + yellow tongue indicates Mercury. If such the case take Mercury Sol 30C.

Mercury poisoning also gives awful sweetish and metallic taste.

Havent read thru but Merc Sol also indicates imprints of teeth on the tongue.

Useless to suggest. Just wasting time and energy.

Just thought I'd add my experiences to this awful problem.I'm pretty sure that the awful taste in my mouth is due to medication.I experienced it a year ago after loads of painkillers following an operation. I was prescribed Nystan,chewed gum,scrubbed my tongue, visited homeopaths - still there. Then suddenly it disappeared until 2 months ago! I had a virus and went on anti-biotics for 2 weeks. Within a couple of weeks of finishing the course the bad taste began again and is still with me, worse than ever.Hopefully it will disappear again - but when, heaven knows. One thing I have noticed. When I am pre-occupied with something important or interesting I forget about the taste. I also suffer from tinnitus and ignoring that makes a big difference.

I have been searching high and low for my bitter/metallic taste in my mouth and so happy to read that others have this same issue. Needless to say, I also was treated 2 moths ago for a chronic sinusitis-3 weeks antibiotic and 10 days of prentizone. After I started Nasonex and saline nasal spray. A month ago I started having Gi distress and had blood work etc done. The metallic/bitter taste started about 2.5 weeks ago. Much better when eating. Have seen the dentist/ENT and homeopathic MD. Still having GI issue.Currently on Nystatin as the Ent thinks it could be yeast or fungal. The homeopathic MD put me on Sulpher 30c 2 x a day for 2 days and then wait, then if that doesnt help go to Mercury same dosage as above. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I really dont want to start running around to a ton of doctors as it seems there doesnt seem to be a medical answer. Has anyone tried accupuncture?

Re. my earlier letter. The taste is still with me and I'm desperately trying to live with it. I had a large filling a couple of weeks ago and the dentist found that the filling was leaking! I was actually relieved cos I thought the the bitter taste would now go away. No such luck it's still awful. The dentist said it is probably the effects of medication. It's strange but its never too bad first thing in the morning. It's definitely after eating that the taste changes. I'm not drinking tea, coffee, or eating anything spicey, taking no medication (it's awful after any tablets), Today I sprayed a bit of perfume in the air and within a couple of seconds the taste buds had picked this up. I'm getting desperate - there doesn't seem to be anything we sufferers can do.

I hear you with the taste. Its so distracting constantly on your mind. Mine is also not too bad in morning but once I eat or drink it just starts. . I just came from my ENT this morning and he is at a loss. He recommends me following the homeopathic route, which I am presently on Mercury from the homeopathist for the next 7 days. We will see where this goes. I am going to try accupuncture next. The dr also said there is a taste specialist at a hospital in Boston which after another month I will look into. It seems to me that this is something that has to run its course. I do beleive that medicine may have jumpstarted this situation. I havent come across anyone with a soltion so far. My ENT said that he has had patients that after 6 months or so it just goes away.. HAve you checked to see if you have a vitamin b12 deficiency? Drinking sweet drinks seems to curb the taste-strawberry and bublegum flavored gum. Anything citruis and tangy just increases the taste.

Hi, thanks so much for replying nbalan. I've been reading your earlier posts and it seems my symptoms are exactly the same.The Dr. thinks is something to do with digestion, although I've had the camera thing!nothing much to report there. Dr. suggested I try rebeprazole. So I did, and did I suffer the next day, the bitter taste on my tongue was at its worse.I'm convinced any medication triggers off this awful condition. So today I'm just drinking bottled water, had a boiled egg for breakfast and going to have some chicken for dinner tonight. So far the intensity of the taste is a lot better than yesterday, instead of a bitter taste it's more of a sickly sweet taste. Thanks again for the reply, and do let me know if you find any relief. I live in the South of England, so will try to find out if there is a taste specialist in my country.

