The Changing Palate

[newbroom]

I wasn't aware of any perique problems, and at the time I'd just obtained a few new estate pipes and thought I'd maybe got some nasty tongue coating backwash from one of those.

I'm learning all sorts of moderation these days, as I settle in to not only pacing my puffing but also, not smoking quite so many bowls in a day.

I don't drool as much now, either. 8)

 

[cobguy]

I don't drool as much now, either. 8)

Well ... that's certainly a plus!

 

[shikano53]

Newbroom,

Been there. If you got a clean slate from your doctor, may I make a few suggestions?

Give your tongue/palette at least a day to rest.

Pack a bowl with a tobacco you know you have enjoyed in the past and been able to identify the flavors and or nuances of the tobacco.

Smoke as slowly as your patience allows.

Keep it well lit, don't smudge fire it. In the last few days I have experimented with keeping it well lit, not hot, just well lit and the flavors are pronounced.

When you exhale a nice, thick cloud, get your face into it and inhale slowly a few time tasting the smoke.

I will admit I am not a veteran pipe smoker but these things have worked for me when I have experienced the similar situation. I really find that getting those inhales with my face in the smoke really allow me to identify flavors.

Just my newbie 2 cents worth.

 

[okiescout]

also a little more self motivation,
One of the upsides to dropping the herb

 

[shikano53]

Run 5 miles 4 times a week. It will greatly enhance your palette.

 

[newbroom]

may I make a few suggestions? I will admit I am not a veteran pipe smoker Run 5 miles 4 times a week. It will greatly enhance your palette.

That'll be enough out of you, thanks. I think I got this one. :roll:

 

[cobguy]

:rofl:

 

[jpmcwjr]

What a saga! Glad things seem to be moving in the right direction for you. Was curious - am curious—as to why you didn't mention it to doctor.

 

[cigrmaster]

Have you smoked any of that Ennerdale flake? If so that can easily ghost your mouth and taste buds. If you have smoked the Ennerdale and then tried smoking any other type of blend in the same pipe, then all you will taste is the Ennerdale as that ghosts a pipe like no other. Also if you have any sinus issues, that will kill your taste buds. I always keep saline spray on hand to flush my sinus's if I feel they are getting clogged up. I will flush every hour on the hour if I am getting clogged up. I hope you get better.

 

[phred]

Late to the party, and it sounds like things are getting better, but I've used a neti pot to flush my nasal passages from time to time - sometimes to adjust for a lack of humidity, sometimes to ease sinusitis, other times to get rid of particularly pungent Balkan particles that get stuck up there...
And the weirdest things can affect the sense of taste - smell is one, and I've pontificated elsewhere about olfaction. I had my tonsils out as an adult (21), and it took 6 months for certain tastes to get back to normal, especially chocolate and citrus.

 

[newbroom]

jpmcwjr,

Was curious - am curious—as to why you didn't mention it to the doctor.

I've been going to this guy for about 5 years. His office help was monitoring my warfarin and he also does what he considers to be my annual check up. I knew he had a list of all the stuff in my blood, and would have my current vital stats for that day. I figured that if it was anything to be concerned about I'd let him earn his Medicare draw.

I test myself at home now for the blood thinner. I think it costs Medicare about $250 a month and it costs me another 25 or 30...but I don't have any travel or appointments.

I don't have any faith in the guy, except for that he's my entree to my urologist, cardiologist and whatever the fellow is called who guided me through a week's hospitalization and subsequent colonoscopy some 4 years ago. Internist? Anyway, he's a surgeon from Ghana. Good man, too.

My colon looks like shit. Any day it could fail me and he told me that I'd need a bag because there's no viable place for a re-section. I'd been perforated and somehow got healed through the intravenous antibiotics.

My cardiologist works out of the offices that are owned by a guy who was the National leader in Medicare billing of Medicare for that speciality two years ago and is now possibly going to be cut off. He told me I'd had a heart attack some time ago! I said, did it show on last year's stress test? "yes" Why didn't you tell me about that then?..."Well, I needed a subsequent test for verification."...my confidence in doctors is not very strong, but despite A-fib and scar tissue, my heart is strong! My gut's the biggest worry, which doesn't help one's gut.

