Rotten taste

I am new here, so HI to everyone. My PM was installed in Aug 2005. Ever since then I've had a rotten taste in my mouth.I've talked to my Dr. and Heart Dr. about this and they say they've never heard of it. Does anybody else have this problem????? Thanks!!

7 Comments

Interesting Lou...

by Swedeheart - 2008-04-02 01:04:06

Very interesting information... I have never had any GI problems... but since I received my pacemaker I have had some nausea (slight) and sometimes after I eat, my stomach feels a little yucky. I have noticed that many folks seem to have this symptom after implant, at least for awhile... thankfully mine is subsiding... but I wonder if the leads induce spasms and if that might be the cause... I think everyone thought my symptoms were in my "head"!

Swedeheart

absolutely

by jessie - 2008-04-02 01:04:24

i was not totally out but slept thru it as not used to versed or valium. not something i usually take. no my mouth tastes all the time very dry and i have to drink water all the time and brush my teeth a thousand times a day lol exaggerating but more than usual jessie

Check your meds

by janetinak - 2008-04-02 02:04:36

Hi,

I would review the meds & OTC's (every thing, not just for PM if any for that) you are taking with your pharmacist.I had a metallic taste in my mouth every time I took a certain antibiotic. Hope this helps.

Janet

Yes!

by Lou - 2008-04-02 04:04:20

Since the implantation of my Medtronic Dual Lead PM in November of '06, I have had some annoying difficulty with closed ears, hoarseness, swallowing and now with a sour taste in my mouth among other things. While I appeared to be asymtomatic for gastro-intestinal reflux disease (GERD), that is, no heartburn, no pressure, no nausea, etc., my doctor and a GI specialist ran me through a series of tests and discovered I indeed have stomach acid splashing back up into my esophagus. Lately, I have been experiencing more of a sour taste in my mouth from this reflux. I experienced absolutely no GI problems prior to my pacemaker implantation. The current thought is that somehow the pacemaker leads have been inducing spasms of my diaphragm or vagus nerve or ? and causing this problem. However, they tell me they have no way of testing for it. I'm at the highest prescriptive dosage levels allowed for stomach acid reduction but it is not helping. And, I am now considering a Nissen Fundoplication which is basically a procedure to fashion me a stronger stomach valve. I am not saying y-o-u have GERD but you may be having some reflux from any medication you're on or similar spasms which are giving you the sour taste in your mouth. Not all reflux is GERD and most often can be handled with OTC medication. My Best! Lou

No problems prior

by burr1950 - 2008-04-02 08:04:45

I take no medications. The reason for the PM was because my heart rate was 38 - 32 at times during the night. In other words I was hibernating like a bear when I was asleep. On implantable.com somebody said an anesthesiologist friend told her some anesthetics can stay in your body for years and bad taste or complete loss of appetite are two of the symptoms. I'm going to talk to my Dr.and Heart Dr. about this possibility as I have to see my Heart Dr. on April 23. I've printed off your answers from both sites and will show them to the Drs. Thanks so much

Rotten taste

by ElectricFrank - 2008-04-02 12:04:05

Were you totally out during the implant? It is possible that you were left for an extended period with your mouth open. If the tongue dries out badly and for too long it can damage the taste sensors. I've had a similar problem after an extended dental session, but it usually comes back after a few days.

frank

I think so too, Swedeheart ...

by Lou - 2008-04-06 01:04:20

Never had any GI problems before my PM implantation 16 months ago and remain asymptomatic save the atypical GI symptoms I described above. My increasingly poor GI test numbers, however, are a big concern. I, too, still think that many of the doctors I've seen or see think many of my symptoms are "in my head." Grrrr. And, the others seem to want me to believe that these symptoms are all coincidental to my implant not a result of it. No way! In fact, I have found first person accounts of similar post- PM -implantation problems at several web sites and continue to explore medical journal articles re: same. Lou

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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Pacemakers are very reliable devices.