Water tastes bitter now - bleech

I was banded last Wednesday, and doing my best to stay hydrated.  However, water tastes bitter to me now.  And I'm getting bad breath!  I have tried bottled and tap water - same thing.  Do taste buds change?  Will it get better?  I normally love water!

IT WILL GET BETTER AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!! I DID THE SAME THING!! PROTEIN IS A MUST!!! I GET THE AMP PROTEIN FROM GNC...I TRYED THE WALMART BRAND AND IT WAS CLUMPY!!! YUCK!!! THE GNC IS IN A BLACK AND RED CONTAINER AND ITS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE,BUT ITS GOOD!! IT FLUSHES OUT THE FAT FROM YOUR BODY!!! I USUALLY DRINK MY PROTEIN FOR BREAKFAST AND THATS 60 GRAMS!! I LOVE MY BAND!! I DONT EAT A THIRD OF WHAT I USE TO SO I FIGURE ITS OK TO SPEND EXTRA ON PROTEIN THAT I LOVE(THE CHOCOLATE IS GREAT)...I'M OVER 3 MONTHS OUT AND IVE LOST 40 POUNDS!!! I'D DO IT ALL AGAIN!! ITS WONDERFUL!!! MESSAGE ME ANYTIME!!! JOYCE

Yes, taste buds can and do change. The protein powder I had chosen before surgery as my favorite and therefore stocked up on tasted wretched to me after surgery. I have been back and forth on water a few times. For me the biggest change was to begin liking water when I have always hated it plain. I even got so that I looked forward to plain old tap water. However, as I said I have been back and forth on this.

When water begins to loose it's appeal I often try adding 1/4-1/3 servings of Crystal light to it. A friend of my hubbies taught him to take water in a thermos or jug to work with a little bit of lemon juice in it to make it stay fresh tasting through the day. It seemed to work for him. You might try to keep a picture of water fixed the way you like it in the frige. Sometimes I have just needed to go full fledge Crystal light. If that is what it takes then so be it. What ever it takes to get it in. Post surgery I also used s.f. hot chocolate, broth, hot tea, (herbal mostly), s.f. jello, etc. I know they say to count only water but my nut told us that for the first few weeks anything counts. After that you need to do uncaffinated, 0 calorie liquids only. Right now your shakes count, too. It is more important to stay well hydrated than to attatch rules to it.

The bad breath may also be from the anesthetic as can be the taste changes. Do the best you can. I love water, now and don't usually like flavored ones any more, so yes, you may well change back. Good luck. Sue

Hi - I went from a 6 pack of diet dr. pepper a day, if not more to NONE two days prior to the band - talk about withdrawal?!?  I don't like to drink plain water now either because I feel "cheated" if that makes sense.  I drink mainly crystal light in my water or s/f hawaiian punch (same type of thing - you can buy the little packets to add to your water bottle) and they have like 5 calories per bottle & 5 gm of sodium, I think - so I figure if I am getting in the liquids and it's working for me, then that's okay for now.  I will drink plain water on occassion but most of the time now I have crystal light, tea (both caff & decaf) and water on occassion.  Also, bad breath can stem from a high protein diet (I think?!?) - it's something about the protein...good  luck to you on your journey!

Not sure about the water, my dear...but the bad breath is most likely caused by "ketosis," which is by definition, "The abnormal accumulation of ketones in the body as a result of excessive breakdown of fats caused by a deficiency or inadequate use of carbohydrates. Fatty acids are metabolized instead, and the end products, ketones, begin to accumulate. This condition is seen in starvation, occasionally in pregnancy if the intake of protein and carbohydrates is inadequate, and most frequently in diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by ketonuria, loss of potassium in the urine, and an odor of acetone on the breath."

Basically, ketones are the byproduct of burnt fat when you are losing weight and are excreted in your urine and breath, causing it to have a foul odor. This is very common on a low-carb diet.

It will get better when you are in the maintenance phase. :)

Regarding the Ketone Post, you can buy inexpensive test strips at any pharmacy that will tell you to what extent you are in Ketosis.  Also, Ketosis in and of itself is not dangerous and is usually a good sign that your diet is working.

Wow Everybody - thanks so much!  I seem to be learning something every day from this forum.  I really don't like Crystal Light - but I am adding a few drops of lemon juice to the water.  I'm worried about getting dehydrated so soon after the surgery, so I'm pushing myself to drink water. 

I had my post-op appt with my surgeon today and everything is going as planned.  He did say that the bad breath is probably just a temporary side affect of the anesthesia and surgery, but to let him know if it continues. 

Thanks again for the support - you guys are awesome!

One reason I have a harder time drinking water, now, is that I don't eat as much salty things. I found this out one day when I was eating "bad" and had something really salty and I gulped my water down, and I sort of said "ah ha"!