Question:
I'm post op 4 days and Everything smells putrid.

thought hospital smells were getting to me; very nauseated, but smells aren't real; EVERYTHING from towels at hotel to my cologne, smells like rotting flesh! Is there a way to trick the brain back to "smelling" accurately...or even less violently. doc didn't have the answer.    — DeenaR1098 (posted on November 30, 2001)

November 30, 2001
Time. When I came home from the hospital, I had to cook my dogs food. Whole Grain Rice and Chicken. The smell of the rice had me dry heaving for hours until the smell cleared. Although my perfume smelt good :0) everything else reaked!! I was readmitted to the hospital a 2nd time and when I came home, I could still smell my 3 day post-op smell on my towels and throughout the house; just like you, I thought it was the hospital. Ugh! It will get better and your senses will return back to normal.
   — Kristin R.

November 30, 2001
Everything smelled bad for 8-9 weeks (for me anyway). And sometimes still does occassionly. I don't think there is anything you can do about it. But it will pass.
   — Danmark

November 30, 2001
I understand completly, My surgery is in 5 days...yeah...but 3years ago I had another type of major surgery and experienced the same thing. It does pass but man it does mess with all of your sences. Congrats on your surgery and good luck in the future.
   — sandy K.

December 1, 2001
I'm not sure if this is scientific, but I noticed it for me:) When I had WLS 2 years ago- I had the same problem for a few months. I actually think it helped me get a good jump start on the weight loss:) Anyway, last year I had a hernia repair, and I didn't have it nearly as bad. The difference was I was drinking much more water than after the first surgery- perhaps that helped flush my system and get rid of the anesthesia quicker? Of course, it could also be that I wasn't under as deeply for hernia surgery as I was for WLS. I think it is caused by the anesthesia and there probably isn't much you can do except to let it work its way out of your system. Good Luck- It DOES get better:)
   — M B.

December 1, 2001
I think it might be a side affect of ketosis. Because a day or two after surgery both water and smells got ugly for me. Both affects went away about the same time, and my wife quit complaining about my bad breath at that time too.
   — bob-haller

December 2, 2001
I've read other Profiles that used the same description of "rotting flesh" for smells post-op. They said it was from the anaesthesia and eventually passed.
   — Kathy J.

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