Hi Johanna9- just wanted to check in with you about the taste thing. Mine has not gone away, and I am now seeing a GI specialist and they are doing a colonoscopy and endoscopy. NOt sure if there is any connection, but it could possibly be GERD, even though I do not have heartburn. I have noticed that the taste seems to change in intensity at certain times and is accompanied by increased saliva. A friend also told me that she has had this taste when under stress. So I will follow through with these tests, and will then see the taste specialist.LEt me know if you have found out anything else. I will keep you posted. BE Well

Nice to hear from you Nbalan.Well would you believe it I had to have a colonoscopy two days ago.Three weeks ago I suffered what I thought was a bad case of food poisoning, awful stomach pain and bleeding. So the colonscopy was advised. It has turned out to be diverticulitus disease.I asked the surgeon if that would account for the sour taste in my mouth - he said 'no' and looked vague! The endoscopy I had in October last revealed that a small flap above the stomach is slow to close - so rebeprazole was suggested (as I said before).Like you I really don't suffer from heartburn but do suffer from indegestion. The severity of the sour taste varies from day to day. What I do know is that when I put any type of medication near my tongue the sourness is enhanced. Yes I also notice increased saliva - have got it right now and keep swallowing. A few weeks ago it left me for at least a fortnight. Then came the stomach trouble and suddenly it all returned. Could this be stress I wonder. It was a worring time especially with all the symptons...........omg what do I sound like? We're moving home next week so I'll let you know how bad the taste gets.Perhaps I shoud persevere with the rebeprazole for a few days. Thanks for keeping in touch; your symptoms are so similar to mine, it's nice to exchange views.

Hi Johannah wanted to check in with you to see how things are on your end. Well I have an interesting turn, not sure if related but possible. I just found out that I am in early menopause ( I am 37), stopped having my period the same time I had the Gi issues ( july) and the taste started in my mouth. I have had 3 hormone pannels and its determined that I am in menopause, Its called Pre-ovarian falure at my age. Needless to say through my reading I discovered that a bitter taste in mouth is something that other women have experienced during this time with all the hormonal imbalances. I have started the pill per my OB/GYN to stabilize the hormones, so we will see what happens. I have definately had days now that I dont really notice it, other days its like an 8 on scale of 1-10. So I wanted to throw that out to you, not sure of your age, but hormones seem to play a big role in this for me, or atleast I am assuming. Let me know how you are doing.

Hi Nbalan, sorry this reply is a bit late but I have moved house and renting until I move into my new home in January.So have had to join the local library to use their computers!
Well there's been loads of stress over the past few weeks as you can imagine and the taste thing has gotten from bearable to absolutely awful. I went to the Dr. again and he has suggested another type of digestive medicine, so obviously thinks it's GERD. He also said that if he suddenly started to analyse his saliva and thought that it tasted metallic etc. then it would suddenly taste metallic. So I think he was trying to tell me it was mind over matter!! I am in my late 60's and maybe a bit late for hormonal imbalance. However, I have heard that women in pregnancy sometimes get this taste problem hence the hormone imbalance. There's one thing I do know and that is if I eat tomatoes, apples, currents, burnt toast, coffee, tea then the bitterness comes immediately and stays with me most of the day. The only good thing about the whole thing is that I'm losing weight!What is strange is that when I wake up in the morning the bitterness has disappeared then slowly appears as the day goes on. Anyway that's me up to date.Good luck with the stabilizers and keep in touch.Best wishes, Johanna

Hi Johannah- thanks for getting back to me. Sorry to hear the tast has gotten worse.. I agree on the food choices, the same for me.. especially if I use certain salad dressings. I have found that chewing gum helps.. I hope the medicine imrpoves the situation.. Accupuncture may be a good thing to try..No matter we will have to muscle through it. Know you have a friend on the other side of the ocean.. Email anytime with updates. I'll let you know if I find out anything else, as we travel this path. Be Well.

I guess I'm responding to all of you who have written. I just found this site and it's the first time I've found others who are describing exactly what I feel....except that no one has suffered with it for as long. This first started for me almost 8 years ago. I was told initially that I was suffering from depression. This is NOT depression though there are times that I am very anxious, exhausted, and depressed as a result of this. I can no longer sleep without medication. I have been to innumerable dentists, doctors, etc. but nothing is visible and I look remarkably healthy (and I am) so everyone is convinced this is mental.

I wake up in the morning with this awful taste. Nothing cuts through it except occasionally some gum but it then changes consistency and makes me sick. I do not have the awful taste when I am eating though food does not taste the same as it did before. I can not relax or read. I am consumed with this all day long. I am 60, never suffered any menopausal symptomns, and have never really been sick. My doctor suggested hormone therapy last month but I because sufered such generalized nausea that I stopped taking the pills. I am desperate for ANY suggestions as I don't know what to do. I don't even know where to begin. I have tried accupuncture and hypnosis to no avail. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I'm truly desperate for relief. Thanks, Barbara

Hi Barbara-

Sorry to hear you are dealing with this.. As you have read there are many people with various types of symptoms with this.. Personally i feel it is either GI related or hormonal..I have been reading Suzane Somers books-Breakthrough and Ageless, and I really think that Biodentical Hormones are something to seriously look into. I have tried homeopaty, as slight improvement with Mercury. Another suggestion, that I have not tried, it Chinese herbs. Try and find an herbalist in your area. A friend of mine suggested it the other day and that it really works for some people. I am going to look into it. Try not to stress out over it, sometimes preoccupying yourself helps, with something that you enjoy. I have days that I dont notice it and other days thats its present from waking, and much better when eating. I also listen to a meditation CD for anxiety which helps... Let us know how you do. Hang in there.

