Did your tastes change?

When I was in the pre-op program, we were told it's not uncommon for our tastes to change and for us to learn we like things after surgery that we used to hate and vice versa. That hasn't happened to me - I still like and crave the same foods, just not as much. Our dietician told us that the biggest thing people change on is spicy foods, that if we used to like spicy Mexican food for example, that after surgery it's common for us to like milder foods without the heat. That's not the case with me either - I still like it the hotter the better. Anyone else's tastes stay exactly the same? My only difference is quantity - and that I eat more protein and less carbs than before. And I don't have soda anymore...

Hi Gwen, I can't say my tastes have changed but I do have trouble tolerating things I used to love pre-op. I really enjoyed pasta & steak and can't tolerate either one. Weird how things change. Carly

Carly - the steak would bother me if I couldn't tolerate it, but pasta - well, we don't need it anyway Thanks!

HI Gwen! My surgery was one day ahead of you and YES! my tastebuds sure did change! Water suddenly tasted metallic and any flavouring, far too sweet (like Propel water drinks & Crystal Light )and had to be severely diluted just to force it down. NOTHING tasted good..even now, at just over 2 months, I still do not have any appetite or thirst so that getting my nutrition in is a MAJOR CHORE! I could easily go all day without food or water but I know that's insane and I MUST eat and drink. I still struggle to get in my protein and water. Recently, water began to taste "normal" to me again and I still have yet to find any food that I can truly enjoy the taste of . Its funny how food was my comfort and support, my addiction and my life and yet NOW, I barely tolerate it. How ironic is that!? Eating has becme a full time chore for me. Ive met women at my support meetings that still have no appetite after several years! Just what I need...another JOB! *wails* Im a "slow" loser', my surgeon says because Im "one of the older ones" and because, with serious lymphodemic legs, I cannot exercise easily...just my short walks each day is all that I can do at this point...Im hoping for greater improvements. I was down 32 pounds at my 2 month checkup...down 62 total since my consultation appointment so that alone is great for me. Nancy B

Nancy, I have a hard time with the flavored waters - they're just too sweet. However, kool-aid sweetened with splenda is great. I actually make it sweeter by putting a little more splenda in it than the package calls for. My favorite this week is strawberry - last week it was tropical punch. I got burned out on Crystal Light and Snapple - not enough flavors from which to choose. I wish I had your problem though because everything still tastes great and for the past two days I've been hungry constantly. The dietician says I should be eating 3/4 cup 3 times a day but it's like that just isn't enough! I'm hungry like all the time now and I don't like it. I'm a slow loser too - I'm down a total of 71 pounds and 28 of those were before surgery. I have lymphedema in my legs too - what a pain! They told me walking helps but it doesn't - it hurts and actually makes it worse. My regular doctor has agreed to me continuing to take lasix (a Rx diuretic) once per week - it's just enough to keep my legs from blowing up like total balloons. Part of the reason you're not seeing more loss on the scale is because you've got legs full of water. My surgeon didn't want me taking the lasix at all, but he doesn't understand how bad it gets and how painful it is. One dose a week is helping me - check with your primary doctor and see how they feel. I was told this is one condition that doesn't improve after this surgery, in fact sometimes it actually worsens Take care...

My tastes have changed but not totally. I don't like pizza really now and that was my fav! I always liked hot stuff and now I like it even hotter! I like saltier stuff than I used to. I crave things like meat and cheese. It's kinda wierd. Leeanne

Leeanne that's funny - I never liked pizza and now I love it. We found the thin crispy crust from Pizza Hut is lower in sodium so my husband can eat it, and I can eat 1/2 of 1 slice and be full. I don't do any salt on anything because I have lymphedema, but sometimes I do crave it. I just don't give in on that one because I'll puff up too bad. Thanks!!

Mine have! You must be lucky lol. I used to LOVE sausage... now its too spicy and makes my pouch gurgle Can't do anything with a kick or I'm outta there!

Oh that would be awful. My pouch was very noisy the first couple of months - it was kind of embarrassing. Now it's quieted down but I love spicy stuff. Not sausage though - we probably shouldn't eat sausage anyway huh? Thanks Jaci!

Doesn't that part of it suck? I finally told my family they can no longer have jalapeno chips in the house. Since surgery I've probably only had about a dozen (spread out over the course of the 3 1/2 months), but I know I could eat a lot more. They still taste so good to me!