[Dysphagia] taste disturbance

[adebin at bigpond.net.au (Aviva Debinski)]

A 74 year old lady has suddenly developed severe taste disturbance 
including as she describes continual  bitter salty and sour tasting 
saliva . There has been no change to the amount nor consistency of oral 
secretions. Past history is generallyt unremarkable : she is fit and 
well and very active in mind and body., however recently was involved 
on a very minor car accident as a pedestrian and commenced Tramal for 
pain but ceased taking it after only 2 doses as she developed other 
side effects which disappeared with cessation of the med. Long standing 
history includes olfactory dysfunction approx 10 years ago which was 
tthought to be post viral according to the neurologist . During this 
time there were mod changes to her taste which have remained static and 
now this is a new issue. There has been no improvement nor decline in 
hr olfactory status over the past 10 years which remains severely 
impaired. Any thoughts or suggestions to improve taste or even smell 
(even though I know smell has been gone a long time)
Aviva Debinski
Central Speech Pathology Service
Melbourne Australia
Ph: +61 3 95762116
Fx: +61 3 95096021
Email: adebin@bigpond.net.au