Question:
bad breath and body odor
I heard a woman on TV saying she would not have the surgery (350 lbs.) because she was told that she would have really severe bad breath and body odor due to the surgery. I am waiting on insurance approval for my surgery and then heard this!!! Has anyone had this problem?? Was it long term or short term during recovery? Thanks — [Anonymous] (posted on January 18, 2002)
January 18, 2002
Hi.. I am assuming you're referring to the person on Oprah. I've talked to
others on here and most feel they just were not well informed nor did they
clarify areas they should have. The bad breath comes from ketosis ... a
state where the body is burning and metabolizing all of that stored fat...
its a natural state and some do have nasty breath -- solution, brush more
often, mouthwash, breath mints and you might try some of the natural herbal
items like parsley capsules etc. For the b.o. more frequent bathing if
that is a problem, lotions, powders, deodorants. From what I've learned in
my own research, this is not forever but during this early burnoff part of
the ketosis. don't let it dissuade you from a life changing experience but
plan on it as a possible part of it. Best of luck to you.
— AJC750
January 18, 2002
Relax, its a short term problem. For the first month or so we post ops go
thru Ketosis, like the Atkins diet folks do. This causes FAST weight loss,
yucky tasting water, off tastes in food, and really bad breath. I was
THRILLED when mmy wife started complaining about my breath. Rest assured it
doesnt last.
— bob-haller
January 18, 2002
Just to expand on the previous posts...NOT everyone has these problems. It
is not a definite expectation. I did not have these problems at all.
Shelley
— Shelley.
January 18, 2002
Let me guess, you saw Oprah yesterday right? The woman was just plain
making excuses to sabotage her success. Oprah saw through most of those
women who just weren't being honest with themselves...anyway I digress.
Hopefully someone will set her straight. As previous posters say, ketosis
causes the breath odor. You can taste it in your mouth so you are totally
aware when you're in it (unlike some people who aren't in ketosis, have bad
breath, and talk in your face totally oblivious) anyway...I keep mints
with me at all times and water to keep my mouth fresh. I have never had
body odor. I get gas but it depends on what I eat. No more than truly is
normal. Good luck and God bless!
— Kimberly L.
January 18, 2002
THIS HAPPENS TO A TINY, TINY MINORITY OF WLS PATIENTS! I can't
stress that enough. It won't happen to you. I'm 4 years post op
and active in my support group and in all that time I have NEVER
heard of anyone report a body odor problem due to wls. A few people
have related breath problems in the first few weeks. Easily resolved
with moutwash, sprays and mints. And, I repeat, it's temporary.
— [Anonymous]
January 18, 2002
Ketosis breath is so temporary it becomes a faint memory, and that is if
you are one of the ones that gets it. I chewed gum, had mints, and those
new listerine strips and I was fine. I read on a post long ago that said
to tell her husband, "honey, thats me losing weight that you
smell". I think mine lasted around 3 weeks, and to me it tasted
metallic. I didn't have a change in body odor. In my opinion, many MO's
might have a problem with body odor without the surgery because of hygeine
issues, and being hot and sweaty. I strongly recommend WLS for the obese.
Stinky breath is short-lived and easy to quick-fix, and just a miniscule
side-effect.
— Cheri M.
January 18, 2002
breath assure works GREAT!! (for the bad breath that is) i use it and the
pills are so tiny
— LUVY L.
January 18, 2002
It didn't happen to me! I've always been anal about having bad breath, so
I ALWAYS carry some type of breath mint. As far as BO, I once heard it
depends on the type of surgery you have. I later found that to be not
true. BO rarely happens post-op. I think I smelled more before surgery!
So I really wouldn't worry about it!
— Becky H.
January 18, 2002
I never/don't have bad breath. I brush 4 times a day and I always have
some gum or those Listerine Pocket Packs.
As for Body Odor. I smell so much better now! I stank like a sweaty
monkey because of all the sweat under each roll! Excuse the vision--but I
live in Florida! Now, with less of those rolls and less fat to make me
sweat like a hog, I actually smell better. I didn't see the thing on
Oprah, but I have heard it discussed. That woman's just trying to make
excuses. Good Luck~I need to go brush now!
— Kristin R.
January 18, 2002
the woman who said that is an idiot . At 350 and climbing I would really
worry about body odor. I know at 278 my garm were getting a little
"short" to deal with my own hygiene and I couldn't fit
comfortably in the bath tub not to mention the constant sweating from
carrying around all that weight! 138-post RNY surgery and smelling like a
"ROSE"!
— Rose A.
January 18, 2002
I agree with everyone else about the ketosis. However, my Dr. told me that
with the BP/DS there is a chance of body odor. I was actually at a meeting
where one man who had that surgery and lost about 300lbs. said that his
stools smelled really bad, and so did he! I guess its just some lingering
smell. One man told a story about how his wife had that same surgery, and
that she smelled so bad she got fired. Her boss really liked her, but he
explained that she was bad for business. I guess this does not happen
much, but with the BP/DS there is some chance of a really bad odor to the
body, not just relating to breath.
