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Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
How long after a stem cell transplant does it take for food to start tasting normal? I think it is the most frustrating side effect. Does anyone have any tips for dealing with it?
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Memakes4 - Name: Nancy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
Sorry Memakes4, I wish I had something to offer to help. I wasn't even able to drink plain water for 7 months after the transplant – I think it was all the water and ice before the melphalan.
I just took advantage of eating like I was 2 again, and only ate what I liked
; I figured I needed to be able to take advantage of something after going through all that "fun".
I am sure the doctors would not appreciate my advice through.
Best of luck to you, and wish you the very best.
Kathleen
I just took advantage of eating like I was 2 again, and only ate what I liked
; I figured I needed to be able to take advantage of something after going through all that "fun".I am sure the doctors would not appreciate my advice through.
Best of luck to you, and wish you the very best.
Kathleen
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kshornb - Name: kshornber
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
I'm sorry Nancy, I don't think there is one answer for this. Everyone seems a little different. For me, while water took on a sort of metallic taste (many people say water tastes bad), I never really had a lot of issues with food tasting bad. Chocolate was not pleasant (a real loss), and I really crazed salty things (I lived on cup o' noodles). It was something like 60 days when my tastes were back to normal, and I was still 30 days away from eating everything I wanted.
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Mark Pouley - Name: Mark
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: April 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
It was a couple months for me. Plus, foods I really enjoyed didn't taste as good after the transplant. Very strange! I also have been attracted to salty foods since the transplant.
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JBarnes - Name: Jerry Barnes
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Aug 17, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
Thanks for the replies. I guess I just need to wait. On the bright side, I won't gain a ton over the holidays. 
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Memakes4 - Name: Nancy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
Hello.
I lost my taste for certain foods after my first and second stem cell transplants. The only foods that tasted right to me at the beginning were sherbet, Rice Krispies, and ham and cheese sandwiches. This lasted for about 2 months.
A little about me – I'm 49 and was first diagnosed in September of 2013 with Stage 3 multiple myeloma. It has been contained since June of 2014. However, my M-spike jumped 2 points last month.
I lost my taste for certain foods after my first and second stem cell transplants. The only foods that tasted right to me at the beginning were sherbet, Rice Krispies, and ham and cheese sandwiches. This lasted for about 2 months.
A little about me – I'm 49 and was first diagnosed in September of 2013 with Stage 3 multiple myeloma. It has been contained since June of 2014. However, my M-spike jumped 2 points last month.
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DennisD
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
My husband's taste also changed after transplant. It has been six months now and some things are tasting good again, whereas others he used to eat still are not good to him.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
I remember. My transplant was over three years ago. Because I got a galloping case of C.diff (ok, that was an unfortunate description; please forgive me) I didn't actually eat much of anything at all for six weeks. After I got home from the City of Hope, though, and could eat what I wanted, all I wanted was mashed potatoes and mashed carrots.
It took a few more weeks before my tastebuds started working again, and a good four months before I could handle chocolate. I mourned chocolate.
But everything came back and now everything tastes as it should. I think. Chocolate does, anyway.
So, patience, friends, patience.
It took a few more weeks before my tastebuds started working again, and a good four months before I could handle chocolate. I mourned chocolate.
But everything came back and now everything tastes as it should. I think. Chocolate does, anyway.
So, patience, friends, patience.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
I remember water having a metallic taste for sure. The beverage I enjoyed was root beer. That tasted delightful. I think my taste buds returned to normal about 2 months after transplant.
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CabinGirl - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept. 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Food tastes awful after stem cell transplant
I've heard people say to avoid your favorite foods until your taste buds come back. Otherwise, you may forever mentally associate those foods with how they taste now and they won't be your favorites anymore.
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cdnirene - Name: Irene S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 66
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