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“Metallic Taste After Heart Valve Surgery?” Asks Robin

Posted on October 23rd, 2009 under Aortic Valve Replacement, Patient Stories & Updates.

I just received a set of emails from Robin about a metallic taste in her mouth after heart valve surgery. So you know, Robin is not the only patient to send me questions about this strange, surgical after taste.

In his first email, Robin writes, “Ever since my aortic valve replacement surgery I have had a nasty metallic taste in my mouth. It gets especially bad if I eat anything sweet. The cardiologist theorizes that it is a by product of the heart-lung machine. Anybody else experience it? Anybody have any ideas of how to get rid of it? Thanks, Robin”

Then, I received a follow-up note from Robin with a short-term remedy to this issue.

Here is what Robin writes, “Since I last wrote to you I found a website that suggested gargling with water and a 1/4 tsp of baking soda. It worked!!! It brought relief at least for a few hours. Ultimately, the bad taste did go away on its own, but the baking soda gets a great assist. Robin”

Thanks Robin for sharing your remedy!

Keep on tickin!

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Steve Falor says on October 23rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Robin,
I had my aortic valve replaced last Feb. I still don’t have my normal taste back, but it is better. I had the metallic taste for about a month and then just weird stuff like chocolate tasted horrible… anything alcoholic tasted like bad medicine… coke was putrid… you get the picture.

Hang in there.

Steve

David J Hudson says on October 23rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Hi Robin,
I too, had the metallic taste problem, after my AVR surgery. Wish I would have known about the baking soda solution. Glad you are doing better.

Dave

Neil D. Kortie says on October 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Robin,

I too had a metallic taste in my mouth. It was like biting on a piece of tin foil. It lasted about two to three months. It’s been 5 months since my Aortic valve replacement and most of the side effects have subsided and life is very much back to normal.

Sincerely,

Neil

Cindy says on October 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm

I noticed all of you had aortic situations. Just so you know, I had Mitral Valve Repair & I had that metal taste for a good 2 mos. as well. AAAHHH to be able to look BACK now & almost having forgotten part of the “fun”

fazilat says on October 24th, 2009 at 7:57 am

hi
I had the same prob still do feel like that taste, being used to spicy food i could not taste anything i still have prob with coffee and my op was avr 17 months ago

fazilat

Andrew Wrigley says on October 24th, 2009 at 8:41 am

After mitral valve replacement (mechanical) alcohol tasted revolting for a month. I put it down to 12 weeks on antibiotics to treat the endocarditis that finished off my valve. So interesting to see that this is not the case.

Andrew

Fran Blondiau says on April 18th, 2012 at 9:56 pm

I like Cindy and Andrew have the same condition after Mitral Valve replacement 8 weeks ago..funny though, it isn’t every time I eat. I don’t have my appetite back yet, but I’m not looking for it!

Wendy Kalousek says on June 12th, 2012 at 4:41 am

I had Mitral Valve replacement on May 14th and experience this same stange metallic taste expecially with certain aliments and especially wine. Surprisingly, my surgeon says he has never heard of such a problem before so I am relieved to see that I am not the only one experiencing this, and that it will someday go away.

Pat Groom says on November 21st, 2012 at 3:11 pm

My aortic valve was replaced in August this year, and like so many others the taste of metal in my mouth is awful, I kept cleaning my teeth,(not a bad thing) but the toothpaste also tasted very metalic. I will also try the gargle receipe and see what happens. My partner does not seem to understand that it is not her cooking that is bad, but the taste in my mouth that is causing me to leave food on the plate. She on the other hand thinks its me being awkward….. Otherwise I feel fantastic just very very tired when I get home from work.