# Post-Surgery Changes in Smell/Taste Buds **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2005, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509 "2005-02-23T10:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/1 "2005-02-23T10:09:45Z")
I had laparoscopic surgery on my stomach area just over a week ago, and since then I haven’t been able to eat anything fried. The smell of fat has changed and is totally repulsive. What is the official word on this? Is it common? Will it last forever? Has anyone had this experience before? I miss fried steak and onions. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/2 "2005-02-23T10:10:59Z")
I still reckon the fact that they were playing with your stomach directly has something to do with the nausea you’ve been feeling. Over a week means a week and 3 days, give it time! ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/3 "2005-02-23T10:17:02Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > I still reckon the fact that they were playing with your stomach directly has something to do with the nausea you’ve been feeling. Over a week means a week and 3 days, give it time! It’s not just that… butt out you! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/4 "2005-02-23T11:55:27Z")
What was the nature of the surgery (hernia, appendix, gyn, biopsy)? If you had your gallbladder out you may have problems with fatty foods for a while until your body adapts to having less bile output in response to eating fats. Also, if you are on medication (painkillers, antibiotics) these can alter your appetite/sense of smell. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/5 "2005-02-23T12:02:54Z")
> [@brossa](#): > > What was the nature of the surgery (hernia, appendix, gyn, biopsy)? If you had your gallbladder out you may have problems with fatty foods for a while until your body adapts to having less bile output in response to eating fats. Also, if you are on medication (painkillers, antibiotics) these can alter your appetite/sense of smell. She had a ligament attached to her diaphragm toyed with, nothing was removed. She can clear things up in the morning, I’m sure, but I thought I’d clear that one up! 🆒 Now I’d better do as I’m told… ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/6 "2005-02-23T20:44:18Z")
> [@Silentgoldfish](#): > > She had a ligament attached to her diaphragm toyed with, nothing was removed. My problem was an artery leading to my stomach area was being constricted when I breathed in by a ligament attached to my diaphragm. As far as I understand it, the doctor stretched the ligament so it’s not so tight. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/7 "2005-02-23T20:45:45Z")
Oh, I’m not on any painkillers. Very little pain, really. (Other than mental pain regarding not being able to eat steak!) ---
**Author:** ![MinniePurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@MinniePurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinniePurl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/8 "2005-02-23T21:05:10Z")
I had a similar thing happen to me. Before stomach surgery (Roux-en-y) I LOVED cottage cheese. After the surgery… can’t stand it. Makes me feel queasy to look at it, still, over 2 years since I had the surgery. No idea why, but the OP isn’t the only person to have this happen. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/9 "2005-02-24T02:36:22Z")
> [@MinniePurl](#): > > Before stomach surgery (Roux-en-y) I LOVED cottage cheese. After the surgery… can’t stand it. Makes me feel queasy to look at it, still, over 2 years since I had the surgery. That is NOT what I wanted to hear! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/10 "2005-02-24T03:34:22Z")
I know you said no painkillers, but are you on any antibiotics? I was on antibiotic _eyedrops_ after LASIK and it was not only a nasty taste in my throat but also altered tastes of everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/11 "2005-02-24T03:58:26Z")
Nope, nothing… ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/12 "2005-02-24T15:44:27Z")
I had laparascopic surgery 6 days ago, for two abdominal hernias. I also have become repulsed by some smells, and I even smell something in my house that’s really bad but I can’t figure out what it is. My appetite is also WAY down. I’m having to force myself to eat a couple of times a day. I’ll make something and take two bites and I don’t want it anymore. If this keeps up, I’ll lose alot of weight. I also wonder what’s the cause of this, so if you ever figure it out, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/13 "2005-02-24T16:08:58Z")
> [@Burnt Sugar](#): > > I had laparoscopic surgery on my stomach area just over a week ago, and since then I haven’t been able to eat anything fried. The smell of fat has changed and is totally repulsive. > > What is the official word on this? Is it common? Will it last forever? Has anyone had this experience before? I miss fried steak and onions. ☹ I hear ya. I couldn’t eat _anything_ for about two weeks after surgery; something about the anasthesia, I think, caused it. It passed shortly thereafter, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. For now, just accept that you can feel crappy for awhile after surgery, and hang in there. Oh, and I’d tell you the one thing that was effective at stimulating my appetite and curbing the nausea, but i don’t want to violate board policy. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-surgery-changes-in-smell-taste-buds/291509/14 "2005-02-24T23:14:25Z")
> [@occ](#): > > I hear ya. I couldn’t eat _anything_ for about two weeks after surgery; something about the anasthesia, I think, caused it. It passed shortly thereafter, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. For now, just accept that you can feel crappy for awhile after surgery, and hang in there. Yay! I think I’ll believe you, cos you’re saying what I want to hear! 😉 At least there is some hope now… > [@occ](#): > > Oh, and I’d tell you the one thing that was effective at stimulating my appetite and curbing the nausea, but i don’t want to violate board policy. I hear ya. I don’t usually partake, so I hope I don’t have to resort to such measures!