I had a friend, a doctor of optometry, tell me that for every hour under anesthesia, it will take one week to get over it. That seemed right to me post gall bladder surgery. And the side effects can be very odd. Mine, I felt like I was having serious blood sugar crashes with weakness, dizziness, shakes, and racing heart. So yeah, affecting the sense of smell would be a possibility.

The answer is yes it can. Pain medications can also do this. Hopefully it will subside quickly for you.

Yes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4286802/

annie, I don't think an optometrist would be likely to have any more knowledge of anesthesia than anyone else. I don't think an in-depth study of anesthesia is part of the normal optometry curriculum, though I could be wrong.

Elmer..... an ophthalmologist most certainly would. They have to go to Med School.

Elmer, do you have anything constructive, helpful, or informative to add to my question? I'd be unhappy if you turned this thread into another "I am right and you are wrong and by golly I'm going to prove it" lecture.

This is a serious concern of mine.

Yes of course, judy. She did say optometrist. An ophthalmologist would be closer to the sedation world because they perform surgery though that's handled by anesthesiologists. Closer but probably not closely involved with details.

Annie, I'll keep my comments where they are. Optometrists are as far away from sedation as any other type of health care provider. Walking through the same doors as people with other areas of knowledge doesn't convey anything along.

Yes, rhizo. I sincerely wish you a speedy and comfortable recovery. I know you know to call your doctor with any concerns or issues, that's your best info source.

Well, I'm no expert in any field, but when my husband had aortic valve replacement several years ago he had a terrible experience with odors. Our daughter was with him at the hospital and she was eating a salad. He asked her to leave the room because he couldn't stand the smell. It was oil and vinegar dressing! Fortunately, in the pre surgery classes we had been warned of this and other seemingly strange side effects. So her feelings weren't hurt.

He was under for eight hours and I do remember it taking a long time for all senses to stabilize.

Rhizo, hope you are doing well in your recovery.

Thanks, all. And to you, Elmer.

Of course you will, elmer. No surprise there.

You need to eat. Do you have an anti-nausea prescription? Before starting chemo, I was prescribed Prochlorperazine 10 mg tablets to take every 6 hours. I didn't have that problem, but they wanted me to have this on hand. Maybe stay 'bland diet' for now until this passes...but EAT!

Rhizo, that sounds terrible. I hope your sense of smell returns to normal soon so that your appetite returns as well.

I'm not nauseated, generally speaking. It's the smell of some foods that triggers this sudden aversion. They don't even smell like anything recognizable to me.

My green and fruity drinks still taste good. And I may try some cold chicken breast later, maybe in a crunchy salad.

I'm no help. I hope you feel better rhizo. Wishing you the best!

Hold your nose and chew. haha

I had cataract surgery a few months ago and with the first eye I was given Versed and felt really nauseous and not able to eat dinner that night. I mentioned this to the ophthalmologist and he made a note of it and told the anesthesiologist and I guess they gave me a smaller dose because for the second eye, no nausea. I'm sure this will pass quickly for you. Best of luck.

Glad you're back, hope that things went well and that the future looks bright.

My prescription, for when the population of the dinner table promotes nauseation ... is to have a couple of chunks of nose-wipe paper on hand, for stuffing up nostrils at time of need .

Or ... a clothespin - reported to do the job quite effectively.

ole joyful

Rhizo, I think mdln’s article answered your question, as did some of the other comments. I do remember DH had no appetite for much for several days after his hip replacement. He took some pain drugs for about 3 days, including an anti-nausea pill as he tends to get queasy. He finally could tolerate more food after coming off the heavy meds. He mostly ate chicken soup and sipped water and Gatorade for a few days.

I would ask my DD who is a nurse practitioner but she is teaching today and then going to work at the hospital. I think mdln is a CRNP also.

I'm not at all nauseated, other than when the putridly vile smell of foods effect me. I took a mild narcotic for one day and nothing but OTC Advil since then.

I've noticed also that my general sense of smell is deadened....couldn't smell my coffee nor the cinnamon in it this morning. No smell pretty much means no taste.

mdln, thanks for that abstract. That's what I think is going on with me.

After I had surgery a couple of years ago, my sense of smell and taste were both off. Food didn't necessarily smell bad, just weird. Also, there was a faint hint of a metal taste with everything. They did tell me at the hospital this was due to the anesthesia. It went completely away after three or four days.

One day in the hospital I didn't finish my bacon. They were actually very generous with the bacon that morning. I took one bite and didn't want anymore, but I did finish the rest of my food. DH had been eyeing the bacon, kind of salivating. :) I told him it didn't taste good and he could have it. He took one bite, looked disappointed, and said it really didn't taste good. We both initially thought it was just me, because, bacon!

I was affected for quite a long time after anesthesia a few years ago. I later read that during anesthesia, the digestive system is slowed down greatly and takes awhile for some people to regain normal peristalsis (movement of the digestive system for lack of a better description). This happened to me and it took me a couple of months to get over it. So this might be why food isn't that good to you right now. Plus, I ended up at outpatients that night after being under because I was having skipped heartbeats and racing heart.

After having surgery my husband had the same reaction. I don't make chicken soup in the house anymore, he finds the smell almost makes him ill.

Of course I love chicken soup and he really never did, but he never had that reaction before.