Gag reflex/ Smells
Good afternoon yall! I had a question about gag reflex and Smells. I have NEVER had a gag reflex. And now I have a bad one. I noticed it a week ago brushing my teeth. I'm 4 weeks post op. Has anyone else had this issue ? If so PLEASE tell me it goes away!! And Ive notices smells are like very strong to me. I don't do smells. It causes me to gag and make my stomach hurt. Is this normal as well? Has anyone else experienced it? If so I hope it goes away as well!! LOL
I did not have the gagging issue, but I really had an increased awareness of smell. Some things smelled soooo much better, and others smelled even worse than before. Surprisingly, some things I always thought smelled wonderful changed to unplesant post surgery and vice versa. It all evened out after a while and I don't notice the changes anymore. I'm sure this will be the same for you just as it has been for others.
I don't know why you are having the problems with gagging. Like you are thinking, it probably has to do with your new sense of smell. If so it should stop once smells aren't bothering you any more.
Original surgery: VSG Feb. 2009
REVISED TO RNY FEBRUARY 2016
Height: 5'7"
Start weight: 252. Current weight: 120
I'm a year out and I have a heightened sense of smell. It doesn't make me gag but other things do. The way things taste now make me gag mostly. I told my doctor about it and she didn't seem concerned. It must go away eventually, at least I am hoping! Good luck to you.
You can't measure your achievements with someone else's yardstick!
Revision from lapband to RNY 12/26/17 with Dr. Caitlin Halbert
HW 260 SW 248 CW 154 GW 145
Gallbladder removed 9/18
Beth
on 12/29/18 4:53 am - CT
I did not have WLS but recently have been having a big problem with gagging - especially when brushing my teeth and also with some smells. I thought it might be from a medication I was taking, or from post nasal drip. One trick I read was to squeeze your thumb under your other fingers hard. Works for me.
on 12/29/18 5:16 am - CT
Try the thumb thing Chris. I found it really helped.
on 12/29/18 6:52 am - CT
When you feel like gagging Squueze your thumb under your other fingers very tightly. Like making a fist. It really stopped the gagging for me.