I lost my job two weeks ago. This is a stressful time and I…

Hi there, and thanks for your question. There are many different causes for a bitter taste in the mouth. After considering it for a bit, here are some conditions associated with your symptoms, including while you're eating, and afterwards:
1. Hiatal hernia: This is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. It is used in breathing. A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms -- pain and discomfort are usually due to the reflux of gastric acid, air, or bile. A bitter taste in the mouth is common. Reflux happens more easily when there is a hiatal hernia, though a hiatal hernia is not the only cause of reflux.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is a condition in which food or liquid travels backwards from the stomach to the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux is a common condition that often occurs WITHOUT symptoms after meals. In some people, the reflux is related to a problem with the lower esophageal sphincter, a band of muscle fibers that usually closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If this sphincter doesn't close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the esophagus and may cause the symptoms.
3. Dental cavities: Tooth decay is one of the most common of all disorders, second only to the common cold. The bacteria causing the tooth decay can lead to a bitter taste in the mouth.
4. Achalasia: This is a disorder of the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach (esophagus), which affects the ability of the esophagus to move food toward the stomach. This can lead to a bitter taste in the mouth the same way reflux can.
5. Helicobacter pylori infection: This is the bacteria responsible for most ulcers and many cases of stomach inflammation. The proliferation of bacteria, as with tooth decay, contributes to the bitter taste in the mouth. There are blood and breath tests available to determine whether Helicobacter pylori is playing a role.
6. Oral cancer: Any inflammation or swelling of the mouth, cancerous lesions included, can contribute to a bitter taste in the mouth.
7. Lichen planus: A disease in which there is an itchy, swollen rash on the skin or in the mouth.
Considering the duration and severity of your symptoms, I would consider being examined by a physician, and undergoing tests for a hiatal hernia or other silent causes of reflux -- that is, reflux without the pain or sensation of fluid moving backwards. This is very common, and can be evaluated by a gastroenterologist.
I wish you the best, ***** ***** you recover quickly. Take care, Dr. Davidson