overly sensitive taste buds

[suzannah16]

does anyone else have overly sensitive taste buds, I even find tomato ketchup to be too spicy. it's not an infection just can't eat anything with even a hint of spice or pepper anymore.

[Hidden]

Do you have dash of Sjögren’s perhaps? Altered taste is one of the top five primary symptoms.

[suzannah16 in reply to Hidden]

possibly, I get dry eyes and mouth but rheumy has never tested me. I hadn't thought of that. sometimes symptoms seem unrelated and I later find out they go together. How are you doing? you have been through the wars a bit lately.

[Hidden in reply to suzannah16]

I just posted about my dry eyes. Altered sense of taste is a Sjögren’s classic and for me is probably one of the most hateful symptoms. I have a rancid taste all the time just now and my taste buds were described by gastro as “very blunt instruments”.

Sometimes they even swell up and hurt.

In my experience rheumies often don’t bother even mentioning Sjögren’s if you have other autoimmunity. This is wrong as it can be the worst rheumatic disease for some.

Anyway if you have dry eyes and mouth then you probably have your culprit for your altered sense of taste too I’m afraid. I can’t even think of spicy foods now, nor vinegar, citrus and many other foods. And I’m surrounded by menfolk who love nothing more than adding hot chilli to everything! X

[honeybug]

Hi suzannah16

I love the pic. 💗🤗🥰

Yes I’ve had this problem for decades now.

This started in my late 20s. Then as it progressed I’d often find more than one.

After years of that it progressed for me into geographic tongue.

Then they seemed to alternate for years now they seldom flare that severely. Now my tongue has several crevasses. I often find that I have a diminished tasting ability.

Mine is primarily an autoimmune disease called Sjogrens Syndrome.

I’m sorry you’re suffering with this too. It’s so sensitive and it seems like everything spikes the pain.

I just endure it until they pass. However my dentist has suggested taking zinc tablets for canker sores until they resolve. Maybe it might work for this too. Only take it short term as it is used in the A & E treatments when admitted and using it too much

Would make you resistant for future use.

Best wishes dear.

😊🌸🌿🦋🙏🤗💗😘🎄🕊😇

[suzannah16 in reply to honeybug]

I had the crevasses too a few years ago, very sore

[honeybug in reply to suzannah16]

Yes. xxx

[Shorthouse]

Definitely chilli is the worst xx

[MissusTee]

I have this with my sjogrens, there's lots that I can't eat anymore, but for me it's because I have a lobulated tongue.

[eekt]

I've very little sense of smell - therefore taste - possibly due to an olive-sized lump of calcified inflammation very close to my olfactory bulb and/or internal nasal structures that are deceased (cue Monty Python's dead parrot sketch - akin to my last conversation with my GP: youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ...(Not working as expected?) for the fjords')

HOWEVER I'm slowly and reluctantly learning certain things just won't go down well...fresh green chilli is one, as is aubergine (no surprises, both nightshades, both ex-favourites)..but things like ketchup and Bounty bars (used to) contain cinnamon as a flavour enhancer and cinnamon has been a no-no for me since long before I was diagnosed

Cooking from scratch, as you do, is the way to go and you can make much tastier ketchup yourself! (Recipes to follow in PM) xxx

[Bronn in reply to eekt]

Woh! I have very little sense of smell but never thought of it being associated with a rheumatology problem. I have SLE & RA amongst a huge list of the complaints. I have never even thought of mentioning it to my rheumy nurse or consultant. My taste buds are fine thank goodness, but I find some days I cannot eat something whereas in a few days or week I can. My eating habits have become somewhat weird. I am making notes for next consultant appointment in January so I'll mention this.

[eekt in reply to Bronn]

Yup, inflammation of the nose is uncommon, but it doesn't take a lot to affect those highly-sensitive smell nerve-endings just at the top of the nasal cavity

I broke my nose 40-odd year ago so probably have lived with the loss- exacerbated by SLE - most of my life...but to lose it as an adult is devastating, I've heard, and there are things they can do!

Weird eating habits, mmMMmm, anchovies, black olives and capers - with garlic - in pitta for breakfast, yum 🤪

Best of luck, and here's to a fragrant New Year! xxx

[Bronn in reply to eekt]

Oh Im glad I'm not the only one, though it's not nice for anyone. Next time my hubbie calls me a freak I'll show him this. Salt I can never get enough salt. My sodium levels are always very low, rheumy nurse told me I am doing the right thing, giving my body what it needs. Yogurt with cheese yum!

[eekt in reply to Bronn]

YAAY! Bitter chocolate and potatoes! mmmmmxx

[suzannah16 in reply to eekt]

you're weird uggh. I just have a craving for onions at the moment. cheese on toast with onions, meat with onions [fried] hmm maybe just fried onions on toast. that's lunch sorted

[suzannah16 in reply to Bronn]

that's me too, sense of taste and smell come and go but pain in my tongue from something as simple as ketchup is constant. I can detect just a single grain of black pepper in something yet not taste other things at all, can't smell my toast when it burns. I've never mentioned it to my doctors either, something for my next list.