Losing My Taste For Tobacco

[JOHN72]

Very much along the lines of philobeddoe. I would take some time off, as has been said here, the importance of a clean pipe, free of uncomfortable aftertaste, this makes your taste, desire, be frustrated, making sudden decisions. I have also had similar episodes, but my other self, told me, hey, take some time, and clean the pipes well. Then everything came back to normal, and I still smoke with pleasure. In any case, I wish you all the best.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's just not a thing for everyone I guess. I have never experienced anything like this myself, but if none of the suggestions help, then, maybe it's just time to find a new way to pass the time and blow money on.

 

[Zeno Marx]

I've considered that it might be allergies, but it's a year-round problem.
I don't typically drink at the same time as smoking. I feel like it dries my mouth out too much, especially liquor. I do keep water or coffee on hand, though.

when I was growing up, a family friend developed an allergy to dust, or dust mites, and they lost their taste and smell. there was little they could do about it, because dust is difficult to remove entirely. I've wondered if I not only have allergies to pollen, but also now dust. or something else household that is nearly unavoidable.

 

[telescopes]

Taking a break from your pipes is normal for anyone who has smoked for any real length of time. It all comes back.

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

31, probably too young to be affected by any age-related sensory loss. As far as I can tell, all food tastes normal. Spirits often taste sour, and I can't really taste the smoke in a smoky single malt whisky anymore.

not necessarily - 31 is old enough for sensory issues

 

[/Adam\]

You said that it’s not Covid-19 related, are you absolutely certain? My reason for asking is because I have a friend with a similar taste issue and he’s been told by his pcp that it’s probably due to having Covid and not realizing it. Im assuming that more than a few people have had Covid and just figured it was the normal flu virus. And you being only 31 yrs old maybe you had it and kicked its arse without knowing it. Is there any chance this is what happened to you? I would hope not but it’s a reasonable guess.

 

[Zeno Marx]

if it is C-19 related, and if you have the means/incredible insurance, they do have procedures that help bring back taste. there's an outpatient surgery/shot in the neck area into a gland that is said to help those longhauler C-19 people who lost all their taste. maybe heard about this on 60 Minutes? Not sure how I ran into this, but this is at least one example of testing going on with such loss.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/patient-stories/642-pain-injections-restore-taste-and-smell-for-patient-with-long-covid

 

[Lumbridge]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I've experienced this with brand new pipes, and I do keep my pipes pretty clean, so I don't think it's a dirty pipe issue. Given that the problem started before the pandemic hit, I don't think I can pin it on Covid-19, either. It's a really weird situation that had me concerned that there may be an underlying health issue, but nothing has turned up.

I've pretty much accepted the fact that I won't be able to enjoy most tobacco anymore. I'll probably trim down my "cellar" considerably.

 

[Tbaggins]

I hate hearing that. Whenever faced with a tough break keep in mind, you never know what worse luck your bad luck spared you.

 

[woodsroad]

Did you .... start trimming your nose hair?

Please elaborate!

 

[Egg Shen]

Please elaborate!

nose hair will collect the smoke particulate, assuming you retro often, so you can taste it more if you leave a little nose hair behind when trimming.

 

[woodsroad]

nose hair will collect the smoke particulate, assuming you retro often, so you can taste it more if you leave a little nose hair behind when trimming.

Who woulda thunk it? I'll do a little off the top, not a buzz cut, next time!

 

[anotherbob]

have you changed your routine? Like go for a walk in the woods? Or if you're like me just sit with the pipe? Some times the same ole same ole just dulls things.

 

[sardonicus87]

I've not personally experienced this.

I'm 37 now, been a pack-a-day cigarette smoker for the last 21 years, added pipes regularly (at least one bowl per day) 2-ish years ago (though smoked pipes off-and-on for 15 years).

Occasionally I'll lose my appetite for certain blends or types or styles or flavors and the appetite will come back after a break, but never lose my sense of taste for any of them, or my enjoyment of tobacco in general.

 

[MisterBadger]

Have you considered trying a radically different tobacco blend, using a new Meer or clay, perhaps? Anyone's palate can become jaded over time.

 

[PipeIT]

At 31, if you’ve had medical checkups and also seen a Otolaryngologists, and your health by medical standards is fine, then it could be several other factors, or, your body is simply rejecting it.

You might need to adjust your lifestyle, the foods and liquids you consume can effect the palate. Dehydration as an example can effect the mouth, also coffee. If the roof of your mouth throbs, or feels slightly irritated or rough, again, what you are consuming.

I’ve been into health an nutrition a long time, and if the doctors say, medically speaking you’re ok, you then have to look at things from the Nutritional Naturopathic, that MDs don’t. So when things are out of wack, you have to step back, readjust and make lifestyle changes. To keep it easy, just change 1-2 things at a time, to try and track down issues.

 

[Dr. Van Loafer]

Sorry to hear this, not tasting the leaves would most certainly make it less fun. A couple thoughts did come to mind: First, do you have any recent allergies flair up or change (you became allergic to something you were not before)? Second, did you change/adjust any allergy medicine (oral or nasal)? Third, have you tried saline spray or a nasal rinse before a bowl? Just some thoughts to ponder, dont feel obligated to respond.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Medications can do things like this.

I lost my taste/tolerance for coffee a while back. I was taking a deadly medicine called Humira, even after stopping that I still have severe sensitivity to alcohol and caffine.

I was a maniac coffee drinker, maybe 6-10 cups per day.

I'll have a cup of coffee or a beer ocasionally, but I really don't enjoy either.

My blood test have also shown issues with my liver since this has happened. I suspect it's all related.

I never stopped or slowed down on smoking, but I will admit my head hurts if I smoke too much... For years and years that never happend to me, not once.

 

[Sigmund]

I've pretty much accepted the fact that I won't be able to enjoy most tobacco anymore. I'll probably trim down my "cellar" considerably.

You can always trim the cellar. Personally, Id hold on to it and wait it out. You may have some blends that disappear. Look at it this way...you are getting free aging of your cellar. Its never going to be worth less than it is today (within reason). I regret a lot of blends that I got rid of when I first smoked a pipe. I didnt have much choice since I moved overseas.

 

[Monssen13]

Throwing in my two cents-it may be worth going to an ENT to check for nasal polyps. They can big time impact taste/smell. Thankfully mine aren’t too bad but before I got medication, tobacco smoke was just hot air.