Dysgeusia
I’ve got dysgeusia. It started last week with a cucumber. The cucumber did not taste like cucumber; the cucumber tasted like poison, like varnish. I’ve since tried eating other cucumbers and, while not as terrible as the first, they taste wrong. I can’t eat them.
Coffee also does not taste right. It tastes like poison, too. Today, my Starbucks tasted like peppermint.
Tap water has been tasting like it’s food-flavored or, yeah - poisoned.
Whatever is going on here? Why, it’s dysgeusia - an altered and distorted sense of taste and/or smell.
At times, I have an increased sense of smell, which also falls under the category of dysgeusia. Increased taste/smell is called hypergeusia.
Dysgeusia is pronounced dis-gooz-ee-a. Gooz.
If everything tasted metallic, that could be a symptom of pregnancy. Or cancer.
This site talks about how dysgeusia might be a neurological issue due to a viral infection. Ooh. Aah.
Here’s a nice list of reasons (from doctorstrust.com) one might be experiencing dysgeusia:
“Dysgeusia…can be caused by upper respiratory tract infection, hormonal changes, tobacco smoke, or nasal polyps. Certain medications, like the blood pressure–lowering drug captopril (Capoten) and antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl), may also cause an altered sensation of taste. Sometimes, the cause of dysgeusia is unknown; this is called idiopathic dysgeusia.”
Other causes include (from MedlinePlus):
“Aging (the number of taste buds decrease with age)
Bell’s palsy
Common cold
Flu
Gingivitis
Heavy smoking (especially pipe smoking)
Injury to the mouth, nose, or head
Mouth dryness
Nasal infection, nasal polyps, sinusitis
Pharyngitis
Salivary gland infections
Side effects of medicines, including antithyroid drugs, captopril, griseofulvin, lithium, penicillamine, procarbazine, rifampin, vinblastine, and vincristine
Sjogren’s syndrome
Strep throat
Vitamin B-12 or zinc deficiency”
I’m gonna take a multivitamin.
There’s more, too. One can experience dysgeusia (per InteliHealth) from:
Chemotherapy drugs
A brain tumor
Damage to the taste nerves
Metabolic problems, such as diabetes, thyroid disease or liver problems
Depression
Laryngectomy (removal of the voice box)
If you’re experiencing dysgeusia, you might want to mention it to your doctor, especially if it worsens or continues for more than a week.
Now that you know about dysgeusia, another fun word you might wanna toss around at your next cocktail party is xerostomia. It means dry mouth. At the party, you can tell people you have dysgeusia due to xerostomia. You’ll be the belle of the ball!
Xerostomia can be caused by all kinds of things, and is a common side effect of many medications.
In addition to xerostomia and dysgeusia, I’ve got some major fatigue goin’ on, so I must leave this post tagless and without pictures and get myself to sleep. I haven’t found a fancy word for super fatigue, but I’ll let you know if I do.
Super fatigue can be a symptom of pregnancy. Or cancer. It can also be a symptom of any number of autoimmune conditions.
I have a few autoimmune conditions, one of which can cause xerostomia!
What a tangled web I weave.
Good night, sleep tight, and I promise the bedbug stories are on the way!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:53 am
This is a fairly common problem. First you have to know the cause then treating it because several infections resulting of metallic taste, these includes the common cold, flu, strep throat and nasal or sinus infections. Also, if you’re a smoker, quit smoking is the best to do. You can also drink citrus juices, lemonade and eat foods marinated in vinegar. It is best to visit your primary-care doctor first to rule out medical problems. You may be referred to your general dentist or a specialist if an oral condition is involved.
Feel free to view our site Integrated Clinics of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ICOHNS). It is a center for the diagnosis, therapeutic and rehabilitative management of ENT-Head and Neck concerns.