Question:
Have your taste buds changed after your surgery?
If foods that were once your favorites are now unappealing or if foods you disliked before surgery now taste good, I would really appreciate hearing from you. Can you please describe what has changed and let me know the kind of surgery you had? — jules R. (posted on July 23, 2003)
July 23, 2003
my tastebuds have not changed at all. I still crave all the foods I once
did before, but foods. I have not had the sweet tooth cravings, so that is
a good thing for me. I had OPen RNY so sugar is pretty much deadly to me.
I satisfy the craving I have for things like Pizza, tacos, and Mac n
cheese, but I eat these things a lot less often than normal.
— Heather M.
July 23, 2003
My taste buds also changed dramitically post-op. I agree with the other
poster, from what we read on here MOST peoples do change. That is one
reason people are not encouraged to try the protein drinks to find
something they like pre-op. What tased good pre-op COULD taste rotten
after. Now at six months post-op, I find my tastes are coming back but
some things even sugar-free taste way to sweet.
— Delores S.
July 23, 2003
I had open RNY, and yes, things do taste different and my tastes have
changed. I think it's because the food is in my mouth so long from chewing
it to death, that I actually can really taste it. Before, I just inhaled
it. :)
— joeandteri
July 23, 2003
Oh my, YES! I used to be the worst sugarholic ... now I have no desire for
it whatsoever. I thought I would miss my two Cokes a day but they just
don't sound good anymore. Instead of craving sweets, I crave things like
meat, salads, and healthy stuff. I don't think I've ever done that in my
life! And lately I've had the most amazing craving for tomatoes. What's
weird is that I never even LIKED tomatoes before! I can't have them yet
(I'm only about 9 weeks postop and my surgeon doesn't allow veggies until
12 weeks) but they are the first thing I'm going to have (chopped with a
little garlic, basil, lite olive oil and balsamic vinegar) when I get the
green light! Good grief, I'm actually DROOLING! Does that answer your
question? LOL I had open RNY on 5/23/03. Good luck!
— MomBear2Cubs
July 23, 2003
After RNY it is normal for your tastes to change. That's why it's not a
good idea to stock up on protein drinks and such before surgery - chances
are they will be horrid after. I used to drink Classic Coke by the gallon
and now the thought of one makes me sick; same thing with doughnuts - I can
smell a doughnut and get nauseated. There are other things too - I don't
want pasta at all and i crave fish.
— Patty_Butler
July 23, 2003
Yup! Pre-surgery, I loved yogurt, and chocolate in about any form. Now, I
can hardly stand either one. And it seems like the SF ice-creams and
treats all are some version of chocolate flavoring! Go figure. Also,
pre-surgery, I wasn't a big fan of apples. Now, my very favorite drink is
NSA apple juice - I love it the way I used to love Pepsi! (I think maybe
it's because that's the first thing I was given right after surgery, lol.)
I had open RNY six weeks ago.
— Dragon G.
July 23, 2003
As you go into ketosis, you have lots of ketones in your saliva-- these
ketones alter your tastes. For me, I couldn't stomach the Isopure protein
drinks from months 2-8, chicken (other than chicken salad) was a chore to
choke down from months 3-8 and now (at month 9) milk just doesn't taste
very good anymore (and I used to have 4 oz. of skim milk most mornings).
In addition to the changes due to the ketones, I think two psychological
conditions also impact our tastebuds after surgery: (1) I became fearful of
certain foods that I thought would be triggers and developed a dislike of
them and (2) negative conditioning applied when certain foods upset my
pouch or caused me to gag or dump.
For me, food has basically become utilitarian-- although I still love
cooking and serving others. I can't seem to find any pleasure in the food
I eat-- but fortunately, there is far more pleasure in experiencing the new
life that my weightloss has made possible.
— SteveColarossi
July 23, 2003
Yes. The biggest change in taste for me was diet coke. I was totally
addicted to it before surgery. I tried a sip a few months after and it was
so discusting I thought something was wrong with it. My husband assured me
that it was fine. Boy how did I ever stand it before?
— Tawnda C.
July 23, 2003
This may sound weird but the only thing I find that tastes strange is
water. I drink several bottles throughout the day and sometimes it tastes
different. I have tried different brands, tap water and even different
temperatures. Everyone that tastes the water says it's fine. Of course,
everytime it tastes bad I have to run and brush my teeth. I think it might
be the vitamins but I'm not sure. Anyone else notice something strange in
the water?
— Oneida H.
