Sinuses totally blocked, can't smell/taste! How can I fix it, am thinking eating a teaspoon of wasabi?!

[cherryburton]

I dunno if it's hayfever related, I did have sinusitus a few months back but here I am again all bunged up. Can't taste, can't smell, can't breathe through my nose and my hearing's affected.

Tried eating spicy food last night and steam inhalation with peppermint and eucaltypus oils. No joy. Am thinking I might eat raw chillis or wasabi next as I'm getting really frustrated with not being able to taste anything!

Any suggestions please?

[cherryburton]

bump!

[theyoungvisiter]

Ugh - I don't know but I've had this for about a fortnight. My cooking is totally out of whack because I can't taste a thing.

It seems to be something going round. Mine is getting better (slowly) but everything still tastes of cotton wool, two weeks on.

[cherryburton]

hello - same here, I'm having to say to DH, "is that quite spicy, is it? Is it actually nice?" - it's ridiculous!

Have spent three weeks debating whether I actually have a cold or hayfever (I don't get hayfever normally) but just in the last few days it has got worse.

Sod it - I found some beconase spray, might try that, and if not wasabi it is!

Hope you're back to normal soon - I've started to get the fear in case that's my lot and my taste buds are gone forever...

[theyoungvisiter]

I'm pretty sure it's not hayfever in my case. I do get hayfever but it hits my eyes mainly, and my nose streams constantly.

This is more like someone's funnelled glue up my nostrils and let it partially set - not what hayfever is usually like for me. I think in my case it's the tail end of a very long cold, but I am bloody fed up.

Arg, don't joke about losing tastebuds! One of my great-aunts actually did lose her sense of taste, it was awful. Food was practically the only thing she had left she could still enjoy and then bam, that went. Seriously hope this is NOT permanent!

[nanatothree]

Try to wash out the sinus passages with a neti pot (You can buy them on ebay). you use the salt provided and warm water and it works even if the nose is totally blocked, it soon isn't.
If you haven't got one of those try using a straw and sniffing up warm water. Not that pleasant but if you are desperate!!!

[cherryburton]

thanks nana, will look into that. Will pretty much try anything at thsi point!

[Selks]

Steam, steam and more steam. Head over a big bowl of boiling hot water, towel over head, inhale steam via nose for five mins minimum. Repeat several times a day for a few days. It might be tricky if your nostrils are very blocked but keep at it, it does work. It reduces the inflammation and softens any hard gunk.
You can buy steam inhalers at chemists too (cheap - like a plastic cup with nose shaped bit to inhale through), they do the same job.
I guarantee steam inhalation will work.
I have chronic sinusitis and when it is bad this is the only thing that works.

[cherryburton]

Am admitting defeat and going to the doctors in a minute - sinuses now a bit bleedy and want fixing.

youngvisitor - are your taste buds back yet?

[anniepanniepears]

google a product called "plantago" buy A Vougell ,it is a herbal drink and I swear by it