WHY do your tastes change? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

markntia · 02-13-2008, 01:43 PM

So, we're down to less than two weeks before surgery on the 26th. Researching llike crazy.

One of the things that seems to be common amongst people is that their tastes change after surgery, sometimes dramatically.

I can't help wondering why this happens. I thought taste was a function of your taste buds and olifactory system and not your stomach.

We have our meeting with the nutritionist on Sunday and I'll ask this too.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

lward76 · 02-13-2008, 02:12 PM

I really dont know why?? But, trust me they really do change!!

MBatten · 02-13-2008, 02:28 PM

Hey Mark,

I'll give you my take on it. I think they change because we eat so much less than we used to, our bodies now crave what we really need, rather than what we want. I know for me, I've found that I naturally gravitate towards the foods that labeled "super foods" without knowing it. I have seen plenty of nutrition articles that list out foods you *should* be eating, only to find these are the ones I am, in fact, eating. I think it's a reboot in terms of eating for nutrition, instead of eating for comfort.

I used to love carbs before surgery, absolutely love them. Now, I can't eat overly sweet things (not only does it make me feel bad, I just don't want them). I know in the past, I've been off sodas, or fast food, and found that going back to them after a period of not eating them, they tasted way worse than they used to (course I always went back to them prior to surgery). Now that the taste buds are not innundated with overly sweet, or processed foods, it lets them get back to basics. I also figure it has to do with hormonal changes as well...kinda like pregnancy.

Anyway, that's my thought on the matter!

Godsblessedme · 02-13-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

But, trust me they really do change

Not everyone's tastes change, mine didnt change a bit. I couldnt drink all the protein powder (too filling) after surgery but that was it. I love the same foods except obviously had to get used to sugar free stuff which actually is yummy

Ettie B · 02-13-2008, 03:20 PM

I'm pre-op so can't really comment on this but my mum had a hysterectomy about 10 years ago and her tastes changed and she said everything tasted and smelled wrong.. it lasted about 2-3 months as I recall.

Maybe it's something to do with the anaesthetic or so?

MBatten · 02-13-2008, 03:41 PM

It was a little more gradual than that for me. It wasn't like I went from liking something to not liking it instantly, but more over time, as I started to eat again and find out what I could tolerate, I found that I liked foods I used to not like, and foods I remembered as being awesome, were, well, not so much anymore. I have definitely nibbled on bad stuff, including taking a bite of ice cream, McDonald's burgers, and other stuff, and found that the taste is just not all that. What's funny too is the smell can be just as appetizing as always, but the taste, at least for me, isn't. My husband got a breakfast sandwich at McDonald's one day when we were carpooling, and he thought it would drive me nuts, when in fact, I loved smelling it, but when I took a nibble, I was surprised at how much of the salt, sugar and general preservatives I could detect.

markntia · 02-13-2008, 03:47 PM

This is all very helpful, thanks!

fisher1000 · 02-13-2008, 04:16 PM

I think initially it has some to do with ketosis. (From google: When fats are burned incompletely, ketones are produced. Fats are burned incompletely in the absence of sufficient glucose. When enough ketones are produced that they start being excreted via sweat, urine, and breath, the condition is called ketosis.)

My breath was KICKIN' after surgery. (Probably due to ketosis from the extreme drop in carbs...) I ate so many mints I didn't think I was eating much else! I'm still on a mint kick. My tastes changed dramatically after surgery, but have mellowed over time. I wonder if the taste in your mouth from the bad breath cause a change in taste? I don't taste food the same as I used to and new things taste great to me now that I didn't necessarily care for before. I wish I knew, longterm, what was behind it. Hopefully someone will be able to shed some light...

-Mike

OsoDelDesierto · 02-17-2008, 05:01 PM

I am only four days post-op, but have already noticed a MAJOR change in the way I smell and taste things, just as people told me I would, and it has not been for the better.

I am a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy patient, but the changes appear to hold true for VSGers of my acquaintance as much as for RNYers, and even my mother experienced something similar while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The explanation I've been given is that anytime the stomach is altered, it affects taste and smell in a way that no one fully understands, even though olfactory senses and taste buds are physically unaffected.

I can only speak from my own experience and state that pre-op, I had a fairly keen sense of smell, but was not generally bothered by fragrances or odors and liked a lot of different scents. Now, I am easily nauseated by most scents - flowers, colognes, cooking odors, air fresheners, you name it. Hate most smells now. Absolutely make me sick to my stomach.

Other examples: I used to love sugar free cherry Jell-O pre-op, but my taste test this morning found it to be unbearable - sickly sweet with an appalling chemical taste - just thinking about the two bites I had gives me shivers. I tried some chicken broth for lunch, and it was weirdly, pervasively metallic, with a taste not produced in nature. And speaking of not produced in nature, I cannot wait until I'm three weeks post-op and can get away from Profect as my source of protein. I tolerated it pre-op, but sipping those now enormous 3 oz. vials over a period of several hours has made my tastebuds suicidal...

JessicaG · 02-17-2008, 05:08 PM

I here ya there. I used to love peanut butter but now I think it's nasty. Really bummed me out as I used to love peanut butter and jelly sandwichs with tomatoe soup.

Jessica