July 23, 2003
Julie, I had RNY 13 days ago. I just started on a pureed diet, but I have
tried refried beans, mashed potatoes, yogurt and eggs and they all were
just boring to me. I do taste the Keytones in my mouth, which make me
SOOOO thirsty, but I think the fact that I have a strong sense of no
appetite has something to do with it as well. They didn't taste bad, just
not as good as I remembered. I'm glad! I pray to God that my appetite
never comes back!
Good Luck and good question!
— Michele B.
July 23, 2003
Hi there, Jules! Oh my yes, my taste buds have gone crazy! Before
surgery, I could eat pasta everyday and now I HAVE to have a severe craving
for it, like today I thought I wanted it, made it and then ended up only
having the meat, cheese and sauce. I couldn't tolerate really spicy foods
pre-op and now, the hotter the better. My husband has this XXX sauce
called "After Death" and I can handle it! The big one, for me,
is meat and fish. Pre-op, I never touched it and now, give me a ribeye and
crab meat and I am a happy camper. It is very strange, but it did happen.
I have to agree with Steve though about the two psychological conditions
that can play a huge part on what we will have. I had the open RNY. Vi.
open RNY 9/23/02 down 149 lbs.
— Vi F.
July 23, 2003
heck ya mine changed i cant really go into detail cuz it varies but for
instance i use to eat pickles like they were going out of style and now i
hardly eat them, i only drink water and crystal lite i just cant seem to
drink anything else it all taste horrible. i hate the taste of high fatty
stuff not to mention i would dump if i could eat it..i am open rny prox.
well good luck to you....
— Deanna Wise
July 24, 2003
My taste buds have also changed. I am 1 year out post op and before
surgery, I used to LOVE tuna fish. Now, post op, I hate tuna fish. I also
loved the noodles at the Olive Garden and now I don't like them at all
either. Everything else, I like, like always.
— Judy W.
July 24, 2003
Hi,
Yes, my tastes and cravings have definitely changed. I also used to crave
pasta and now bearly eat it ever. I mean I had a serious pasta addiction
that I fed almost daily and now weeks can go by without me having or
wanting to have any. I also used to crave anything hot and the spicier the
better. I would eat up to 5 or more pickled jalapenos with my meal but I
can't take the heat now! That one bugs me just a bit but I'll get over it!
I had Lap RNY 3/26/03.
— Marie S.
July 24, 2003
I had lap rny over 2 years ago. I used to eat fast food fairly regularly
and now the only thing I will willingly eat as far as fast food is
Chick-Fil-A nuggets and some of the Taco Bell stuff (if I am in the mood
for it). I no longer eat potatoes and not much pasta, which I loved preop.
I used to love American Chinese food and, although I still like Asian food,
I prefer items like steamed dumplings or soups. A lot of the sauces seem to
be too heavy for me. The smell of pizza now makes me want to hurl, and I
used to eat it about once a week.<p>There are things that I LIKE but
can no longer tolerate, like fresh peppers and red wine :(, and lots of
things that I like but rarely get around to eating because I am too full of
the stuff I am supposed to eat. I buy NSA ice cream and cookies but most of
the time they sit around for months before I either eat them, feed them to
my daughter, or just plain toss them. The funny thing is that the most
wonderfullest treat in the world to me is a half peanut butter and jelly
(Polaner fruit spread) sandwich on white bread. It just tastes SOOOO good!
:)
— ctyst
July 24, 2003
— D L.
July 24, 2003
Hi, Jules! YES, my taste preferences have definitely changed. I'm almost
6 months out. Peanut butter used to be a "red light" food for
me; I absolutely could not keep it in my house. It would be gone in a
matter of days; I would spread it on crackers, make 2, 2, 2 peanut butter
sandwiches for a snack, or just eat it with a spoon. Now? I have
absolutely no taste for it. I do have a jar of peanut butter in my house,
but I just add a tablespoon to my protein drink for flavor. Immediately
postop, ketchup tasted really weird (it still does a little, but it's
better). And also, any kind of hard CHEESE tasted reeeeaaaallly funky. I
have just recently gotten the "full" taste of it back. Any food
that is really greasy is also totally yuck to me now, and I used to love it
preop--the greasier the better!
— Joyce C.
July 24, 2003
Jules--sorry, I forgot to say I had Open RNY.
— Joyce C.
July 24, 2003
Yes, mine have and have changed alot throughout my 11 mos post-op
experience, for me, my biggest change is am not a sweet eater and never
really was before. For me its more about texture now. But, one thing I
like so much more now and can't get enough of is salad and steamed veggies.
Good Luck. Heather Open RNY 8-15-02 305/187/150
— heathercross
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