Everything tastes horrible - just out of hospital from asthma attack.

[Crikeyblimey]

I’ve recently been discharged from hospital after a really scary asthma attack which had me on some serious drugs for a week.

whilst I was very poorly in hospital, this latest symptom wasn’t present. Ive come home with a new inhaler (combination one), prednisone,
nicotine patches (yep, stopped smoking when it happened and not had one since!).

The thing that’s getting me down most right now is nothing (even water) tastes nice. I can hardly taste most things and others taste really nasty. Can’t taste anything salty, sweet things just taste greasy. The only thing I’ve tasted even nearly
properly for 4 days is a mushroom.

Has anyone experienced this? Has it gone away?

Any ideas of what I could do to help? I’ll obviously speak to my gp but any thoughts before then would be gratefully appreciated.

Obviously question but could it be covid?

I wondered covid too.

But medicines can affect taste, although I've not had that experience on inhalers or pred. Check the patient leaflet.

I'd be more inclined to suggest it's either covid or from stopping smoking, in which case it'll come back.

If you’ve been on a lot of inhalers and steroids it could be oral thrush. You can buy Daktarin gel and Fluconazole capsules from the pharmacy to treat it but considering what you’ve been through I would get it confirmed first.

Covid or a side effect of steroids

It'll be the prednisolone. I've had Mehtlyprednisalone. And it really affected my taste.

Thanks for the quick responses. I don’t think it is covid but just tested (again) to be sure.

I’m really hopeful it’s the pred cos I’m only on that for 3 more days. I’m feeling pretty bloody miserable to be honest. I’m struggling with not giving in to the cigarette cravings and nothing is giving me any pleasure at all. I can’t nibble on anything or even enjoy a cup of tea. Arghh, just feeling sorry for myself really.
thanks for listening.

That’s what I was going to say too.

(but also, a covid test wouldn’t hurt).

If your steroids are kit being takers off. Just be aware you might feel a bit rough as you
Come down off them. And your body kicks in producing cortisol again. (I think)

Covid test negative.

Fingers crossed it’s the pred. Three more days and then I can stop. Although my
tasye has only really deteriorated since coming home and I was on a higher dose of the pred in hospital. Guess it’s cumulative though (clutches at straws).

Don’t think it’s oral thrush as I’ve got no furry tongue (in fact it is better than when I was smoking) or redness.

I’ll give the GP a call on Monday.
Thanks all.