Loss of Taste After Tonsillectomy

[ElderDruid]

I am 32 years old and had a tonsillectomy 2 weeks ago. My sense of taste is pretty poor (foods taste bland), and I'm wondering if this is common? How long before my taste (hopefully) returns to normal? Thanks!

[tvierra]

I'm glad to hear someone else is going through that. I had the procedure done two years ago. My taste buds are finally starting to come back. Hang in there.

[ElderDruid]

Thanks for the "encouragement", but I seriously hope this is a joke.

[orion]

Your taste is strongly influenced by your nose. Deep inside your nose is a small spot that governs your smell. If that spot is damaged in anyway, like the blood supply is cut or some debri from your operation got up your nose then you can't taste very well. Normally that will return often after 6 months or so. You had lots of damage to tissue when you had your operation so probably the blood supply was damaged to the smell area. Chances are it will return but it may take months.

In my case, it took 3 months before I could taste anything, and 6 before I would say it was normal.



[This message has been edited by orion (edited 07-14-2003).]

[ElderDruid]

Thanks Orion. However, my sense of smell seems unaffected. It's my taste buds that seem to be damaged in some way. I'm thinking that maybe the Vioxx I took had something to do with it? Or the antibiotics? Or the morphine?