Have your tastes changed after surgery?

Hi, all,

In a response to a post, I was told that taste in food will change after surgery.  I am wondering, since you have had surgery, have your tastes changed?  Where do you see the most change?  I'm only referring to what you like rather than whether or not you are hungry.  I also understand that your eating habits should change... protein, fruits & veges, then carbs.  Please share your experience with what you may have liked prior to surgery and what you no longer like or don't like as much.  I appreciate your input.

Thanks in advance, all you special people!

Diana

Most definitely!!
I was a carb fiend pre op. Now, I hardly eat them. Chocolate? nope, don't want it. Sweet protein shakes, nah, couldn't stand them. Give me water and protein. That is about all I want. Sounds really crazy. I hear some people have a salt aversion, me, it is sweet stuff.

Thanks for your input.  I'm finding this topic pretty interesting.  I'm anxious to hear others' responses.

Take care and congrats on your progress.

I have also had a change in taste or what I can eat since surgery.  I can no longer handle foods like pizza and spaghetti; basically anything with tomato sauce.  I also don't drink as much coffee as I used to.  I also had to switch to full-fat organic milk.  The 2% tastes like water.  I now find myself craving salad but it hurts my pouch.  Most of these changes occured after my bad experience with the plastic surgery.

Colleen

Thank you, Colleen.  Does the tomato sauce (pizza, spaghetti, etc.) cause you problems or do you not like the taste anymore?  I used to drink "leaded" coffee and am now drinking decaf... what do you drink when you drink it?  Just for info, was your PS a tummy tuck?  Were there difficulties during the surgery or just what you talked about in your post afterward?  Just curious on that note. 

Thanks!
Diana

Hi Dianna!

It's not that I don't like the taste it's that things don't set too well with my pouch.  I drink regular coffee but I'm down to about 2 cups a day; prior to surgery I drank coffee all day long.  I have always had a problem with getting my fluids in and I know it's a huge no-no, but I am drinking Cherry Coke (not diet).  I need the extra calories and I am going to double up on my calcium.  We already have osteoarthritis and osteoporosis (spelling?) that runs in my family so this isn't something I'm likely to able to prevent by simply staying away from colas. I do occasionally drink water but it has a tendency to hurt my pouch.  I drink a lot of milk for the extra protein.

As for the PS, I had abdominoplasty, breast lift and implants and had my upper arms done.  I was supposed to go back and have my thighs done but have since changed my mind.  My plastic surgery ended up being kind of a nightmare.  I'm glad that I am finally on the road to recovery but it was a very long 6 months.  When they opened me up to do the tummy tuck they discovered a problem with a hernia operation I had in October.  The mesh they used for the repair wrapped itself around my bellt button and they also found a "sac of goo" as they put it, which I assume was some sort of medical waste.  They had to fix that before they could continue.  They couldn't save my navel so I don't have one anymore (weird LOL!)The antibiotics gave me thrush and then I went into ketosis which is why everything tasted so bad.  That lasted for 2 months.

Please don't let my story discourage you if you are thinking of plastic sugery down the road.  This was just a weird thing that happened to me. As far as the actual bypass surgery, I had no complications and was up and about the day afterward.  I would do it again in a heartbeat but would reconsider the plastics.

Please keep in touch!

Colleen

Hi, Colleen,

Thanks for claifying your surgery.  It helps to understand the whole picture.  I'm sorry you had all the problems and I wouldn't wish them on anyone; very glad you are on the road to recovery!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on tastes, too.  I commend you on your honesty.  I find it interesting that you have problems with water but, I have heard others have, too.  However, theirs was just after surgery rather than down the road. 

And, thank you again for the encouragement re surgery.  I confessed to my support person, my friend and roommate, that I was moving forward but, now that all the testing is done, I'm having some "cold feet" syndrome.  I'll keep moving forward on it.  I see the psych for the result on my eval on Tuesday and I'm a little apprehensive about that but, I'm sure that's normal.  

I will keep in touch, you too, OK?

Diana

Hi Diana, I still like many of the things I liked before surgery.  I do crave the proteins and like to have a variety of things.  I found that I could not get enough green leafy salads this summer.  Just made sure that I added protein and cheese to the salad.  I am just over 2 years out from RNY, wasn't able to tolerate as wide a variety of foods early out from surgery. 

I still go to the buffet with my hubby, most of the foods offered do not appeal.  I can make an amazing protein/salad combo from the salad bar and be satisfied.  I just eat slowly and chew well while my hubby gets what he wants in a couple of trips to the buffet.  In don't worry about the cost, just enjoy the company.  For my craving for chinese food, I do a take out box from the local china buffet, I can get what I need and only spend 2-4$ instead of the full buffet price.  Dennis does not care for chinese and perfers to not eat there. 

Don't think that we go out often, I really perfer to cook at home and know what is in my food.  I use a salad size plate and do not fill it.  I know what my pouch will tolerate.  Stop when you are satisfied, not when you feel 'full', or 20 minutes later SUFFERING...