taste of blood in the mouth

[evedawn]

my husband has had an ongoing taste of blood in hismouth for about a year. Its only been noticed since he gave up smoking (so maybe itwas there all along but the fags masked it?) anyway - the doctor first prescribed lisinopril and then omeprazole thinking it might be gastro reflux. these didn't work. he went to the dentist who found no cavities but thought maybe it was gum infection (his gums do bleed when he brushes them). Denstis suggested using over the counter corsodyl . but after nearly three weekss - no improvement. Any ideas as to what it might be? Or is there something stronger than over the counter corsodyl he can use (ie maybe get a prescription).

[Sqad]

eve....complicated and involved picture.....Google..........Dysgeusia.

Good luck

[karenmac60]

How did he give up smoking? Champix can leave you with a coppery metallic taste for a good while, which is kind of how blood tastes.

[evedawn]

thanks both of you squad googled that term .... and it \"could" be lots of things but by process of elimination not alot apply to my hub. KArenmac - when he first gave up smoking (over a year ago) he wasn't on champix. After about three months he started again (cos of this damn blood taste!) b. the taste disappered whilst smoking (fags covered it i guess).. the next time he stopped (not long after) he did use champix but...has been off the champix for about 3 months now.

[karenmac60]

I know when I've quit in the past I have what I can only descride as a dead taste in my mouth all the time, and I've felt the need to eat really hot spicy foods all the time. It may just be coming off the fags thats done it, it takes a good while for your tastebuds to come back to life and start tasting things normally again. I also found things smelled a bit strange. This was with and without champix. Give it a bit of time, if he's had all the obvious tests as you say then he shouldn't have any reason to worry about it and hopefully it'll settle down in time. In the meantime tell him to chew gum or something to mask the taste.

[evedawn]

thanks karenmac. I wonder does anyone in ABland know "how long" tastebuds take to return to normal. (PS he smoked for 27 years)

[Sqad]

Variable, but on the pessimistic side, they may never return to normal.

[tamborine]

gingivitis....can be cleared with antibiotics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingivitis

[Jemisa]

Yes, they do say when one gives up smoking the taste buds return & everything tastes so much better (Whoever they are) I haven't found this to be so. I smoked for over 30 years and have been a 'non-smoker' now for 10 years & although my mouth is fresher, teeth cleaner, no bad breath now... my taste buds I feel are still the same. I probably murdered 'em in all those years. (Have had no metalic taste though) Aunty Jem.
J