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Heightened Sense Of Smell After Surgery

I have hardly had any sense of smell for about 15 years and now all of the sudden after surgery on Tuesday I am hypersensitive to all smells now. Has anyone ever experienced this? If so, did it last? I hate it, all of the whey Protein smells so bad that I can't drink it anymore. I just had surgery on Tuesday and have a long way to go.

Thanks,

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I don't know if my sense of smell overall is enhanced but you are right about the smell of the protein. I was super sensitive to the smell of it right after my surgery and it made me so nauseous. I am almost 4 weeks out now and I don't have the same reaction to it any more. I use nectar and unjury. I have found that trying to put the unflavored protein in foods is just not a good combo for me. And the shakes with water go down much better for me when made with water instead of milk. The milk just makes it too thick!! Also...there are things you can add to your shakes like different flavors of sugar free torani syrup or P2B which is a powdered peanut butter. Makes them much more tasty. If you haven't yet check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com . She has a bunch of great recipes for shakes. Hope this helps.

Yes!!! Not only is my sense of smell enhanced now but it's different. My friend and I went to Bath and Body Works yesterday and it was hard because all my favorite lotions were much too strong...it's good and bad at different times....I was told that as the weight comes off the pressure on the nasal passages lessens and the sense of smell heightens

Onyx :)

Wow. I've never heard of this one.

  • Author

It is awful, my husband had garlic last night and hours later I could still smell it coming out of his pores. During the day it was the sunscreen. I pray that by a few weeks this gets better, otherwise I may have to isolate myself.

My smell and taste is heighten but i think its because i quit smoking.

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  • Author

I have never smoked, so that was not my issue. This all just started yesterday which is 5 days after surgery.

I have hardly had any sense of smell for about 15 years and now all of the sudden after surgery on Tuesday I am hypersensitive to all smells now. Has anyone ever experienced this? If so' date=' did it last? I hate it, all of the whey Protein smells so bad that I can't drink it anymore. I just had surgery on Tuesday and have a long way to go.

Thanks,[/quote']

It goes away in time, I don't remember exactly how long but it was a few months at most. Quick, go enjoy your roses, they will never smell better :)

I swear I can smell food from a mile away.

I think it could be hormonal. In each of my 3 pregnancies, my sense of smell was in overdrive. I could barely handle going into restaurants - too many odors! I found it helpful to carry some lotion I like and put it under my nose. That helped :)

I have hardly had any sense of smell for about 15 years and now all of the sudden after surgery on Tuesday I am hypersensitive to all smells now. Has anyone ever experienced this? If so' date=' did it last? I hate it, all of the whey Protein smells so bad that I can't drink it anymore. I just had surgery on Tuesday and have a long way to go.

Thanks,[/quote']

I thought I would die from smells right after surgery. My kids, my husband, my house and especially food. Got a little better every week. At week 12 now, still sensitive but bearable. At the beginning vick's vapor rub was my best solution. Put some in your nostrils, it works great.

I am three days out from surgery and the clear protein shake tastes terrible tonight and it tasted fine prior to surgery. My wife also cooked garlic tonight and it made me very nauseous Weird.

  • 1 year later...

I know this is an older forum but I just found it. Wish I had seen it earlier when I was newly post-op. My sleeve (3 months ago) was my 2nd major abdominal surgery and both times I had heightened senses of smell and taste but this time my sense of smell was almost overwhelming. My daughter could be sitting behind me in the car and I could smell her breath. I'm definitely better now but I'm still more sensitive than I was pre-op. Correspondingly, many foods taste "stronger" to me now. I'm ok with strong cheeses but salt and spicy are overwhelming sometimes.

I hope this helps all the newbies who are getting ready/just had their surgeries this holiday season.

I'm not looking forward to this side effect. I already have a strong sense of smell. I don't want to imagine it being stronger.

  • 2 years later...

I'm going crazy my sence of smell is in overdrive. My husband has to brush his teeth and turn the other way in bed cuz it's do bad!I'm 4 days post op.

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