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Original poster

Complete loss of smell and taste weeks after cold. NOT covid

20 replies

pinksaint · 01/09/2021 08:14

I developed a cold 3 weeks ago and as I normally would, I lost my sense of smell and taste however the cold has been gone over a week now and my taste or smell has still not returned. It wasn't covid, I tested and my partner caught it off me who also tested negative so his was just a cold also. I'm a little bit stuffy at times during the night still and on a morning but that soon goes once I'm up and about. It never ever disappears for this long and I'm worried sick about it. Im 34 weeks pregnant and terrified it won't return before baby gets here. It happened to my dad and he didn't regain his senses for years. I'm so worried this is going to happen to me. It's completely disappeared. Has this happened to anyone else or does anyone have advice for me? Not sure if it's worth speaking to GP? I can't google it without covid constantly coming up!

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2021 08:15

Did you both do pcr tests or lft?

Fireplace12 · 01/09/2021 08:19

Chances are it was COVID then.

Lindy2 · 01/09/2021 08:26

You usually loose smell and taste with a cold because of being congested. With Covid it disappears and you may have absolutely no congestion at all. The sense simply goes for varying lengths of time.

If the congestion has gone and you still have no smell or taste I also think you probably have had Covid.

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Original poster
pinksaint · 01/09/2021 08:26

We both done a few LFT's which were negative, partner also done a PCR because of his work which was also negative. He didn't have loss of sense/smell which he doesn't normally, just a general cold where as mine was also my typical cold where I DO lose senses.

OP posts:
Tigerstigers · 01/09/2021 08:37

Were you doing the tests correctly? Alot of people underestimate how far to the back of the throat/nose you do need to prod to get an accurate swab result. I've seen people barely tickle the inside of their noses and claim they're negative, when I'm not sure they've actually done the test properly at all. Of course it will say negative if you haven't picked up any of the virus on the swab.

kitkatsky · 01/09/2021 08:41

LFT tests don't work for symptomatic covid. Your partner having a negative PCR doesn't mean you were also negative. No wonder cases are so high

Original poster
pinksaint · 01/09/2021 08:47

I've had a few PCR tests done in the past so I know how far back you have to go. I have barely been anywhere at all lately due to WFH and suffering with SPD so not sure where I could of picked it up from if it was covid. Is it worth getting a test at this stage just to be absolutely sure or is it too late?

OP posts:
snowqu33n · 01/09/2021 08:47

Can you taste anything? I lost my taste and smell 5 years ago after pneumonia and it came back slowly after 2 months or so. I can still remember trying to eat ice cream and it being like eating a lump of cold fatEnvy.

Grapefruit was the first taste to come back. I was worried same as you but it did come back and it’s fine now. Try a few different stronger flavors and see how it goes.

Karwomannghia · 01/09/2021 08:49

LFTs do pick up symptomatic cases but they’re just not as reliable.

undecided2022 · 01/09/2021 08:50

@Tigerstigers

Were you doing the tests correctly? Alot of people underestimate how far to the back of the throat/nose you do need to prod to get an accurate swab result. I've seen people barely tickle the inside of their noses and claim they're negative, when I'm not sure they've actually done the test properly at all. Of course it will say negative if you haven't picked up any of the virus on the swab.
Bollocks. I barely touched my throat or went up my nose and I still got a positive result. I don't know why the test is so invasive. Clear symptoms clear result.

Also people can lose sense of smell from stuff other than covid - it's called arosmosia or something.
The op clearly said her dad suffered with it pre covid ffs why just brush her concerns away.

Whattodo1610 · 01/09/2021 08:52

So you had symptoms of Covid but didn’t get a pcr? Confused

3 immediate family members have just tested positive - with literally just a bunged up/stuffy nose. You really should have done a pcr - no idea why you didn’t! 🙄

Original poster
pinksaint · 01/09/2021 08:59

@undecided2022 exactly, I feel like you aren't allowed to have a cold these days without everything being about covid! I'm pretty confident I done the x3 tests correctly anyway and that it was not covid.

