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Bitter/sweet/sour taste on tongue most the time??

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Posted 1/22/2013 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
This symptom is newer to me. It started a few months ago when my PPI started to loose more effectiveness. I've had this disease for years, but I don't think I had this before, probably because it's mostly been controlled on PPIs. On a double dose now and still no relief:( But this symptom is very annoying! My tongue has a weird bitter/sweet taste most of the time, even when not eating I have it slightly. It's got to be from the reflux...anyone else??
Posted 1/23/2013 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
I've got it, it's nice to talk to someone else who has it. I had a fundo 6 days ago and it's still there.

For me, I only had it once I got on PPIs. Before that, I had a tight throat but no sour taste. I am off PPIs for a day now and I'm hoping it goes away.

I once thought that it was a direct result of reflux.. on my 24 hour PH study, it was associated with weakly acidic reflux. But for me, it's basically constant, and now that I've had fundo and it's still there, I think it's actually the body's reaction to reflux.. or reaction to something.

In some research papers, tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil) are recommended for sour/bitter taste-- which suggests that it will help to decrease the body's reaction to "normal" levels of reflux. They did not work for me when I was on PPIs, for what it's worth.

Have you talked to your Dr. about it?
Posted 1/24/2013 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for responding to me! It's good to know that you can relate. Actually I've got it while on PPIs too, but I have no idea what it's like to not be on PPIs since I've been on them for 14 years. I'm getting some tests done to see if I can be a candidate for surgery because I can't live with this burning throat anymore! Hmmm, so you still have it...I wonder if it takes a bit to clear out. How do you feel being 6 days post surgery? Any burning? I have discussed it with the doctor, but I will and see what he says. I was assuming it was because my gerd is really out of control lately, but I never had it before, even when gerd was crazy. So I don't know?? It's got me stumped. I'm so sick of this taste on my tongue. It happens after everything I eat, and even when I'm not eating. So weird!!
Posted 1/24/2013 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
The acid tongue is something that bothers me sometimes too. Its really annoying because you cant get rid of it with water, food , or anything! and it erodes your teeth too! God this never ends
Posted 1/24/2013 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Yea it's horrible! Grrr, so sick of it:( I don't know how to get rid of it!
Posted 1/24/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
I had the sour mouth nasty taste on and off for the past 5 years prior to my NF. I had my surgery 7 weeks ago and for th first 2 weeks or so I still had the horrible sour mouth. However, I am happy to say that for the first time in many years I no longer have the nasty taste in my mouth. I'm very happy about this.
Posted 1/24/2013 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Bruno, it is great to read that!!!

I actually think it's not "acid" taste but maybe alkaline that we are tasting, that our bodies sense reflux down below so the body generates an alkaline fluid to wash it down.

I have done some reading on post-Nissen recovery, and I have read that the esophagus is "dumb" and that it treats any irritation as reflux. So I am thinking that what's going on with me now, and what happened with Bruno, is that the irritation/inflammation of the wrap/hernia repair etc. makes the esophagus think it's being attacked by reflux, so our bodies continue to create defenses to the reflux, namely this bitter fluid.

When I first woke up from surgery, and after I had my first clear liquid foods (juice and sweet ice), I did not have the sour taste. So I had at least a few hours with no symptoms. Though I know I was probably in a very altered mind state then, I also think that swelling of the repaired areas was minimal at that time since the work had just been done. So if the swelling is one of the things telling the esophagus that it's under attack from reflux, it makes sense that with little/no swelling, my sour taste and "water brash" wasn't present.

Anyways, I am almost certain my Nissen "worked" because I've been off PPIs 3 days now, and my throat tightness has not returned. It would have returned by now I'm sure. I take that this means there is no more (or much less) acid making it to my throat. The inflammation of the wrap below is what's keeping my anti-reflux symptoms around which I hope, like Bruno's, will subside as swelling decreases.
Posted 1/24/2013 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I too have been suffering with a bitter/sour taste for years now. One of symptoms I get with my reflux that I find the most annoying as well as the bad breath that seems to come with it. I have had my wisdom teeth out and had numerous dentist visits but no joy with getting rid of it so it must be due to the reflux. The only thing that seems to help out is avoiding eating anything sour or sweet and eating gaviscon advance tablets. Its good to hear that NF surgery might work as could be an option for me depending on the results of my mamometry/24 pH test I have at the end of this month. Would be interesting to hear if anyone else got rid of the bitter taste after having surgery.
Posted 2/12/2013 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
For what it's worth. I read that water brash is an uncommon symptom that is confused with actual reflux. It causes a salty or somewhat sour fluid in the mouth, and it's stimulated by acid in the lower esophagus. Whether a person has water brash or not does not tell how bad their esophagitis is.
Posted 2/12/2013 9:40 AM (GMT 0)
So water brash is a symptom of acid reflux that is fixable?
Posted 2/12/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
I've seen recommendations in journal papers that if a person has a sour taste, it could indicate hypersensitivity so a pain modulator like Elavil would be worth trying.

