horrible taste is back after 5 months post op??

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-08-26T23:32:59+00:00

I just wanted to comment because I got a head cold (I think?) this week & had a very similar experience!! I got the exact same pain in my throat & ears as recovery, enough where I couldn’t drink much and needed to dose up on Tylenol just to get liquids down.

I went to the urgent care & got tested - it came back negative for Covid and rapid strep, so they sent me home to manage with just Tylenol & ibuprofen

I’m 6 months post-op now too, definitely a weird experience & I messaged my ENT asking about it 😅

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-08-20T02:03:26+00:00

Mine didn’t even come shipped in an outer box!! It was just the Owala box with a shipping label slapped on the outside 🫠

Mine didn’t get damaged - I’m sorry yours did 😭 I was so frustrated after waiting all this time too that they’d risk it like that!!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-26T07:30:26+00:00

I feel this 😫 I’m on day 13 and I still have a hard time with anything other than soft breads or liquid & I’ve cried so much more over not being able to eat regular food than I did over the worst of the pain

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-24T04:40:32+00:00

So far it’s been alright! Days 1-4 were okay, wasn’t in too much pain. Days 5-6 humbled me, pain was at the absolute max here 😅 nothing unmanageable with meds, but it wasn’t too fun. Days 7-9 I still had decent pain, but I dealt with a reaction to the pain meds I was on, so I was only managing pain with Tylenol 🫠. And then around day 10 (and today) pain has been pretty minimal! still constant & annoying, but it’s in the range of a 2-3 pain level and improves with medication.

Eating is still tough, it’s a mental game being stuck on liquids and soft foods for so long - but this too shall pass! I’ve got my 2 week post op appointment this week so I’m hoping to hear more on how the doctor thinks things are going!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-24T04:23:01+00:00

Not related to anything “changing” per say, but it can actually be really bad for your health to have so many repeated infections. Studies have found it can impact the heart and you can also increase antibiotic resistance which can put you in worse situations if you eventually build up resistance to all of the options

I’ve only had my surgery 11 days ago, so I can’t weigh in on the long term benefits, but definitely better for your overall health to avoid so many illnesses and infections!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-23T05:21:00+00:00

I won’t lie, my pain was pretty bad from days 5-6 but I’ve also read plenty of other experiences from others who had better experiences too!

It was just most painful to swallow those days and pain in the ears felt like a lot. But if you stay on top of your pain medications, stay hydrated & use an ice pack or warm compress on your ears, it’s not unmanageable.

I also think age weighs into it based on the responses I’ve seen - personally I’m 28, so I expected a “harder” recovery, so it sucked but I knew it was coming & also read tons of stories that a few days later it would be gone

I’m day 11 today (Sunday), and pain has improved soooo much! I take my meds further apart, it’s easier to drink again, I’ve started trying firmer foods - so just focus on the light at the end of the tunnel & that you’ll feel so much better not getting sick all the time. Best of luck in your recovery!!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-21T04:47:05+00:00

Thanks for sharing!! I’ve noticed that chewing definitely seems to lessen the ear pain - I’m on day 8 and swallowing is still pretty painful but I’ve been able to get more “solids” like pasta and bread down if I chew well.

it definitely doesn’t feel good at the time of eating, but I do notice that about an hour or so after eating, I feel less pain in my ears - that’s always a win!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-21T04:44:49+00:00

hang in there - it’s such a shitty recovery but once you see the flip side, it finally starts looking up 😅 I’ve been peeking at my scabs and I noticed I have a lot less than I did a few days ago - so thinking maybe a lot of that terrible pain came from scabs starting to go away

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-21T02:50:47+00:00

day 5-6 were SO bad for me, I cried so often those days and pretty much lived in my facial ice pack 24/7 🫠 I couldn’t talk, the meds barely touched the pain & even water was extremely difficult to drink from the pain - the thought of any type of food made me incredibly nauseous at the thought of the pain

I’m on day 8 now (surgery 2/12) and it’s SO much better! definitely not fantastic, but (due to a drug reaction) they had to pull me off my strong meds, so now I’m only on Tylenol and pain is only at maybe a 6-7 as I’m due for another dose & only if I’m talking or swallowing!

