How long does Covid anosmia last?

[that1970shouse]

DH has what seemed to be a bad cold but lost sense of taste and smell so got tested. Is it temporary and how long will it last?

Also, I have no symptoms so far and I am isolating for the full 14 days from the start of DH’s symptoms. I’m very anxious about getting it myself - at what point can I start to relax? We are sleeping in separate rooms and I’m doing all the cooking but we’re not completely isolated from each other.

[HarrietOh]

I think it varies, after 7 days I’ve got some sense of smell back now but I know for some people it take months.

[chipshopElvis]

Hi OP, I can only give you our similar experience of being a few days ahead. DH had a positive result 8 days ago with cold symptoms and loss of smell. He didn't develop any other symptoms and isolated from me and the kids, but shared bathroom so not perfect. He is out of isolation today kids and I have 5 days left and none of us have it yet. We live in a small semi. Good luck, it's very anxiety inducing.

[chipshopElvis]

Oh, he still has no sense of smell, lost it 9 days ago.

[mrsanflowerpot]

I had what I think was Covid in april. Taste back after a week, with smell I still often loose it with a strong smell of cigarettes in places where there are none

[walksen]

For me, it took about 2 weeks for some sense of smell to come back but to be honest it is still very faint. I can barely smell things like vinegar, coffee or even white spirit. taste is similarly affected.

I read somewhere that for somewhere around 10 to 15 % of people the smell may not come back for weeks or months.

I read somewhere

[kazza446]

Lost my sense of smell completely on day 5. Taste has been on and off. I can taste sweet foods but nothing else. I’m now on day 13 and it still hasn’t improved!!

[Gunpowder]

I think I had corona in March (was before testing but DH had all the classic symptoms.) I had sudden and complete loss of smell and taste (tea tasted like water) for two weeks. My sense of smell gradually returned after that and I could vaguely smell coffee, then eucalyptus oil, then bleach but it took at least a month to come back completely and some things smelled odd for at least six months. I think my sense of smell is back to normal now? It’s a very weird illness.

[that1970shouse]

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

[that1970shouse]

Are we allowed out in the garden? Detached house, private garden.

[that1970shouse]

I mean the actual rules.

[that1970shouse]

We are in England.

[Gunpowder]

Yes! As long as no one from another household is there with you.

[that1970shouse]

Just us. We are doing this as properly as we can.

[that1970shouse]

DH made me laugh last night. For tea we had steak pie which had a rich gravy in it, carrots, broccoli and mash.

Half way through eating it, he said "I think my sense of taste is starting to come back. I can taste... the mashed potato!"