Could a consistent metallic/salty taste be MS?

[natalieg]

Hi, I really appreciate this forum and would be grateful for any feedback from those of you who have been diagnosed with MS. I'm going in for an MRI this week for symptoms I have been having over the past 5 weeks or so. It started with a persistent metallic taste that seemed like it was coming from the right underside of my tongue, which turned salty, then back to metallic. It comes from the left side too, but not as much. That went on for about 4 weeks before I started having other weird symptoms...a feeling of razor burn on my face, tiredness in my forearm and thigh muscles on my right side, and shooting pin pricks in the back of my legs and in my feet, especially after exercise. Last night I couldn't sleep because of muscle twitches in my right calf and thigh. As I have read through previous posts, I realize that these symptoms are not as serious as many people have experienced. For those of you who have been diagnosed with MS, did any of you start out with symptoms like mine, especially the funny taste? I have had the complete bloodwork to check for vitamin deficiencies and diabetes, and everything was normal. I'm a mom of two sweet girls and am so scared. Thank you for any feedback.

[jimmylegs]

hi natalie and welcome. any chance you can share details of your bloodwork results re nutrients in particular? i don't think i've personally had the dysgeusia you describe, but i have posted re related stuff here on the forum before: http://bit.ly/2j2zsN7
that's my kind of spin. if you're interested in figuring out how you might be able to tweak diet and lifestyle to get rid of annoying symptoms, while working through the process with the docs, we can chat others will chime in as well, lots of support to be had.

[Snoopy]

Hello natalieg,

Do you take any medications?

[natalieg]

The only medications I take are a birth control pill, which I've taken for years. All bloodwork was normal, including zinc, potassium, B vitamins, and lead.

[Anonymoose]

I've never heard of that being a symptom of someone's MS. But I suppose it could be an MS thing.

Any chance of arsenic or mercury exposure? Do you have any old fillings? Is rodent poison used in your home?

Hope you find the explanation and solution soon. It blows when the docs won't do their jobs and figure things out!!

[jimmylegs]

hi again ok that looks like a fairly decent set of tests to start with.
what is your lab's normal range for zinc iima? and was your level low normal or mid/high?
same question for the b vits - what ranges are they using, and where did you sit?
no d3 or magnesium on file by any chance? or a serum uric acid? all these can be iffy (ie low normal) in ms so can't hurt to rule out.
oh and did they look at serum ferritin? if so, how was that?

[Scott1]

Hi Natalie,

Would you mind standing in front of the mirror and sticking your tongue out as much as you can?
What do you see on the top and the sides, particularly to the back? Is there a white coating that's fairly thick and wont really scrape off or is it clear?

Regards,

[Snoopy]

natalieg the only time I have heard anyone with MS having a metallic taste is when doing high dose steroids and I have never run across anyone complaining about a salty taste. Do you have allergies, sinus problems or been sick? Those types of problems can cause strange tastes that we wouldn't normally have.