— Jennifer Y.
January 18, 2002
i THINK SHE IS MIXING UP BAD ODERS WITH THE CHANGE IN OUR BODY ODOR AND
BREATH BECAUSE OF ACTIVE KETOSIS. iT ISN'T A REALLY BAD ODER, IT IS JUST
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT WAS BEFORE! mY BREAT IS MORE SWEET SMELLING, LIKE
CANDY, NOW. aND MY BODY ODER, ACCORDING TO MY HUSBAND, FRIENDS AND FAMILY
HAS ACTUALLY IMPROVED BECAUSE I HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO DROP SEVERAL
MEDICINES. iT JUST DEPENDS ON YOU PERCEPTION OF SMELLS AND ODERS!!
bESIDES, A GOOD PERFUME TAKES CARE OF BODY, AND BRUSHING YOUR TEETH THREE
TIMES A DAY TAKES CARE OF SWEET KETOSIS BREAT!! tHIS WOMAN IS JUST TO
AFRAID AND IS FINDING ANY REASON SHE CAN TO KEEP FROM DOING WHAT WILL
CHANGE HER LIFE SO DRAMATICALLY, SHE IS AFRAID OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE
IT... imho
— Sharon H.
January 18, 2002
I am almost 6 weeks post-op. so far I don't have either.
I hope not to get either. I think it's just a few folks
that get either/both.
— Cindee A.
January 18, 2002
HI...I have not had the surgery yet, but I went for my preop testing
yesterday at the Bariatric Treatment Center and I was well informed on the
does and don'ts of eating by the dietician. It was mentioned that IF you
eat A LOT of greasy, fried, fatty food you WILL give off an odor via the
PORES. (I took it as if this was a habit and not a once in a while thing
it would cause it) She said my husband or anyone else for that matter would
be able to tell if I was cheating because I would stink! I don't plan on
eating that way of course. But I would discuss this with your dietian and
see what she tells you. There are so many different opinions on here. I
of course would not change my mind based on this...just will avoid what
will cause it.
— BrendaSinger
January 18, 2002
With my weight as it is I smell pretty bad already. And I'm a very clean
person. I just cant quite reach under these folds. lol. If I could loose
200 lbs and be healthier, I would take smelling like a cow pie to have this
surgery. :))
— [Anonymous]
January 18, 2002
I have to say, that is ridiculous! I have no bad breath problems 3 years
later, nor do I have a body odor problems at all. As a matter of fact..want
to know the truth? I don't even have to use deoderant anymore. i don't
sweat. NO ONE has ever told me that there is body odor post op
"except" from the bad gas like was stated earlier and the bowel
movements. They are bad and yes, I am a post BPD/DSer.
— Barbara H.
May 2, 2002
Ketosis: Is it safe? Why do some people say it's dangerous?
Being in ketosis means your body has burned a large amount of fat in
response to the fact that it didn't have sufficient glucose available for
energy needs. Under everyday conditions, the carbohydrates you eat are
converted to glucose, which is the body's primary source of energy.
Whenever your intake of carbohydrates is limited to a certain range, for a
long enough period of time, you'll reach a point where your body draws on
its alternate energy system, fat stores, for fuel.
This condition called dietary ketosis, means your body burns fat and turns
it into a source of fuel called ketones. Ketones are produced whenever body
fat is burned. When you burn a larger amount of fat than is immediately
needed for energy, the excess ketones are discarded in the urine.
Dietary ketosis is among the most maligned and misunderstood concepts in
nutrition because it is often confused with ketoacidosis, which is a
life-threatening condition most often associated with uncontrolled
insulin-deficient Type 1 diabetes. In the Type 1 diabetic, the absence of
insulin leads to a toxic build-up of blood glucose and an extreme
break-down of fat and muscle tissue. This condition doesn't occur in
individuals who have even a small amount of insulin, whether from natural
production or artificially administered.
Dietary ketosis, however, is a natural adjustment to the body's reduced
intake of carbohydrates as the body shifts its primary source of energy
from carbohydrates to stored fat. The presence of insulin keeps ketone
production in check so that a mild, beneficial ketosis is achieved. Blood
glucose levels are stabilized within a normal range and there is no
break-down of healthy muscle tissue.
The most sensitive tests of ketosis ("NMR" and "blood ketone
level") show that everyone is in some degree of ketosis every day,
particularly after not eating overnight and after exercising. Ketosis is
the body's survival system. It is not an abnormality nor does it present
any medical danger, except to a Type I insulin-dependent diabetic. The
body functions naturally and effectively while in a state of dietary
ketosis.
Some of the benefits many people experience while in a state of dietary
ketosis for intentional weight loss may include rapid weight loss,
decreased hunger and cravings, improved mood, increased energy and, as long
as protein intake is adequate, protection of lean muscle mass.
— nay_nay45
May 2, 2002
I found my last entry at http://www.ketosis-ketoacidosis-difference.com/.
— nay_nay45
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