Taste is off a bit?

[Bunkenmeyer]

I just came across a post where someone mentioned taste being bit off. I thought it was in my head, but since I've been home from surgery (3 days) some foods either have very little taste or don't taste right at all. I had a glass of apple juice yesterday and it tasted like cleaning fluid.

Have others had this experience? What causes it and how long does it last?

 

[Nancy]

I think a lot of people will concur that this is pretty much the way it goes, for the first couple of weeks. Appetites aren't up to par either. My guess is that it's due to the different medications used during surgery that take their sweet time leaving the body.

But everyone's appetite returns and so will yours.

Take care,

 

[Ross]

I can't give you an accurate time frame, but food tasted off key for me for about 3 weeks or so out of the hospital. Don't let the taste buds overrule your need to eat. Chow man, chow. You've earned it!

 

[Rich]

Nothing tasted good in the hospital and I thought it was just their food.
But when I got home my very favorite meals either tasted bad or had no taste at all. All told I lost fifteen pounds.
After 3-4 weeks it all came back so just give it a little time.
Like Nancy said we all are convinced it was from all the meds.

 

[BillCobit]

Same experience for me...little desire to eat for 3 weeks after surgery; I lost 15 lbs.

Hang in there, your sense of taste will return.

 

[Kevin M]

I must be a freak. I was thinking the hospital food was good.
Yuk.

 

[tlhudson]

I have the same complaint.

Just over four weeks post surgery and my appitite is just now coming back. I attribute it to all the meds during the surgery and the days after.

Eat, walk and nap.

 

[JimL]

I agree with Kevin. I couldn't get enough food -- before surgery. As the Lasix worked and I lost the excess fluid, I would eating seven trays of food a day. I had a wonderful nurse, Maggie, who fed me.
After surgery, I picked at my food a day or two, and then started cleaning up everything and looking forward to the next one. A few weeks after I got home, I had to cut back a little.

 

[Dave5Baseball]

I think I'm a freak with Kevin too. I loved the hospital food. For the most part my appetite has been A-OK the only thing that tastes funny is lemonade. Weird, I know.

 

[Gnusgal]

No problems here...

No problems here...

I ate just fine after surgery. The number one requirement for anyone coming to visit me was that they bring me food "from the outside." And I remember that after my first OH surgery (1997) I was released three days after surgery and decided I wanted to go to Fudruker's (a hamburger place) that same day. Only thing that got in my way was that I was too exhausted to eat by the time the food got to the table. Still tasted great, though.

 

[terry40]

bunkenmeyer

bunkenmeyer

even in the hospital, everything was either too sweet or too salty,
and it lasted a few weeks after I got home also.

I lost over 20lbs, and have only gained back 2 of them, but my taste buds are now back to the usual. I wouldn't have minded keeping that too sweet taste bud since that seems to be my downfall!

The best of luck to you in your recovery!

Terry

 

[sylviayasgur]

i definitely think meds have something to do with it...
joey went throught the same thing (everything tasted funny ) after his surgery.
took awhile for him to get his normal tastebuds back (and he loves to eat!)

funny story.... joey was taking so many meds presurgery.
i had this local guy i'd buy all my sodas from and he would personally deliver them to the house by the case.
this one time, joey tasted a can of diet coke and swore it was tasteless. he proceeded to go through another 3 or 4 cans and all tasted funny.
i called the soda man the next day and told him that there was something wrong with the case of diet coke he had delivered and could i have another case instead. no problem, i'm a good customer, he was over in no time with a new case of diet coke.
song story short... this case didn't taste good either and we realized it wasnt' the diet coke, it was joey's taste buds.
i called the soda man to apologize the next day and he got a good kick out of it.

in time you'll get those tastebuds back and food will taste good again.. until then, try to be patient.
be well, sylvia

 

[Ron K]

Hi,

I had the same complaints about most food being tasteless, both in the hospital and for a couple of weeks after I came home. I remember asking my son and daughter to bring me a McDonald's milk shake while I was in the hospital, which did hit the spot.

When I got home, there were a few things that I craved, but when I got them, they didn't taste right at all. One major disappointment was pizza. It tasted like cardboard. Most pasta dishes seemed tasteless too. However, an occassional beer still tasted great!

When I went back to the hospital at U. of Pennsylvania for my first check up with my cardiologist at 3 weeks post-op, I did buy myself a Philly chesse steak from one of the carts across from the hospital when we left. That tasted very good, especially after a very favorable report from the doctor.

I'd say it took less than one month for almost everything to return to normal taste. I lost 10 pounds during the first week and I have stayed almost exactly the same for the last 10 months.

By the way Bunkenmeyer and Terry 40, what part of New Jersey are you from? I'm just outside of Trenton.

Ron K

 

[Granbonny]

Ron

Ron

I lost 14 lbs..and gained back 18lbs. Hubby is a good cook.. Bonnie

 

[terry40]

RON K...

RON K...

i'M FROM SOUTH JERSEY, 1 hour from Trenton, 15 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour from Atlantic City, very close to Cherry Hill!

Very close to U. Penn Hosp.

Terry

 

[Ron K]

Terry,

We had a young fella from Haddonfield posting here last year, but I haven't seen any posts from him in several months. His name was Getzfixed.

We shared a few posts and a couple of e-mails. He was in the University of Pennsylvania Hospital about a month or so before me and kind of told me what to expecrt. It was reassuring to hear his comments.

One thing else we had in common was our fondness and support for the Eagles. Maybe this year they'll make it to the Super Bowl. Woundn't that be nice.

Take care, Ron K

 

[Jane]

I had a lot of difficulty in getting food down while I was in hospital, but it has improved since I have been home and have had more freedom to have what I fancy eating, not what is on the hospital food trolley.

I still cannot manage large quantities (which is probably not a bad thing!), and my taste has definitely changed. For me the secret is not putting too much on my plate and to have small snacks to make up the difference.

It seems like it is a very common problem, and knowing that it will pass helps me get through it. Good luck!