Question:
acute senses, hot/cold

I'm 12 days post op and starting to feel better everyday. I have a few questions. After surgery, did anyone elses sense of smell and taste become more acute. After they put me on a liquid diet in the hospital, I could not eat a lot of the food because it was intolerable(ie sweets). Also, my internal thermostat feels completely off. One minute I'm burning up and the next, I have chills and can not get warm enough. My tempraure stayed in the 98-99.5 range. So, I never really had a temp.    — Jan M. (posted on October 28, 2000)

October 28, 2000
my sister had wls 7 years and 160 lbs ago. this has been her biggest complaint that she pretty much always feels cold ,even in the summer. she said she was told it had something to do with losing so much body fat in such a short period of time. my wls is 11/22/00 and i'm very concerned about this also. i haven't read anything about it on the web but plan to go searching best of luck janis the va. girl
   — janis T.

October 28, 2000
Wow, I was telling my hubby I had this problem after surgery and he thought I was nutty. Not only was my sense of smell and taste more acute so was my sight and hearing. I have heard that it may be effects of the anethesiology (sp) and I also heard it was effects of the pain meds. Whatever it was, It was awful! My family had to walk around whispering,I could even hear my kids downstairs! They thought I had turned into Wonder Mom or something..lol! The curtains and lights needed to stay closed, the smell of foods reminded me of when i was pregnant, and my taste were sooooo sensitive. Anyhow, sure glad to know someone else had some of the same problems, maybe Im not too crazy?...
   — Tricee

October 28, 2000
I had vbg 1/19/00. I was freezing, especially when I got up at nite. By the time I got back to bed, my teeth were chattering and my husband had to cover me with his body to get me warm. I still have these cold episodes, but not as often. Before the surgery, I was always too warm. My surgeon has no idea why this happens and looked at me as if I was crazy! I'm glad to know I'm not!! Try taking a heating pad to bed and put it on your feet. This helps to warm up your body. Also, wear socks to bed.
   — marilyn P.

October 28, 2000
hi .. i was warned about this condition prior to coming to the hospital and was told to bring a small fan with me as a result of it .. one thing i realized was when i felt this way, i was burning ALOT of calories .. it will eventually pass .. i am now 7 weeks post op and i dont have that anymore at all .. it will pass, u will see!!!
   — Vanessa B.

October 28, 2000
I have found that I am often cold since surgery and before I was always too hot. Now I keep a sweater in my desk at work and wear sweats to relax around the house. At night I use a twin-size electric blanket as a bedwarmer. I turn the blanket on while I'm getting ready for bed so the sheets are nice and toasty when I crawl in. I also use flannel sheets......such a treat......soft and warm and cozy.
   — Nanette T.

October 28, 2000
WELL!!!! I can now see that I am not alone in all this. What a relief that is!! It was sooo very wierd, the first couple wks post op. I could smell EVERYTHING and I mean everything and whatever it was that I was smelling..it smelled so intense that it made me literally sick! I had to cover my nose!! Family members laughed at me. I think they thought it was "all in my head." Now I know that it was NOT. Also, noises.. geez! they really got to me. Everything I heard seemed like it was magnified ten times over. Now, speaking of GETTING COLD?? I am cold most of the time and I am over 3 mo. post op. I can imagine what my fuel bill is going to cost this winter!! I suspect that has to do w/ losing so much weight so fast. As far as the "feeling hot" is concerned, wow, when I was in the hospital and even afterwards for a few weeks, I'd wake up at night soo HOT and clammy! I thought there was something the matter w/ me. The doctor's had no answer for me, either. I think all these things need to be examined and discussed by the surgeon's doing this surgery in the future. Maybe, not enough of us have told our surgeon's about these ordeals post op. I know I didn't. If we do, maybe the patient's having their wls in the future won't be soo "spooked out" like we were if they know that sometimes it's to be expected when you are newly post op. Not everyone has all these things happen, I don't think but I know I did, and now I know that you did, also!! Just remember: THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!
   — kathy S.

October 29, 2000
I am six months post op and before surgery I was always cold and the same after surgery. i walk around work all day with a sweater on. It could be because of low iron. I don't know but I seem to get cold all the time. I feel the same way also about the smell of food. The way I smell food depend on whether that food is going to be eaten or not. Most time not.
   — Sharon T.

October 29, 2000
It sounds like your body is adjusting to the changes. It should ease off in time.
   — SnowWhiteDove459