Hello to everyone who has followed up. Well, I have had a few months of hell and have finally figured out WHAT was causing this, had surgeries, etc. and now - at last, it is gone.
Firstly, had a routine blood work up and within 14 hrs, my doc was calling me on the phone to meet him at the hospital because I was actively bleeding. He had previously said he thought GERD was my issue, which I denied. Well, turns out that the sore throat and nasty taste in mouth, were in fact GERD and I had 2 erosions in my esophagus, one duodenal bleeding ulcer, and 2 other ulcers, one on either side of the stomach. My RBC was 5.1, and I received 3 blood transfusions and had the bleeding cautherized during a endo a few days later. They will not touch you in the hospital until they know where you are bleeding at. Good thing that was caught, as when the red blood cell count drops to 4.0, your heart stops because there is not enough blood to pump. I missed all the symptoms on this, having thought the rapid heartbeat, dizziness and generally anxiety feelings were from a recent depression/anxiety situation, where I just got divorced after 15 yrs. Then, after the blood transfusions, I went to the ENT and he did an actual culture of the maxillary sinus (cheek), they go through the crease of mouth, through the bone and puncture to sac to withdraw fluid for testing. I had another FUNGUS. So, after 4 more surgeries, lots of VFEND and Sporanox, Prednisone, etc., I am healed and it's gone. I will let you all know that I did have a sore throat for many weeks, having bought alot of chloraseptic because I thought it was from sinus drainage at night. Wrong. It was the acid (gerd) eroding my esophagus. Look into this, as I had NO clue this could be happening to me, nor did my doctors. Good luck to all and happy holidays :))).

Hi Fellow sufferers. Just keeping in touch. Last night I had a consultation with the doc who did my endoscopy. I plied him with questions about the taste thing. He said that if the antacid tablets he had given me did not do the trick then it's not GERD (or GORD)as we say in Britain. He apparently has other patients with the same condition. I queried if any of them have ever been 'set free' from this wretched problem. All he could say is that it 'comes and goes'. I told him about chewing gum etc.and he said that actually this increased acid in the saliva.He suggested plain yoghurt etc. But at the end of the day it was all a waste of time. This morning when I woke the taste was almost normal and I was delighted. Then I made some soup with veg and stock cubes. All I did was have a teaspoonful to see if it was ok and immediately the taste returned (perhaps an ingredient in the stock cubes).I wonder could it be anything to do with the actual tongue and tastebuds.Because of all the medication I have had over the past 4 years could it be that my tongue has become allergic. The strange thing is that our symptoms all seem to be pretty similar. My next step is a nutritionist and perhaps some food allergy tests. Whatever, it's so good to have you all to talk to. I try not to complain to family and friends, to to know that there are people out there with the same problem is comforting. Best wishes to all.

This may seem a personal question, but I have been having the same difficulty with awful burning/citrus taste in my mouth and wonder if anyone has had partners who have noticed and or complained of the taste when you kiss them? Just had some test to check for GERD but no results yet.
thanks for any reply

I actually didnt kiss my husband for almost a month b/c the taste was so strong that I was sure he would have tasted it. However it does change in intensity and he has never said anything, and I have asked and the answer was no.

I have had the same awful taste in my mouth for over 8 months and have seen several doctors with no answers. I have had several tests done: brain MRI, heavy metal screen, B-12, CBC, CMP, etc. Everything normal besides iron deficiency and B-12 on the low side. Even had a perfect dental check up. I have seen so many doctors that have given me no answers. They probably think that I am mental. Each Dr. justs passes me onto another! My Medical bills are getting very ugly, even with my great insurance. I am a nurse and have never heard of anyone with this problem before this happened to me. I feel so terrible that everyone on this site lives in this mouth hell like mine. I have no success with any relief remedies, therefore cannot offer others much help. All I know is that my mouth is perfect in the morning and gets worse and worse as the day progresses. My only escape is after I pass out from Ambien every night! PLEASE if anyone can offer any other advise or maybe something that has helped to temporarily relieve this horrible taste, please respond. I feel so desperate for help.