As I mentioned, this is normal for me just not for this long.

OP posts:
Original poster
pinksaint · 01/09/2021 09:05

@snowqu33n

Can you taste anything? I lost my taste and smell 5 years ago after pneumonia and it came back slowly after 2 months or so. I can still remember trying to eat ice cream and it being like eating a lump of cold fatEnvy.

Grapefruit was the first taste to come back. I was worried same as you but it did come back and it’s fine now. Try a few different stronger flavors and see how it goes.

Nope everything tastes very bland. I've been smelling the strongest things I have in my house and there's absolutely nothing there.
OP posts:
Polmuggle · 01/09/2021 09:14

[quote pinksaint]@undecided2022 exactly, I feel like you aren't allowed to have a cold these days without everything being about covid! I'm pretty confident I done the x3 tests correctly anyway and that it was not covid.

As I mentioned, this is normal for me just not for this long. [/quote]
Even if you did them correctly they only pick up symptomatic cases 70% of the time

BeHappyAndSmile · 01/09/2021 09:21

I noticed you said you're about 34 weeks pregnant...I lost my sense of smell (not taste) in late pregnancy as well. Didn't really click I'd lost it until I couldn't smell a dirty nappy Blush but I'd had multiple covid tests during that time and none were positive. It could potentially be hormonal?

Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2021 09:29

@kitkatsky

LFT tests don't work for symptomatic covid. Your partner having a negative PCR doesn't mean you were also negative. No wonder cases are so high
that's not true! It is recommended that you get PCRs if symptomatic and that LFTs are less reliable but it's complete rubbish to say that LFTs 'don't work' if you're symptomatic even if they work less well. Everyone I know who has had symptomatic PCR started off also had a positive LFT, albeit not always immediately

But agree that just because partner had negative pcr doesn't mean the OP was also negative

Original poster
pinksaint · 01/09/2021 09:32

@BeHappyAndSmile

I noticed you said you're about 34 weeks pregnant...I lost my sense of smell (not taste) in late pregnancy as well. Didn't really click I'd lost it until I couldn't smell a dirty nappy Blush but I'd had multiple covid tests during that time and none were positive. It could potentially be hormonal?
I did wonder if it could be something to do with pregnancy. Did yours just suddenly come back? How long did it take if so.

I had already been poorly for a little while before I lost smell/taste, as I remover complaining about a smell in the fridge and not knowing what it was, it wasn't sudden like it usually is with covid. It disappeared the next day when I was very congested.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 01/09/2021 09:32

@pinksaint

I've had a few PCR tests done in the past so I know how far back you have to go. I have barely been anywhere at all lately due to WFH and suffering with SPD so not sure where I could of picked it up from if it was covid. Is it worth getting a test at this stage just to be absolutely sure or is it too late?
probably too late. it will almost certainly come back negative even though symptoms can linger for a long time

However if you order a PCR now I believe you can opt in to have an antibody test too which would give a strong indication as to whether or not you did actually have it. No idea how that works in practice

FirkleingFree · 01/09/2021 10:00

OP, you can have a 'normal' cold or sinus infection which knocks out your taste and smell. Happened to me a couple of years ago (pre-covid!), horrible stuffy cold then no smell or taste for around 8 weeks. They did come back but it was a miserable 8 weeks!

Frazzledbutcalm · 01/09/2021 11:58

OP you’re being naive. You assume it’s not Covid, you’re basing things on stereotypical, wrong information.

My dd works funny hours/shifts - she gets cold symptoms/bunged up very often due to this. She had these symptoms recently after returning to work - exactly the same as she always gets - she did a lateral flow ‘to be safe’ as she was due her 2nd jab - it was positive. Her pcr then was positive. She lost her smell and taste 4 days later, so 7 days after first symptoms. Not in a million years did we think she had Covid - she was hardly even poorly - thank goodness it didn’t hit her hard and thank goodness she did a test, otherwise she could have infected many people.

You may have a cold, you may have Covid. You were very silly not to get a pcr, especially given that you’re pregnant.

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