[Mrs-B]

Again, here I am trying to pick your brains with another question

Since my mTBI, I have had so many different and strange symptoms that I never had before... One of them is a very sweet taste in my mouth, it's like I just had a couple do sugar cubes dissolving in my mouth. Sweet saliva!

And doesn't stop there. I first noticed it when I started vomiting, 10 days after my injury. After throwing up, I had this very sweet taste left in my mouth, nothing like the traditional bitter bile.

I know about the decrease sense of smell and taste symptom, this is not like it. I still taste everything normal, but my saliva is sweet as refined sugar. I'm inclined to think it's nothing to do with mTBI, but still interesting to have this happening now... I'm just curious about what could be and if anyone else here have heard of it or maybe also have sweet saliva.

[Mark in Idaho]

You could be tasting some kind of abnormal nerve response.

I taste a metallic taste when I bump my head. It is like I am chewing a piece of aluminum foil.

I doubt that even a specialist will be able to tell you what is causing this taste.

[Mrs-B]

I spoke to my GP about the sweet taste in my mouth issue.
I had done a complete blood work at the hospital a week before, so she checked the results on the computer. All normal.
She then did a quick blood sugar test and it was low (56). She thinks the sweet taste it's a combination of hypoglycemia and some side effect of the tramadol.
She said I should add more carbs in my meals while Im having the PCS symptoms (my normal diet is low carb for weight management). Also she asked me to have snacks too, specially having something to eat 10 min before taking the tablets.

[Mark in Idaho]

A blood sugar level of 56 is dangerous for a struggling brain. You may have been experiencing ketosis. The next step is keto-acidosis that can be life-threatening. Ketosis is common in no or low carb diets. It is a sign that you need to adjust your diet. Your brain calls up ketones from your liver when it has no blood sugar to metabolize. Ketones are your body's reserve energy to keep the brain alive when the sugars are gone.

Depriving your brain of the sugars it needs is seriously counter to good brain health and recovery. You may want to try the Glucerna low glycemic foods. They will give you a dose of carbs that are slowly digested. It will help you keep you blood sugar where it belongs.

I tend to be chronically hypoglycemic. I know the struggle of preventing low blood sugar. 56 is just a step above a quick decline into hypoglycemic shock. Been there. Done that. Been in convulsions from low sugar. The nerves lock your muscles into spasm. My worst was in the low 40's. 50's have always been a warning to get my act together.

I have learned how to recognize my brain's need for carbs. Protein helps but takes longer to digest and can be hard on the kidneys. Cheese or nuts are a good solution in my experience.

[peacheysncream]

Originally Posted by Mrs-B

Again, here I am trying to pick your brains with another question

Since my mTBI, I have had so many different and strange symptoms that I never had before... One of them is a very sweet taste in my mouth, it's like I just had a couple do sugar cubes dissolving in my mouth. Sweet saliva!

And doesn't stop there. I first noticed it when I started vomiting, 10 days after my injury. After throwing up, I had this very sweet taste left in my mouth, nothing like the traditional bitter bile.

I know about the decrease sense of smell and taste symptom, this is not like it. I still taste everything normal, but my saliva is sweet as refined sugar. I'm inclined to think it's nothing to do with mTBI, but still interesting to have this happening now... I'm just curious about what could be and if anyone else here have heard of it or maybe also have sweet saliva.

Hi Mrs B,
As soon as I read this I thought of diabetes. This is how dogs are trained to spot the need for insulin injections etc because the breath suddenly smells of pear drops.

[Mrs-B]

Mark in Idaho:

Thanks for your concern and sorry to hear you had such serious problems because of hypoglycemia.

I have been told off by my GP too when she read the machine... Since the accident I increased the amount of complex carbs I'm taking daily, but obviously it still wasn't enough.

I understand the importance of glucose to the brain in my circumstances. I'm taking the vitamins (D-3, B12, B-50 and calcium) and omega 369 to help the brain and from Friday on I have been eating around 100g of carbs a day (before Friday, I had increased the carbs from 40g to 60g, not enough apparently), and because the result of the blood sugar test really scared me, I asked my husband to go to the pharmacy and he bought an Accu-Check machine so I can check my glucose level now and keep an eye on it!

Again, thanks for the tips and concern!


Peacheysncream: I knew it wasn't diabetes because of my diet, meaning that I control carbs for over 3 years now. So that's why I thought it was strange and couldn't find an answer for the sweet saliva anywhere.


I'm please to inform that the sweet taste is gone! I noticed it yesterday morning, as when the saliva was really sweet and it was impossible not to notice.