I'll be back in about a half hour....I've got to go run five miles.

 

[shikano53]

That'll be enough out of you, thanks. I think I got this one. [:roll:]
And I was going to send you roses.

I'm so hurt... :crying:

 

[shikano53]

I have a hiatus hernia and the doc is concerned about prostate cancer since there is a history of cancer in my family. My prostrate so he claims has changed in the past few years hence his and my concern.

Believe it or not. Running for me does help a lot.

I do genuinely hope you get well and all of those listed ailments are addressed. I wish you many more decades of life and enjoying your pipe.

Chris in Red Deer, Alberta

 

[newbroom]

shikano53, my extensive diverticulosis is inherited from my dad, who died in the hospital @ 82 because of a misdiagnosed hiatal hernia that blew out or something. Most of us men will suffer with prostate enlargement if we live long enough.

I am active. I usually play softball 3x's a week, but I took this summer off and plan to return in Sept. When I do play, I run for about half the team, as well as myself and I'm pretty fast if I do say so. Half those guys have all they can do to run to first base. I walk two miles every a.m. at a fairly good pace. It took me 27 minutes this a.m. and I wasn't pressing too hard.

I just turned 67 in May. I hope I can hold on to enjoy this world a few more years and smoking a pipe may actually help keep me relaxed and interested. Don't send roses, send buds?

Mike

 

[shikano53]

Thanks Mike.

That is awesome about the activity, good for you. I think one of my recurring fears is that the doctors will either misdiagnose or miss something despite my yearly check-ups. Irrational I know, but still something that weighs on me at times. I appreciate your comment that "as men age, so does our prostrate gland" and it doesn't necessarily mean cancer.

Tonight when I smoke my evening bowl I will send as much positive energy I can in your direction.

Here is to many more years and the opportunity to exchange thoughts and comments here.

A nod and a tip of my hat to you Mike!

 

[newbroom]

Thanks Chris...right back to you! and....I don't think a it's unhealthy to be skeptical of a profit motivated health system..not so sure aboot y'alls, eh? :D

 

[jpmcwjr]

Wow, newbroom, that's a ton of stuff to deal with! But you are handling it well.
Just this morning I had 25 staples removed from my abdomen, and am trying to get my walking consistently above 3 Miles but have been hitting only two. I had two surgeries, the first one botched as far as I can make out. Haven't got the bill yet, but I am ready to hit the decks with protests. One doc out of the three I saw while in the hospital for two weeks was a good guy. The other two, quack, quack.
Here's to all y'alls good health!! Going out now to have my first bowl of the day. precisely 5:08:20 PM PDT on Thursday, July 23, 2015.

 

[sparrowhawk]

Hmm, holding back from smoking a pipe would be hard for me: I wonder if it's addicting in another kind of way apart from cigs. I have cut down to about 5 bowls a day, but maybe a should try a day or two. As for flavor, tobacco for pipes seems to me very subtle, and I wonder if that's the problem.

 

[okiescout]

Doctor gave this to all her patients to use before using sinus medications years ago. I do not still take the prescribes sinus medications (too hard on the prostate according to my urologist) but I use the recipe below by misting it into my nostrils with an inhaler regularly.
1 tbsp canning salt.

1 tbsp baking soda

1 litre distilled water
My Doctor said it could be used 3 times in each nostril up to 5 times a day.
Cheap and works great. The first time I used it I thought my sinuses were going to melt:O)))) But after the first use it felt great and I could not believe what came out of my sinuses, especially if I have allergies or a cold. If my sinuses are inflamed it may smart initially for a few seconds but feels really open and great thereafter. The solution is intended to cleanse the sinuses and reduce swelling of vessels in the area.
ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE USING IT> AS I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
Living in the allergy capital of the world, it has been a life saver for me.

 

[saltedplug]

My palate is best reset by pipe abstinence.