Hi doctor,
I have followed your advice regarding back pain. My pain is minimal, and I am still continuing with the exercise. Now, I have another problem. My appetite has become very poor, and I cannot eat most of the things I used to eat before. This became an issue even before the Bell's palsy problem. Ater that, it became severe. While I was taking steroids, I could eat well. Now, the type of food I can eat is becoming fewer. I cannot eat spicy food, which I love. It seems to me ingredients like lemon or tomato make things more difficult. There appears to be a major problem with taste. My mouth had a strong metallic taste, and I still feel such a taste in my mouth. The saliva produced is very little, and when eating anything, I have to sip water to eat that. I have to get up three to four times to go to the toilet in the night as well. I am not sure about the new problem. There is an inability to eat most things because they taste horrible and lack of saliva or very little production of saliva. Is this related to Bell's palsy? Or is this a symptom of any other illness? Should I see a specialist? If so, what kind of specialist? Or is it something you can assist? Should I get any tests here? Many thanks for your advice.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have read your symptoms in detail.
- Both altered taste and less saliva are actually because of your Bell's palsy. As you know, Bell's palsy affects the facial nerve. Facial nerve function includes taste perception as well as 50% of saliva production.
- The altered or metallic taste is a sign of facial nerve healing. Eventually, it will improve. There is no specific treatment for that.
- Various tablets are being prescribed, but they have no significant benefit as patient's report. One such amongst all is tablet Alpha lipoic acid 300 mg one tablet daily after lunch for three weeks. You can try it with the consent of your treating doctor. It helps in about 40% patients.
- If possible, map out for yourself the food you can taste well and continue with that. Until the nerve function recovers fully, you can stay with that selective food.
- We advise here to our patients is to keep their food more liquid and increase liquid contents in your dish. That will help.
- Another possibility is because of a long course of steroids your stomach would have been a bit sensitive now. I would suggest you continue tablet Pantoprazole 40 mg in the morning before breakfast. That will reduce your acidity symptom.
- This does not seem to be any new illness. Still to be double sure we can get your liver function tests done to rule out any dysfunction reducing your appetite. In case if the liver function tests are abnormal, then please contact gastroenterologist or general physician for advice on that.
For further information consult a neurologist online -->https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/neurologist
Hi doctor,
Thank you very much for your advice, and it is much appreciated. While reading on the net about various natural remedies, there was a suggestion that one could use cayenne pepper on the tongue to generate more saliva. Another suggested to chew gum or put a slice of lemon on the tongue. I am not sure if it is a good idea. Also, I was a bit worried if I am sipping water while eating, would the brain get used the idea and stop producing saliva? Is there any physio exercises or another method to accelerate nerve healing? Would vitamin B help?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
- You can use the ideas you mentioned for producing more saliva, and they are not harmful.
- Do not worry and brain will not get used to producing less saliva. As soon as it recovers, it will improve salivary function.
- You can ask your treating doctor about the exercise for improving facial muscle function. But, there is no exercise to improve taste and saliva production.
- Any multivitamin preparation with Vitamin B12 as an ingredient can be taken once a day for three months. One such is tablet Rejunuron, one tablet per day.
- Vitamin B12 supplements help when there is a nerve problem because of B12 deficiency, and they do not have many roles in your case. But still, for whatever it is worth, you can take it. They are not going to harm you.
For further information consult a neurologist online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/neurologist
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