Constantly smelling dog poo after covid

[MsCrapola]

This might sound odd but I am left with the smell of dog poo constantly in my nose after losing my sense of smell and taste from covid. I had covid early October and it's just not going back to normal! It's literally so strong it's like the dog poo is up my nose.

Anyone else had a distorted smell? It's made me so paranoid that I stink to the point where I shower multiple times a day

[StoicWalrus]

It's a condition called parosmia. Fifth Sense are a charity who help people with issues around sense of smell and they have some really good advice. You can do things like smell training to try and help. www.fifthsense.org.uk/parosmia-and-phantosmia/

[MsCrapola]

Thank you @StoicWalrus, that's really interesting! Never thought I'd be doing smell training

[nancy75]

I had the snell of smoke & burning for weeks after my sense of smell came back. Strong to the point I changed batteries & checked all the smoke alarms more than once and had quite a few sleepless nights checking the whole house because I was sure it was on fire! It took a few weeks to settle down

[FedUpAtHomeTroels]

I'm still getting the wrong smells, meat still smells rotten. Orange squash smells like bonfires. A lot of things smell the same, like cooked Onions.
I'm going to have a go at the smell training thing, see if that helps.

[MsCrapola]

@nancy75 happy to hear it's not just me who gets paranoid about the smells!

@FedUpAtHomeTroels we can both give it a go, it'll be interesting to see how effective it is. Not sure I can handle smelling dog poo 24/7.

I wonder what it is that gives you the specific scent that you smell

[StoicWalrus]

I hope it passes soon for you all. A friend of mine has really struggled with it, it wasn't covid that brought it on. It can be enormously debilitating and it gets very little attention. I think Covid will really bring more attention to all the issues around smell.

[Xiaohei]

There was a podcast I listened to recently about this on Radio 4- pretty sure it was ‘inside science’ or ‘inside health’. One of them lost their sense of smell while another was convinced his deodorant ‘was off’ so he bought another and same thing. He started to investigate and turns out that if some of the smell receptor things ( maybe you should listen to the podcast for a more technical version of this 😂) get damaged then it’s like playing a wrong chord on the piano with missing keys.....things smell a bit odd. He explains it better, and then discusses it well. I hope 🤞 your full sense of smell comes back soon.

[yarncakes]

My friend constantly smells body odor after she recovered from Covid. She can smell it on her skin even after she's had a shower and everywhere else as well. Must be so frustrating.

[BillyDaveysDaughter]

Nooooooooooo

I'm on day 11, still weak and sick and only able to lie in bed sweating and groaning (and coughing obvs) and THIS IS WHAT YOU GIVE ME TO LOOK FORWARD TO???? DOG SHIT NOSE???

I have always had hyperosmia - I can detect tiny whiffs of anything, my friends call me to their house if they can't find the source of a smell - so my powers are are going to go haywire aren't they.

I'm hoping, however, that my current loathing of anything sweet tasting will last long enough that I'll lose some weight.

[MsCrapola]

@BillyDaveysDaughter ahaha dog shit nose I hate to say it but I had the same nose power as you and now my sense of smell is rubbish unless the smell is right up against my nose! I hope you feel better soon

@yarncakes that must be so frustrating, it must make her feel so paranoid

[MsCrapola]

Thank you @Xiaohei ! I'll give it a listen. Just praying that the dog shit smell will disappear soon because trying to wind down and sleep recently has been a little tricky

[DisappearingGirl]

Maybe you are actually a witch and you are smelling all the children who are around? (sorry, just been reading Roald Dahl's The Witches to my DD! Hope it improves OP!)

[AgnesNaismith]

I’ve been constantly smelling wee since I suspect I had Covid. Also my coffee tasted and smelt like sewage....

I do wish there was a way of finding out for definite if I had it as I’m constantly exhausted now and could do with something to help! I have no idea what...but even some advice.

[Cornettoninja]

@AgnesNaismith - Superdrug do an antibody test for about £70. It does mean accepting that you might still be unsure if you get a negative as lots of proven cases don’t get positives for whatever reason.

Have you talked to your GP? I hate to think of you struggling when you should be evaluated properly.

[Rabbitholebonkers]

Really sorry you are suffering from this. I do hope your dog shit nose clears up quickly.

[Kitcat122]

I still months later get the phantom smell of cheesy poo! It's getting less and less 😂😂

[Susanwouldntlikeit]

I’m pretty sure I had it earlier this year before testing was available.
I never lost my sense of smell but on the contrary is actually massively MORE sensitive now, like I’ve turned into a dog or something 😀😀 It is really noticeable and very intrusive. I sympathise OP. I can identify who is around by their smell (not perfume etc) which never did before...

[Londoncatshed]

@BillyDaveysDaughter so sorry to hear you’re feeling so unwell but your post made me laugh out loud. Dog Shit Nose. 😆

Really hope you get better soon and thanks for the laugh 🤣

[SmileEachDay]

OP - it could also be some sort of residual sinus infection. If your sinuses are inflamed, it’s very common to have dog shit nose.

Any green discharge from your nose?

I had a hideous sinus infection recently- still having the smell occasionally. Vicks inhalers help a lot as does steaming my head.

[MsCrapola]

@Kitcat122 cheesy pop?!?! That sounds awful 😂

Thank you everyone! So weird how the smell gets so effected

@SmileEachDay I have no discharge but I will keep an eye on it! Might be worth a doctors call but feel bad as it's not very serious.

[MsCrapola]

Poo

[psychomath]

This rhread is fascinating! It's interesting that everyone who's commented so far has had a bad smell experience. I wonder if there's anyone out there who's going around with the phantom scent of roses and fresh laundry stuck up their nose??

[thecatneuterer]

I've got smell changes following Covid in March too. I couldn't smell anything for about a month, then it started to come back, but was very much diminished. Over the last two to three months I would say I can smell as acutely as before (more or less), BUT, many different smells are now only one smell to me - it's impossible to describe - a bit like a gone off kebab is probably the best description - and the things that have this exact same smell to me are: cat poo, cat food, any cooking with meat, any cooking that includes onions (even my vegan stuff) and sweat. All nice smells are unaffected - lavender is still lavender for example.

[Cornettoninja]

I’m glad you’ve still got nice smells @thecatneuterer although I would say that cat poo/food has always smelt the same to me!

I wonder if there are any research programmes around this phenomenon. It’s fascinating how smell has been affected so dramatically and could lead to more understanding of the relationship between the brain/olfactory system. Small/no consolation to those affected though - you have my sympathies. Scents/aroma therapies are one of my biggest pleasures in life.

[thecatneuterer]

although I would say that cat poo/food has always smelt the same to me! ha ha yes - I always found that both smelt of cat poo. However now neither smell of cat poo - they smell of this entirely new unpleasant smell - which is unfortunately the same smell given off when I'm cooking vegetable soup (if it contains onions).