Hi. I'm doing ok 1 week post surgery but have a rotten taste in my mouth as if I'm not brushing my teeth or using mouth wash. Used to do it 2x a day but now feel like I need to do it every hour. Anyone have any clues???

It's the ketosis associated with rapid weight loss. I sucked on sugar free-hard candies during that period. It will pass.

How do I know I'm in ketosis? Urine is pale and clear....

One week after surgery you are basically in a starvation mode simply because you can't eat much, and nor should you with things healing up inside. There is another possibility I just thought of, it could also be thrush (candida) from the antibiotics and stress of the procedure. That would appear as a white coat on your tongue. If that's present you need to see your doctor for medicine to clear it up.

My tongue is still pink. Thanks for the reassurance. I don't feel like I'm starving. Thank Gd for that! I don't know what to do with myself, though. Since last Monday its been constant support. Now I find myself alone for the first time and wondering what to do. I do have a hobby but it involves being creative and that doesn't happen when you want it.

Oh, no. Old patterns coming to haunt me. No. I'm going for a walk...like or not. Ttyl

When I get that tase in my mouth I just drink more fluids. I have started brushing my teeth so much my gums hurt. As far as the sugar-free hard candy, it's a good idea if your body can handle it. Because of the sugar alcohols in the candy it gives me tons of gas so beware. I chew on gum sometimes now, and that helps a little, but gum can sometimes make you more hungry.

As I'm writing this i just thought of those listerine strips, maybe that will help. I know it stinks, everytime my boyfriend wants to give me a kiss I get so nervous that he will smell my stinky breath. He never says anything but I am sure it stinks.

I don't know what to do with myself either. Luckily I have my 2.5 year old daughter to keep me busy. The hardest time is during her nap, that used to be my scarf down everything in the house time. I just bought the first season of friends and I put it in our travel dvd player and watch it while I walk on my treadmill. I'm actually starting to enjoy it. It has turned into my "me" time.

Good Luck hun you sound like your doing really good, this whole dry mouth stinky breath thing will be worth it in the end.

Well, I did go for the walk and I gotta say I'm doing pretty good in that I can walk more upright and don't have to top to catch my breath as often as before. I'm mousewashing with listerine less intense and I don't think my breath is stinky...it just tastes that way to us.

Had warm broth after my walk and watched the news. It is the idle time that is the killer. Thank gd I'm not hungry. Can see food and ads on tv and they do not entice me. However, I am noticing more the direct relationship between food and anger. I was very uneasy this a.m. when some folks were congratulating me on the surgery and asking about it. I wanted to snap "none of your d*&^ bizness" but just answered each q with a forcefl, factual ans (I.e. do u feel hungry?" NO!)

I also moved the car and am pretty sure I can drive as I haven't taken any pin meds at all. But where will I go? Shopping is ladden with triggers. Need to learn to knit or something. Thanks for sharing

Search the forum on Ketosis. You can manage it.

ok. going to pcp for rash that developed on abdomen arms and thigh and will stop in store to pick up some listerine strips but i haven't seen those for years. hope i can find sugar free cal free breath mints. i want to divorce me. blech.

I'm sure it's the ketosis, once you're able to start having mushies/purees and you add a few carbs back in, it should subside. I hated the feeling of ketosis!!

Well, that is reassuring. Only 3 4 more weeks til then. I bought listerine strips and some gum.

I am 7days out too and experiencing the same thing, thanks for posting this. It is pretty awful isn't. I was starting to think it was all of the supplements "sticking" to me. LOL.

Absolutely disgusting. We wuz robbed! This should've been discussed ....maybe. I dunno. Everything else is weird...I broke out with a rash...all over me and I wasn't told @ that either. My body has a memory for food related activities such that turing left here will mean desert there and my mouth begins to Water even tho the promise of help isn't there. I don't feel hungry. But my body knows that 8 days ago it could sink its teeth into someone...now my body has to be taught to heel and heal literally!

Could this have been predicted? I don't think so. I don't even know if there's some way to avoid this.

Are u driving yet? I have a sneaking suspicion that my surgeon forbid driving because of the ketosis which, I think, I will use as an excuse to be a zombie...just because I'm feeling mischievous. I need a new hobby!

I am not driving mostly because the big incision is still pretty sore and it wouldn't be comfortable yet. I feel a bit weak too. My post op diet is clear liquids for 4weeks. I was allowed to start protein today and am having a tuff time getting it in. I bought different types they all just taste so chalky. I didn't feel that way before. I can't use milk, water only. What is your post op diet like? How do you feel overall?

Any of the mint flavored Orbit gum works for hours. It doesn't lose it's flavor and keeps my breath in decent shape.

I have no pain and bascally the burps are so much quieted down. My doc just gave the first two week part of the diet and I will see him on the 20th and discover the rest. Its all clear liquid. Low fat low salt broth and um sf ice pops the only respite from rhythmic sipping (which word will be excised from every dictionary near me, very soon!) My drain hole had closed but with me screwing around walking and trying my old exercises, the hole popped open again and a very pale pink liquid emerges. The nurse says common and don't worry. The only major pain in the neck right now is the taste in my mouth. Sounds like we're basically the same....I sleep sporadically but when I do fall asleep it is a very sound rock solid snooze.

Are you working or retired (like me) or living off the fat of the land