Hi Jessieee, Like you I have been dealing with this for about 5-6 months. The intensity varies. I just saw an endocrinologist and the taste may be due to a hormonal imbalance. I am 37 and found out I am in menopause and the taste thing started as soon as my estrogen took a nosedive. I also have had thorough work ups, colonoscopy, endoscopy, vistis to ENT, took anti-fungal medcine in my mouth, and visits to the dentitst, yet yeilding nothing. I think one way to deal with it is through meditiation and relaxation... I think that the stress and anxiety that surrounds this makes it worse. Get your hands on a medititation or relation CD and commit to doing every night before bed. At least you will be relaxin gyour body. My next step is a chinesse herbalist, I have hear they can do wonders. So its worth checking out. Sorry no one has the answer here, hang in there.

Hi Jessieee,

So far I haven't found any answers. And because no one has any, they DO just send you on to another doctor. I really do believe that the doctors and dentists I've seen (for the most part) believe that something is awry but I have no VISIBLE symptoms so they can not begin to address the problem. I have tried every time of mouthwash; have had fillings replaced; changed my diet (eliminated coffee, dairy products, etc.). Nothing helped. I am aware of this almost every minute of every day except when I am eating or exercising (because I'm breathing through my mouth then). I use alprazolam and Nyquil to sleep but the first thing I am aware of when I wake up is this problem. nbalan (on this site) told me about a Taste/Smell clinic at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. I have not yet called there (I don't have insurance) but I am going to. I hate to spend days filling out forms and hours of tests and hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars for tests that still tell me nothing. I AM desperate. I sip scotch or white wine at night. Isn't that ridiculous? I've never been a drinker but that seems to cut through the taste a bit.
I wish I had some positive news. At least you're not in this alone. You feel like an idiot going to doctors with a problem that noone has ever heard of....especially when, like you, you're surrounded by people who have maladies that are SO visible. I don't like to be a malingerer but it frustrates me that so much of my energy and productivity is being wasted on this problem. I'll keep you posted if I find any help.

Thank you nbalan and barbara for replying. I thought I would mention what certain docs have told me to try. None has helped me, but it might be of help for some of you??? One Neurologist told me to take 1000mcg b-12, 250mg magnesium, and 1mg folic acid everyday. She explained that low levels of vit.b-12 can create nerve damage to the 7th cranial nerve which controls the sensory of the tongue. The magnesium and folic acid need to be taken with the b-12 for optimal results. Even if whoever reads this does not know if they have a b-12 deficiency or not, it will not be harmful to give it a whirl. B-12 supplements are very safe, it can not become toxic if taken when not needed like some other vitamin supplements. If you are getting an excess of b12 you will just urinate it out. Plus b12 helps to turn fat and carbohydrates eaten into energy that the body burns, therefore, fatigue may be decreased. Another Neurologist told me to take 50mg of Zinc daily. She has patients that have had success using Zinc, but she does not know why? Another Neurologist wanted me to start cymbalta and clonopin. She said that I have nerve damage to my tongue because of b12 deficency and cymbalta helps that. However my brain mri showed no abnormalities of any cranial nerves so I have refused to take the cymbalta. Nerve damage-whatever!!! When this damn mouth hell began, my family physican imediately thought it was neurological that is why I have been referred to these neuro docs. So with no luck in that area, I am being referred to an ENT on Wed.12/3 for an appt. that I am sure will go nowhere:( But it is interesting nbalan about the estrogen? This all began for me when I skipped a period 8 months ago, spotted lightly for the following month, then returned to regular, but heavy flow periods since. I have always had periods like clockwork before this. I have no children. I am 30yrs old. My mom has been convincted this whole time that this is all hormonal because that was the only change that occured when this hell began. And Barbara don't ever feel that some scotch or wine at night is ridiculous. If that gives some sense of relief - DO IT! I myself sip on whiskey straight with some diet coke as well. Whatever works. Especially when it is nighttime that my mouth is soooo unbearable. It helps to relax as well. I do not get drunk or consider it so-called problem drinking. It's more like therapy. It is so nice to have thoughs who can relate with this problem, because I never talk about it at home. I feel guilty if I do because there are so many who suffer greatly from cancer and other horrific diseases, that making such a big deal about my mouth makes me feel so guilty. I know things could be much worse, but this still really sucks too. I feel so sorry for each of yous on this site, I have read everybodies story. My prayers to you all.