Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Dysgeusia And Deep Dry Cough
Question: Everything that I eat tastes sweet. It doesn't matter what it is. Apples, chicken, bread, radishes, etc. This has been going on since about last November when I fell and hit my head really hard. What is also going on is a deep, dry cough with no production just raspiness, a change in my voice occasionally, choking/coughing on food A LOT!! Whenever I eat something I start coughing. I can eventually eat but the coughing/choking comes and goes throughout the meal. My neck has been sore but I am attributing that to muscle pulls. I have a gland on the left side that is sore to the touch but doesn't appear to be swollen. Any idea what is going on?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
you are having aspiration
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to healthcaremagic,
There are many causes for dysguesia (altered taste sensation), but since your symptoms developed after a fall in which you injured your head, head injury is the most possible cause. Loss of taste or altered taste after head injury is also usually accompanied by loss of smell as well. Some improvement can be expected for a few months after the incident.
You are coughing or choking while eating is because you are aspirating the food that you are eating. The food is entering into your windpipe and causing coughing and choking. In the elderly, the commonest cause for this is a stroke.
I would definitely advise you to see a physician at the earliest. The taste and smell functions have to be tested by an ENT. You will most probably require an MRI scan to look for infarcts in your brain that may be responsible for your present symptoms.
Till then you can take zinc supplements. They are known to help in taste disorders. I do not expect them to work much for you but it can be tried just the same. Till you see your physician be careful while you eat. Aspiration can produce pneumonia.
Feel free to follow up,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi MS ENT
you are having aspiration
Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to healthcaremagic,
There are many causes for dysguesia (altered taste sensation), but since your symptoms developed after a fall in which you injured your head, head injury is the most possible cause. Loss of taste or altered taste after head injury is also usually accompanied by loss of smell as well. Some improvement can be expected for a few months after the incident.
You are coughing or choking while eating is because you are aspirating the food that you are eating. The food is entering into your windpipe and causing coughing and choking. In the elderly, the commonest cause for this is a stroke.
I would definitely advise you to see a physician at the earliest. The taste and smell functions have to be tested by an ENT. You will most probably require an MRI scan to look for infarcts in your brain that may be responsible for your present symptoms.
Till then you can take zinc supplements. They are known to help in taste disorders. I do not expect them to work much for you but it can be tried just the same. Till you see your physician be careful while you eat. Aspiration can produce pneumonia.
Feel free to follow up,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi MS ENT
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Thank you. My food tasting sweet has been getting progressively worse since the November fall not better after 'a few months' and my sense of smell is fine. I remenbered since I wrote earlier that my vision has changed and I just had a check up three months ago. I dance quite a bit and have noticed that ocassionally when I first start I feel like I have a weight sittîng on my chest. Often on my drive home I have deep coughing. I don't drink or smoke nor do I visit places that allow smoking. and have a very healthy diet but I do carry extra weight after menopause. I have noticed that I hear a slight wheezing in the evening while sitting and doing paperwork. I have developed a small lump about 3 inches to the left of my spine where my neck joins my spine. I have always been a high energy person however that is lessening. Any other thoughts?
Brief Answer:
have to review the aspirin and bioidentical hormones for tatse disturbance
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The disturbance in taste can even be because of the aspirin or the bioidentical hormones that you have been taking. Taste disturbance is not a common complaint with bioidentical hormones or aspirin but taste disturbance can occur with almost any medicine. Please talk to your doctor and consider changing your medicines, it is worth a shot.
The heaviness in the chest and the wheezing and the coughing is probably because of aspiration.
regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi MS ENT
have to review the aspirin and bioidentical hormones for tatse disturbance
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The disturbance in taste can even be because of the aspirin or the bioidentical hormones that you have been taking. Taste disturbance is not a common complaint with bioidentical hormones or aspirin but taste disturbance can occur with almost any medicine. Please talk to your doctor and consider changing your medicines, it is worth a shot.
The heaviness in the chest and the wheezing and the coughing is probably because of aspiration.
regards,
Dr Rajkishori Godhi MS ENT
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
