Anyone lost their taste/smell then got it back? Need help

[Duckling89]

Wondering if anyone has tips for regaining smell and taste?

I had a bad cold last weekend and haven’t had any smell or taste since Monday. I think it’s sinus related as I also have pressure in my head and I still sound blocked up when I talk. Aside from it making me quite depressed I just don’t want to eat as it feels pointless and I have no appetite. I’m pregnant and worrying about how it’s going to impact my baby if I don’t eat.

Has anyone got advice on how to speed up it’s return?

That sounds like covid - loss of smell/taste is a classic distinguishing symptom

It usually resolves spontaneously in 2-4 weeks (can be shorter) but about 10% of those who have that symptom get a longer form (for the unlucky few it can be over 6 months)

Here's a typical info sheet on self help, and whether/when a doctor should review:

Long COVID: Loss of smell or taste | Long-term effects of COVID-19 (nhsinform.scot)

I sometimes lose taste and smell with a bad cold. They have come back every time. I don’t think there is anything you can do to speed up the process.

It was the same with covid.

Use it to your advantage. When I lost mine due to COVID I took the opportunity to eat all the food that I didn't like lingering at the back of the cupboards. I lived off very healthy things such as mackerel and kale.

You could try inhaling sea salt (from a container). I did that when I had COVID. I noticed that I couldn't smell anything, except for, weirdly my smoked Cornish seasalt, so I sat sniffing it and then it would bring me some relief and a bit of taste back for a few minutes. I googled and salt therapy used to be a big treatment and is coming back with salt saunas.

I’ve just got over a sinus infection and my taste and smell came back after 3.5 weeks. It will end but it’s the weirdest thing!

Happened to me when I had covid. It came back gradually, starting a few days after I first tested negative.

I’ve lost my sense of taste and smell three times - twice with bad colds, once with Covid. They came back each time - the longest was about 3-4 weeks after I’d recovered from Covid.