Question:
3 Weeks Post Op, Bad Taste In Mouth

How long does this last and what can I do to make it go away?    — Christy H. (posted on June 28, 2003)

June 28, 2003
Yes, I had this for a long time after my surgery. It is thrush, and it's on the tongue. I had to go to my doctor and get an oral antibotic to suck on my tongue. It has to do with the rapid wieght loss, ketosis, etc...a side effect of this type of surgery. It does take some time to clear up.
   — Lisa R.

June 28, 2003
If it is thrush, you will have a coating on your tongue. More than likely it is because you are in ketosis. As long as you are in ketosis, it will be there. The listerine things you place in your mouth to dissolve helps a lot.
   — Delores S.

June 28, 2003
Thrush is an Oral yeast infection.....If you have it you will see white "spots or patches" on you tongue, gums ,insides of your mouth, and it the throat. You may also have a sore throat. Bad tastes in your mouth more in likely indicate Ketosis....not thrush. If you do have white spots....call your doctor, they can call in an RX for Mycelex Troches.....you will need to suck on them and swallow 5 troches a day for 5 days to completly clear up thrush. I am a nurse and in our office we use a lot of steroids.....so thrush is very common. Again...if it is just a yucky taste...sounds like Ketosis. Good luck to you!!!!!!!!
   — jennap

June 28, 2003
It's almost certainly ketosis. Ketones are released into your body as the stored fat is being broken down. The ketones exit the body through the intestines, kidneys and lungs. The ketones escaping through your lungs create the bad taste and bad breath. Drinking more water will help wash more of the ketones out through your kidneys, and will therefore lessen the bad taste and bad breath. Sugar free mints will also help the taste and breath issues, but won't help eliminate the ketones, so drinking more is better, if you can.
   — Vespa R.

June 29, 2003
I use a tongue (sp?) scraper in the morning, and at night, plus this breath freshener called Ori-San. You spray it directly on your tongue after scraping. I believe it's plugged by Paul Harvey. Anyway, I find this works exceptionally well. - Autumn
   — autumn F.

June 30, 2003
I am 12 weeks post-op and I still have the bad taste in my mouth. The listerine pocket paks have become a constant companion. I use them all of the time.
   — Stephanie M.