Hi all, I am a 54 year old male who is 3 weeks post surgery from having a bicuspid valve mechanical replacement, ascending aorta / root replacement and single bypass. I had a common complication in having pericardial effusion, which resulted in going back in to have 800ml fluid removed from around the heart but i am on the road to recovery, especially having returned home.
The problem ( amongst others, which i am sure everyone has experienced) is, i have no appetite and all food tastes disgusting !!!! I was not a small guy but i am really struggling to get the will to eat, although i try at every mealtime, even if its a bite.
Has anyone else had this problem? , and can i do anything about it?, or will it go away on its own?, or should i bring it to the GP / Consultants attention?
Many thanks in advance for any replies, it is starting to get me down. Plus side is i have lost 2.5 stone.
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Yes, I had no appetite and very limited taste. This was after a major emergency aortic op. I just ate little and often. My appetite took I think about 3 months to return. Forget when I got normal taste back, but a similar period I think.
I suffered really badly after ohs, I lost 2.5 stone whilst in hospital, was just on 12st before so dipped below 9st when I came home.
I had an appetite but everything tasted disgusting, I mean make you gag disgusting! I tried many different things and the only foods I could tolerate where dairy based, like carbonara, rice pudding etc! GP also prescribed Complan.
You really should tell your GP/Cardiologist, I did and was told they hadn't come across it before! When I went to re-hab the nurses where well aware of it, said if people don't report it to the GP/Cardiology then that is why!
It took me 3/4 months for some things to start tasting normal, maybe 6 moths+ for pretty much everything back to normal.
I was told that they think! It was caused by all the tubes and drugs etc.
It took me about three months post OHS to fully recover my sense of taste too. I was told it is an effect of being put on the heart/lung machine.
I was less than 10 stone pre op and lost about half a stone post op. The only thing that I really could taste were fruit smoothies. I found that anything with artificial or sugary sweetness tasted the worst, I was gutted that my favourite chocolate tasted so awful!
But like others have said, you get it back gradually, but it is worth talking to your doctor if your weight loss or inability to eat anything is significant.
Hope things taste better for you soon
HiI'm 3 months post surgery and still haven't got my full appetite back. Not necessarily down to loss of taste, I'm just not wanting to eat the usual portion size. In a conversation with my rehab physio recently she said it was perfectly normal and give it time.
I've still got my Christmas Pudding to eat, that's how un usual its been for me....😄😄....something to look forward too!!!!
I lost weight and couldnt eat partly because the hospital food was very bad and unhealthy. It was good to get lighter ( though I wasnt fat anyway. ) But then I realized when I got home everything tasted horrible or wrong - until I stopped taking amlodopine. Nobody else I know had this with amlo but anyway - as it was literally ok the day after i stopped it probably was that.
Thanks for the comments so far really appreciated. 👍I have found fruit helps, grapes in particular. Salad is OK, coffee with evaporated milk ( don't understand that one)
Burtons biscuits "fish and chips " crisps taste as they should, they were always strong tasting but seem OK now. Trifle on ocassion and ice cream.
Just as an update, tomorrow is week 4 ( 12 days post pericardial effusion drain op) and I am feeling pretty good. I have been out walking doing between 1500 and 2800 steps a day, I am up and down the stairs as I normally would have done. I shower, dress, make the bed (rubbish) and can sit on the settee really well.!!!
If I was to be critical, I would say I still ache from the wound but Paracetamol keeps that in control, yesterday was the 1st day I didn't have an intense pain down my shoulder blade and arm, which lasts for about 10 minutes, this I have been told is common. I do ache from sleeping , however I sleep on my side, the only way I can, but I am now getting 5-7hours sleep at night and Catnaps in day.
Sorry for babbling, I am trying to get my thoughts and feelings on here for anyone about to have this or similar type of operation. (Please excuse grammar I am doing this on my phone
I am almost 7 years post avr and 3 cabg had very similar symptoms and some foods tasted foul. I can assure you it all passes but for me full recovery took more than 3 years. But was reasonably functional at 3 months.
HiAsk your doctor or nurse first but there are drinks such as Ensure Plus which might help. They are milk shake type drinks which include everything you need diet wise.
They don’t taste very nice but if you can’t taste much anyway that may not matter.
That’s just one option as there are many on the market. You can by them from the pharmacy but your doctor can also prescribe them if you feel your lack of eating is getting to be a problem. Take advice first.
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