Loss of taste and the sense of feeling hot or cold temperature in my mouth-help

[johnandholli]

I lost my taste about a year ago. I still can smell through my nose, and maybe between the back of my mouth and nose. Another issue is I cannot feel temperature hot or cold food or drinks except using my lips as a guide. I have been to an ENT doctor, had a brain scan, seen a dentist, and ask every medical professional I come across. My ENT, says well..if you can smell, you may have hope of getting your taste back. Everyone is puzzled. Over the last year I have tried to decide if I can actually taste or I am just smelling it. There is a tiny portion on the left side of my tongue, by my molars that maybe I can taste. I definitely cannot taste on my taste buds. I can eat a habanero pepper and only get a sensation in the back of my throat, I never liked spicy foods. I maybe can taste real lemon, almond extract, maybe real vanilla, dark chocolate, peanut butter and salt. That is all that I have came up with the last year. I can tell the sweetness of cream and the after taste of sweet and low (nasty). It is strange and that is it for an entire year. Any thoughts on what specialty doctor I should see? I need help!Thanks!

[johnandholli]

Thank you for a reply :-)

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi and I understand your predicament. Taste is valued sensation; it does elevate one’s mood.  Loss of taste sensation can occur with local causes like tongue injury or burns. It can also occur due to central causes like lesions in the brain or cranial nerves. But as you have been thoroughly tested, it’s unlikely that any structural or organic causes are responsible for your loss of taste sensation.  Unfortunately even with all the investigations done, sometimes the cause may never be found. So, for now, you can have testing done with different tastes like sweet, sour, salty etc, and chart the areas of the tongue perceiving this and you can keep repeating them after a few months  to see if the taste sensation is progressing, you have to wait and watch.  Good Luck.