Question:
Is this normal?

According to my surgeon's diet plan, I am in the "proteins only" stage. (NO fruits or veggies, carbs or fats). Slowly but surely, everything is starting to take on a nasty taste, and I'm prefering not to eat at all. Some examples: Tuna fish is WAY too "fishy" tasting and gags me. Eggs of all kinds taste like a wet dog smells--no matter how I try, I can't choke it down. I'm allowed fat free peanut butter on 1/2 piece toast, but the toast makes me gag. I can't stand room temp beverages, but now ice cubes are taking on a rubbing alcohol type taste. Even my Flinstones vitamins are gross and leave a gross, metallic taste in my mouth for a few hours after I take them--even if I brush ten times after chewing them. In short, about the only things I'm allowed that still tastes good is low-fat cottage cheese, lf/sf blended yogurt, split pea soup, ff refried beans/cheese, shrimp and crab. That is getting old very fast. Does anybody have any ideas as to why this is happening--is it normal, or am I weird? Is it all in my head? Or any ideas to "spice up" what my taste buds have limited me to? Thank you, Audra    — jellybean0605 (posted on September 2, 2003)

September 2, 2003
I've seen others say that this is ketosis, but for me it was THRUSH. Yep. My water tasted like metal and everything tasted NASTY. Stick out your tongue..is it white? If so, call your dr. and ask for diflucan:) Good luck!
   — kathy B.

September 2, 2003
Audra, do you have a coating on your tongue? If so I agree that thrush may be the culprit. Call the doctor's office.
   — M B.

September 2, 2003
Your list of foods is basically what I ate for the first two months. Yes, its boring. But over time your list of foods will increase. In addition to all your don'ts list, I had the same. In fact I swore my house had a terrible smell. I had my daughter drive 45 miles to go through my house looking for the smell. There was NONE! Water...I would only drink one particular brand of bottled water. Tap, filtered and other brands were TERRIBLE. Once fruits and veggies kick in things will get better....
   — suzcar51

September 2, 2003
For me it was not thrush. I experienced the same thing at the exact same time as you. From about 3 weeks post-op until, unfortunately around 6 weeks. My mouth was so dry that I thought I was going to die. Everything tasted horrible and all I ever wanted to do was drink to get the taste out of my mouth. I believe it was from ketosis and also, I've been told that it could be the toxins from the anesthesia being released but I'm not a professional and can't swear on it. Unfortunately there wasn't much I could do about the taste and just had to ride it out; but it DOES get better! Hang in there and congrats on your surgery!! Denise RNY 3/20/03, 280/175/150
   — denisel