I had fundo almost 4 weeks ago and still have the sour taste, but it seems to be lessening. I read several accounts of people who have sour taste after fundoplication that eventually goes away, even if those people didn't have the sour taste symptom before surgery. That makes me think the swelling/irritation of the surgery makes the esophagus react as if there is reflux, and the person starts to generate that sour fluid in their mouths. Eventually it goes away.

Elavil or Zyprexa (both hypersensitivity treatments) didn't help me at all, neither did maximum PPIs. My hope is that now that I have a fundo wrap, the sour taste will go away when the swelling/irritation subsides and/or the areas previously affected by reflux are allowed to heal with no reflux.
Posted 2/12/2013 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I use mouthwash to help with the taste mostly, doesnt solve the problem but makes me feel better for a while.
Posted 2/13/2013 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have the sour/bitter taste but not all the time. It really seems to act up when my reflux is at it's worse which is all the time now. I also have a strange brownish color to my tongue no matter how much I brush. I see a surgeon on Monday so hopefully he is a good one and we can get this surgery over with and I can move on with my life.
Posted 9/24/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery 16/9/13 and 8 days post op the sour taste has got worse. I'm hoping its because my esophagus is irritated and swelling causing the water brash to be worse. Its mostly when I eat or drink and alkaline foods don't help diminish the sour taste. I tested my saliva pH and it shows up as acidic. I also noted straight after surgery that the sour taste was not there or not as bad and started again when they gave me a cup of tea. This is one of the symptoms I was really hoping would go after surgery so I'm hoping giving time it will go for good.
Posted 9/24/2013 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Albez


You are getting into the peak swelling period. While this is happening the wrap doesn't function nearly as well as it will once everything settles in. Yes, food sitting at the wrap will cause the reflux sensation. Try drinking a little extra after eating. This can help wash the rest through the wrap.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/24/2013 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bill's advice peaked my interest. I've had that icky taste in my mouth yesterday and today. I know I have that additional swelling now at 14 days post op.

Thanks for posting that Bill, it helped me.
Posted 9/24/2013 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I'm hoping once all the swelling is done with and the wrap gets more settled my mouth symptoms will disappear. Cheers Bill.
Posted 10/16/2014 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Well I'm a year post op and still have the horrib!e sour mouth and bad breath that goes with it, I've had a pH test done and that showed no acid reflux so I'm at a loss as to what is causing it. The sour taste in the mouth happens every time I eat and also causes a dry mouth so maybe a food allergy could be the problem.
Posted 1/31/2015 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, sour taste, bad breath.... Really upset me. I wonder if anyone got LINX surgery done?! And is that gonna take away BAD BREATH symptom?! I kind of through these questions all around. Thank you in advance
Posted 3/30/2018 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I have suffered “water brash” for nearly a year now. It’s been a constant battle trying to cure it. I’ve tried vitamin D, naturopathic treatments and Ayurvedic therapies; none of which provided relief long term.

After all this but seems I’ve accidentally cured my water brash for which I am so grateful. So I’ve been on PPI’s for 15 years. I’m due a procedure soon and had bloods taken which showed severe iron deficiency anaemia. I have been very lethargic, sometimes breathless and pale but put it down to stress and needing to get fit. Anyway I started on Floradix and after almost a week I’ve seen the water brash decrease a fair bit each day. Yesterday it was almost non-existent.

So, if you’ve been on PPI’s for a long time then I suggest you get tested for IDA. Think about it! If our blood is getting oxygenated it can’t produce adequate enzymes, including digestive ones and it manifests as hypersalivation.. I can’t believe this nightmare may be over. Still crossing fingers.
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