I had my bypass 6 days ago and a surprise hernia repair. I’m healing nicely but have some constant low-level nausea. Now things like scented candles, my shampoo, dryer sheets, etc. are bothering me. I also get these phantom smells - where’s that cinnamon coming from?? It’s weird! Anyone relate?

My sense of smell was very out of whack right out of surgery. It's getting better, though. I love wax melts and candles but haven't melted since surgery because my nose was so off half the time. I'm currently taking a break on those.

That being said, when I was given beef broth the day after surgery it smelled so bad that I could barely eat it. Haven't had beef broth since because I can only remember that stench.

My sense of smell was already like that before surgery, so I can relate. I had read that your sense of smell and taste can change post-surgery. I wear a scarf a lot so if I'm in a store or restaurant with strong food smells or somebody's strong perfume, I can cover my face to avoid the smell.

2 hours ago, MsMocie said:

Sense og smell and taste can be altered after surgery. As far as I can tell for the litterature and asking my surgeon, they belive it is changed gut hormones that do this. Not all get both, some get just taste or smell and some don't feel anything different.

I have the same thing, taste, smell AND consistens. Everything smells so much stronger. Allthough it got better than straight after surgery, I still am vary of all the smells. Frying fat for example. Don't want it. It's disgusting. The smell makes me gag. Cannot faddom how I used to eat the junkfood before.

Just wondering. Do you still have your gallbladder? I had mine out 23 years ago. Before I did anytime that I smelled fat cooking would make me nauseous and bring on an attack.

I too have had the stronger sense of smell post op. Although it was already strong preop.

yes. I was always sensitive to certain smells, like perfume and aftershave, even BEFORE surgery, and it was intensified after surgery. I couldn't even have my mother in the hospital room because the godawful perfume she wears was about to make me vomit right after surgery. I think my sense of smell is back to normal now (things still bother me as they did before surgery - but the intensity I had right after surgery was gone). Either that, or I've just gotten used to it - not sure.

My sense of smell has always been off the chart but it's even worse now. I walked into Walmart the other day and could smell the deer piss that they sell in sporting goods to hunters and I almost hurled. And like MsMocie, I keep smelling phantom sewer smells. But there is some good to it, the things that should smell good smell even better!

9 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

yes. I was always sensitive to certain smells, like perfume and aftershave, even BEFORE surgery, and it was intensified after surgery. I couldn't even have my mother in the hospital room because the godawful perfume she wears was about to make me vomit right after surgery. I think my sense of smell is back to normal now (things still bother me as they did before surgery - but the intensity I had right after surgery was gone). Either that, or I've just gotten used to it - not sure.

I'm very sensitive to laundry and perfume smells. Always have. I don't have asthma but I once had trouble breathing after someone spritzed floral spray on herself in class. Walking by or in the detergent section can trigger a migraine. I have to use unscented detergent (and deodorant) because I break out from the scented and I lose sleep because it's all I can smell when I wash my sheets or nightclothes. When my sister was home for the holidays she used scented detergent and dryer sheets and ran multiple loads of laundry. The smell was horrific and I ended up in bed a lot from massive headaches. I used to use Ibuprofen for those. Obviously can't go that route now!

Edited January 13, 20206 yr by cajunredpanda

I also felt very sensitive to smells. Also as if I was pregnant again lol. It has passed though.

14 minutes ago, cajunredpanda said:

I'm very sensitive to laundry and perfume smells. Always have. I don't have asthma but I once had trouble breathing after someone spritzed floral spray on herself in class. Walking by or in the detergent section can trigger a Migraine. I have to use unscented detergent (and deodorant) because I break out from the scented and I lose sleep because it's all I can smell when I wash my sheets or nightclothes. When my sister was home for the holidays she used scented detergent and dryer sheets and ran multiple loads of laundry. The smell was horrific and I ended up in bed a lot from massive headaches. I used to use Ibuprofen for those. Obviously can't go that route now!

I"m that way when I walk by one of those "Bath & Body Works" stores at malls, too. UGH!! I could never go in one of those - I'd get a migraine for sure!

Yep! I had to throw out a lot of candles and wall pluggy smelling things because they smelled awful to me ?

On 1/12/2020 at 4:41 AM, am3rs said:

I had my bypass 6 days ago and a surprise hernia repair. I’m healing nicely but have some constant low-level nausea. Now things like scented candles, my Shampoo, dryer sheets, etc. are bothering me. I also get these phantom smells - where’s that cinnamon coming from?? It’s weird! Anyone relate?

Yes. I can relate. My washing machine scent beads that I love now make me nauseous. It’s horrible. I’ve also had aversions to other smells in the house and I’m way more smell sensitive to many things whereas before I wasn’t.

im hoping this is just a phase and will pass with time.