Hi
I had a stroke in September 24 and since then most food tastes foul. I hoped it would improve. I am eating apples by the lorry load as that’s one thing that actually tastes like it should… It is really getting me down. How long will it last? Will it ever get back to normal? are questions I ask myself daily. I am wondering if I should see my doctor.
Thanks for reading.
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@jenn it is very difficult to say if your taste will return to normal or how long it will take. It may be worth speaking to your GP. My advice is to try & eat lots of diffetent foods, even if they taste wrong, so that your brain gets used to them & cab start to rewire yiur taste buds. Hope your taste comes back soon.
Best wishes
Ann
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My favourite drink has always been coffee but while in hospital I developed a loathing for it.
Someone suggested drinking chocolate, and for some time it was what I drank morning noon and night.
When the hospital menu for the next day came around I picked food that sounded good and was what I liked. Next day I’d push it around the plate with no appetite whatsoever. All that I could manage were jelly, ice cream, a banana or other fruit.
When I got home again I eventually regained my appetite, once more enjoying a cup of coffee and my old favourites.
Stroke plays some very strange tricks on you, but given time you begin to get your life, changed a bit, back again.
Sharing the story does help put things into perspective and lets you find that you are not along dealing with this stuff.
keep on keepin’ on
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Hello @jenn sorry you have to go through this, Are you on anti epileptic drugs? Sometimes these meds change the taste of food.
Keep trying different healthy food items so you find your taste as right eating is important for healing.
Please take care.
My Positive thoughts for you.
-Neha
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The only thing I noticed was that all wine tasted like vinegar for a couple of years (which saved me a few bob!). I’m back to normal now, but don’t drink wine as much as I used to.
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Hello.
My taste was ‘off’ for a few months after the stroke then came back ok. More recently, and 19mths post stroke, I’ve noticed I can’t always taste as well as I did, but on the other hand, sense of smell is getting stronger as that diminished almost to nothing. So as taste and smell are connected, I’m still hoping (expecting, even!) for both senses to sort themselves out eventually. Unfortunately, there’s no solid answer as our strokes are all individual but I do hope it’s not too long before your taste returns to normal.
Trace
SIG
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@jenn
I also suffer from taste problems since stroke May 23. I had some phone calls from a stroke dietitian who told me in her experience most people’s taste returns.
However no sign of this happening at all for me , everything tastes vile. I would say carrots and digestive biscuits the only things remotely familiar. 
I miss a nice cup of tea so much!
Social meals are difficult , I have just learned to chew and swallow and pretend!
Sorry I can’t give better news , maybe we will be lucky and our normal taste will return one day.
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My husband had a haemorrhagic stroke late Nov 24. He was tube fed for the first month. When he went on to proper food in hospital it all tasted dreadful. He went off tea, coffee and most foods. He said it all tasted the same. He lost 2 stones in weight and they gave him energy drinks. The turning point was when someone sent out for fish and chips and treated him. He said they were fantastic.
When he came home mid March he ate everything I put in front of him. Hospital food is shockingly bad.
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Like everything post stroke recovery of taste is varied. It took the best part of year for taste to return. Being diabetic it was a bit of a predicament for me as the medication I’m on virtually eliminates appetite altogether. Needless to say I lost too much weight, but thankfully its back to normal now 
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I can relate to this as since my mini-stroke 7 months ago I have lost the pleasure of chocolate. i used to enjoy the occasional chocolate bar, but now it’s something I don’t enjoy. I’ve had chocolate several times since, but each time the taste I experienced before has gone.
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