tonsillectomy and taste disturbance

[fishcook]

7 weeks after a tonsillectomy, I am troubled by changes to my sense of taste. My ENT doctor assured me 3+ weeks ago that it would disappear by Thanksgiving. Unless I experience a big turn-around this seems highly unlikely.

This is not a "loss of taste", but rather a distortion of flavors. Much worse with relatively dry foods (soup not so bad, bread and cake horrible) but present to some degree in nearly everything.

I love to cook, and who doesn't love to eat, so this is a significant quality of life issue to me.

Some on-line research I've done suggests that there is a possibility of damage to the Lingual Branch of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve, particularly in patients with significant scar or fibrous tissue in the tonsillar bed.
I fear that as a 52 year old with a long history of tonsil infections this may be a decription of my condition.

Can you please offer other more hopeful possibilities,
I haven't found much to indicate that those afflicted with this post-operative condition will recover and regain a fully functional sense of taste.

[EFohn]

I know it's much later, but if (by an chance) either of you log on, I'm 18 years old and 10 days past my tonsillectomy. I'm having the same issue with distorted taste, my doctor hasn't said much about it, but has either of yours returned yet? I have faith mine may because one of my distant friends said theirs turned back to normal after two weeks. I've always loved to cook and bake, but it's Christmas and I don't even want dessert. Sweets are the worst and it's the most depressing, unseen, and side effect. I was not warned about this at all.
Thank you.

[Chris1267]

I was wondering if this has gotten better for you yet.  I had my tonsils removed 11/20/06 and am having the same problem. 39yo female.
Dr. said it was antibiotics but i have been off them for two weeks now and my taste is not returning to normal.

Saw some posts dated back to 2003 addressing this issue and some seemed to think it was permanent.  They described my symptoms exactly.

I don't see anything related to taste disturbances and tonsillectomys on any medical websites and my Dr. has no knowledge of this being a side effect.  Saw one lawsuit back a few years ago but the woman lost.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks.