Lost taste and smell senses..any thoughts?

[opos]

Older guy..fair health..have always had keen sense of taste and smell.

I got the virus so many folks have had..not the flu as no fever...just a nasty long lasting virus cold...lasted about 3-4 weeks...came out of it with a very damaged taste and smell sense...I can't open a jar of vicks and do more than just sense a bit of a menthol smell...I can eat pizza or other spicy foods and they just taste the same..

Going to the Dentist Tuesday and to the doctor on Thursday to try and track this down...just wondered if any one else ever had this kind of thing? I didn't take any unknown medicine or special treatment for my virus...just lots of OJ, rest and some vics and cough drops now and then..

Hard to be interested in eating dinner and that's not good..

More interested in how you dealt with it and did your senses come back over a period of time? I'll see the doc and dentist and see what they prescribe but just needed to see if anyone else ever went through this.

Thanks

[square butte]

Did you by chance happen to use the Zinc lozenges that some folks use to lesson and shorten symptoms of a cold? Seems some people experience a loss of taste and smell with the use of these. Just a thought.

[historicfirearms]

Maybe you have a sinus infection. I get them occasionally after a cold. They can last for quite a long time, maybe a month or more without treatment. Sinus pressure and unexplained headaches, loss of taste and smell, are a few symptoms that I have an infection.

[NSB]

My next door neighbor had this happen to him about ten years ago and it never came back. He's been to a lot of different doctors and specialists and none of them could help him out. They'd seen it before and advised him that in some cases it returned and in some it didn't. It hasn't affected his health in any way, he just can't enjoy food like he used to. As bad as it is, it could be worse. Some people smell things that aren't there when/after this happens. It's called phantomosia. People will smell some pretty disgusting smells or smells like smoke, etc that just aren't there. Good luck with this, I hope it returns to normal. If it's nerve damage it can take a while if it does come back. Google "smell disorders" and you'll find a lot of info on the subject. See your doctor for a referral to the proper specialist.

[44man]

Yeah but just age. Still good with food and taste but pass gas in the morning like crazy and drives Carol nuts when she comes in the bedroom, I don't smell it but I hate cleaning the dog pen every morning with the honey bucket and shovel. How can two dogs make 7 piles a day?
We lose it but I can smell a fox if it passed through. Just not as good.
I put stuff on pains that don't bother me at all but Carol goes crazy. Made Felix lube yesterday and smoked the house up. I could see it but not smell it.
Just join the old folks club.

[44man]

I would sit on the couch to watch TV and smell cigarette smoke. The original owner was a heavy smoker but died. I think he loved my addition I built. I told him to smoke outside and have not smelled it again. I do have ghosts, heard walking upstairs and have been pushed into the bed but no evil spirits. I think my dad is around too. He so loved my place he wanted his ashes spread in my woods.
But how can you smell cigarettes and do spirits smoke? I hope they have good booze on the other side!

[375supermag]

Hi...
Dealt with loss of taste and saliva for years after radiation treatments for lymphoma in 1977. Gradually returned to semi-auto normal over the years.
In 2012, I had salivary gland cancer and the radiation treatments and removal of part of my tongue just made things worse. I can now barely tolerate spicy foods and cannot eat anything without something to drink.
I still have a fine sense of smell.
Over the past year I have dealt with a nasty case of Burkitt-like lymphoma and the chemotherapy treatments really depressed my sense of taste once again. Now that they are over with, it is slowing returning. Fortunately, my tastes haven't changed as far as what I like, but sometimes the intensity of flavor seems lacking.

[44man]

Hi...
Dealt with loss of taste and saliva for years after radiation treatments for lymphoma in 1977. Gradually returned to semi-auto normal over the years.
In 2012, I had salivary gland cancer and the radiation treatments and removal of part of my tongue just made things worse. I can now barely tolerate spicy foods and cannot eat anything without something to drink.
I still have a fine sense of smell.
Over the past year I have dealt with a nasty case of Burkitt-like lymphoma and the chemotherapy treatments really depressed my sense of taste once again. Now that they are over with, it is slowing returning. Fortunately, my tastes haven't changed as far as what I like, but sometimes the intensity of flavor seems lacking.
I hate to hear that and you have my prayers my friend.

[Beagle333]

Ask an ENT (ear-nose-throat) doctor to look at you. A quick CT scan (usually in their office, if well equipped) can tell if your upper sinuses are clogged and inflamed. Mine were completely swollen closed and inflamed, but I had no indications, other than a loss of smell and diminished taste. I could breathe fine, even through my nose when working out, I had no headaches or stuffiness and no apparent drainage, but the CT scan showed a deep clog. They did allergy tests on me and discovered that my childhood allergies have returned and my upper sinuses apparently realized it first and had swelled closed. I began taking once-a-week allergy shots (3 at a time) about a year ago and now I have at least a 60% recovery in smell and taste and when I get to full strength allergy shots (about another 20-25 weeks, they work up the dose slowly), I should get it all back. The 3 shots cost me $7.50 a week with my insurance.
It's worth a look, it's only a quick visit to the ENT.
Good luck!!!

[NyFirefighter357]

When you find out what you have and how you got it please let me know. Might be handy around my wife's cooking. lol J/K

[quilbilly]

Happens every time I get a cold or flu and it eventually becomes a sinus infection every time. I lose all sense of smell and most taste for about a week. I hope yours comes back.

[44man]

I had allergies big time. Got the shots. But have not been sick with anything since I retired.
My daughter works as a custodian in a school and is always sick. As bad or worse then the airport. Kids are germ farms. So is a plane. Trains and buses too. Work in an office and suffer.

[Mtnfolk75]

SWMBO has had no smell and taste issues since 2013, the ENT determined she had a fractured Olfactory Nerve. Most likely caused by a Virus, he told us they normally will not repair although some ENT's think Zinc will help. He doesn't believe Zinc will help. SWMBO can only determine Sweet, Sour & Spice Heat. Also, my Daughter in Alaska, has a Boss that had a Bad ATV Accident that scrambled her brains, she also can't smell or taste foods.

[johnson1942]

cant tell you why, but sounds like nerve damage. but vitamin B12, 5 mg a day will help the nerve regeneration to your sense of smell. should notice a big difference in 2 weeks of taking 5 mg a day. can get it at wall mart and it is cheap.

[Idaho45guy]

I used to have a girlfriend years ago that had lost her sense of smell. But that was due to cocaine abuse... She is now a VP of some big addiction treatment center in NJ. True story.

[WJP]

Do you have any tremors, twitching, spasms? It is very common in people with Parkinsons. I hope it's not that, but definitely worth looking into if you show any other symptoms.

[375supermag]

I hate to hear that and you have my prayers my friend.

Thanks...
I will hopefully be just fine... Currently in remission.
Recovery from lymphoma and chemotherapy takes longer than I would like.
Thank you for the prayers... I need all the help I can get.

[shoot-n-lead]

Thanks...
I will hopefully be just fine... Currently in remission.
Recovery from lymphoma and chemotherapy takes longer than I would like.
Thank you for the prayers... I need all the help I can get.

Prayer sent for you.

[375supermag]

Hi...

Thanks...I truly appreciate the prayers and good wishes.

[koehn,jim]

Go and see a Doctor and get checked out, it may be something they can fix.

[wlkjr]

About 25 years ago I had a bad case of strep throat. I lost all sense of taste and smell for about a month. It eventually came back but not before I lost about 20 pounds. Food just did not taste good.
Hope yours comes back soon. At our age, taste is one of life's remaining pleasures.

[44man]

I lose count of tears I shed for all of you with problems. I have known many for a long time and I really hurt over it. But we join together for anyone. All of you are such a wonderful bunch. We are so far apart but God will hear us.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

Taste and smell sound like two quite separate problems, with taste probably being least likely to be curable or temporary. But they aren't. Air flows out through the nose as well as in, and our taste sensations can be severely reduced by holding our noses, so that we don't smell the mouthful we are eating. It's good news, for it is a lot more likely to correct itself when a cold or flu goes away. I can't see that this has anything to do with the sinuses, except insofar as nasal and sinus blockage are liable to happen at the same time.

[44man]

Taste and smell sound like two quite separate problems, with taste probably being least likely to be curable or temporary. But they aren't. Air flows out through the nose as well as in, and our taste sensations can be severely reduced by holding our noses, so that we don't smell the mouthful we are eating. It's good news, for it is a lot more likely to correct itself when a cold or flu goes away. I can't see that this has anything to do with the sinuses, except insofar as nasal and sinus blockage are liable to happen at the same time.
Not really, smell and taste are one. They are connected. I remember when I smoked and got a cold. OH my, how bad it was. Best ever was tossing the smokes.

[DCP]

My father lost his because of Parkinson Disease good thing to see your Dr.