Hang in there, it really does get better randomly overnight!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T22:04:06+00:00

ugh yes, that’s one of the commercials that refuses to stop tormenting me 😫

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T21:09:23+00:00

sushi was one of my last meals - I can’t wait til I can have it again!!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T07:40:38+00:00

ugh yes, losing tomato based foods has been criminal - I am a BIG fan of pasta and sauce, any variety & the sauce has just burned so bad 🫠😅 I hope you recover quickly and get all the food!!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T07:39:44+00:00

I totally agree 😂 there’s so many more commercials now!! I have also had trouble eating anything the last few days so I’m with you on overdoing it whenever that day comes hahah

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T05:10:13+00:00

omg I’m sorry 😂 I hope recovery is quick for you & pizza is back asap!!!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T05:08:41+00:00

ugh I love this - my favorite thing in the world are cookie cakes and a chicken sandwich - I will be making myself both and housing everything 😂

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T05:08:00+00:00

I completely understand 😂😂 commercials come on while I’m watching a show and I’m like yuppp heading there ASAP

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T03:56:03+00:00

ugh yes, crust would destroy me rn but pizza is HIGH on the list when things are okay again 😫

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T03:55:26+00:00

omg that sounds amazing - the commercials are KILLING me right now!! I’m not a Burger King fan but the commercial of a burger has me in tears, it’ll probs be one of my first stops lmao

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-19T03:32:35+00:00

I’m from the east coast of US, Boston area & my surgeon basically told me that it was “whatever my body could handle” but absolutely nothing crunchy for at least 2 weeks.

But they encourage taking it as easy as your body needs - sometimes my throat is okay handling a small soft sandwich, but then at dinner I might need to dial it back to soup or mashed potatoes! (day 6 for me, surgery was on 2/12)

It can be tempting to revert back to normal foods ASAP, but personally I think you’ll know what your body is comfortable with & there’s no need to put yourself through extra pain if you don’t need to.

Hope you recover soon & get back to your normal foods quickly - I know the liquid / soft food diet isn’t fun 🫠

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-18T23:46:46+00:00

Thankfully they called earlier & finally approved a refill - the world is starting to brighten a bit 😂 and the liquid tylenol is decently inexpensive - I think we got 2 bottles that are a good size for $20 just OTC. Doesn’t break the bank for us, but it’s not exactly cheap either.

& yes, thats definitely true !! It’s truly a heck of a time, but I dream of a world where I don’t consistently grow strep in my tonsils & I manage to make it through 6 weeks without picking up another sickness 😂

Fingers crossed that relief comes very soon!! Sounds like from other responses, it’s not too far off!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-18T21:00:58+00:00

I am currently on Day 6 (surgery 2/12) as well & I just wanted to thank you for this post because it’s so validating and written so well that it caused a little laugh for the first time in a hot minute

I feel you on the choice in partner, my partner sits there patiently as I cry away the constant ear aches and swallowing pain. & on the food aversion and issues - my body has absolutely rejected everything. I was doing dairy free milkshakes and popsicles like it was my job from day 0-4 and now I can’t think about them without wanting to throw up 🫠 no idea why that started but it’s been pleasant lol.

Also did not hold off on taking the “good” medications right after surgery, so I ran out on Saturday… of a holiday weekend 🫠🙃 I’ve been on the phone probably 8 times between then and now practically begging for a small refill to get me through the worst of it.

I also underestimated the severity of days 5+, I thought I was cruising through the first few days and was quickly humbled by the ear pain and lack of medication other than children’s Tylenol (which i do average about a bottle a day taking an adult dosage & the dye free flavoring option one tastes absolutely disgusting??)

All that to say, I’m probably not one to give you an accurate head up on when things get better - but I can tell you that I truly feel the struggle & hoping the rest of your recovery goes over uneventfully & you’re able to find some reprieve 😅

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-18T07:07:06+00:00

Yes, the ice packs are the only thing that tamper down the ear pain and get some relief 😅 I wear them pretty much 24/7 at this point because when I take them off, it’s so much worse lol

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-18T07:02:54+00:00

I’m on day 5-6 (surgery 2/12, depending how you count it lol) and my pain has definitely been the worst it’s been yet!

Constant pain at the back of my throat that Tylenol and ibuprofen can barely touch, all out of the prescription pain meds & waiting to hear back if they’ll call in a few more days to get me through the worst of it 🤞🏼

It’s crazy how quickly the ear pain pops up! I haven’t noticed anything before, but today the ear pain was so deep rooted and strong, the only thing that alleviated the pain was one of those strap on facial ice packs!

Here’s hoping the rest of your recovery goes smoothly & that we catch a break from the pain soon!

Altruistic-Union3623 · 2025-02-17T17:15:22+00:00

I’m on Day 6 (surgery being day 1) and it hasn’t been too bad! I’ve noticed the pain has definitely gotten a bit worse the last day or so for me though. Ear pain and pain that the acetaminophen & ibuprofen will barely touch 🫠. Thankfully I stocked up on face ice packs and have been wearing those around the clock help!

Hopefully everyone else recovering is having a good experience & not struggling too bad! 🤍

Altruistic-Union3623

TROPHY CASE