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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want my doctor NOT TO LAUGH AT THIS ARRRRGGHHH

34 replies

bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 10:27

Right, came down with a STINKING cold last wek which culminated in a hacking cough that ended up with me being sent home from the docs on friday with an inhaler and antibiotics for a chest infection.

I have had no sense of smell or taste now and it's showing no sign of returning. I mentioned it to my GP this morning when I went back for more antibiotics (cough still going for England) and he was a bit dismissive. He said "yes, you might be without if for years" I was a bit Shock "really? Oh no!" and he laughed about it! Then said some people NEVER regain their sense of smell. Waaaaaah! I know it's not life-threatening and seems trivial but I can't smell anything including the tea towel I almost set on fire this morning, can't smell if food is off, can't detect if I need to wash my armpits etc etc not to mention not being able to taste anything and I lurrrrve my food.

AIBU to think my GP might have been a bit more sympathetic/not-laughy about something I am obviously :( about?

OP posts:
harassedinherpants · 10/03/2011 10:34

It's not funny and I would have expected your gp to behave better, but it's not the end of the world imo.

My dh hasn't had any sense of smell or taste for years unfortunately, except when he's on whacking doses of steroids which obviously aren't suitable for long term.

Maybe you could ask for an ent referral if it doesn't come back in a few months.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 10:36

If someone else had whined about this to me a few weeks back I would have thought "seriously, get over it" but it really affects you more than you would think until it happens to you. Not being able to taste anything is depressing :(

OP posts:
Quenelle · 10/03/2011 10:37

It's not funny. Your GP should take any and all of your concerns seriously anyway.

If it helps though, if it's been a couple of days and you haven't washed your pits, you probably need to Wink

Ozziegirly · 10/03/2011 10:39

You have my sympathies - my Dad intermittantly loses his sense of smell and he says he hates it, he had no idea how important and, just, well, nice it was until he didn't have it.

harassedinherpants · 10/03/2011 10:41

Eurgh yes, dh is forever asking me to sniff t-shirts Hmm, and I've had some highly dodgy perfume presents over the years, but now he just buys expensive stuff lol.

I've never know dh with smell or taste though, except for said occasions (normally post op) when he's on steroids.

Incidentally, his consultant (one of the best in the country) gets all his patients to use a Neilmed Sinus Rinse. You can get them in Boots, and might be worth a go. Will help clean all the muck out!

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 10:41

Oh I think I am being over-zealous with the personal hygiene because I can't smell. I keep spritzing myself with body spray. :(

OP posts:
peeriebear · 10/03/2011 10:42

I lost my taste/smell when I had a bad cold a couple of years ago. It took weeks to return, kept coming and going, but it DID come back completely fine :)
My friend has had no sense of smell or taste for years due to a problem with his nose's inner structure (I think he broke it). He had an operation to correct it a couple of months ago and went crazy eating everything he could, just for the sheer pleasure of being able to taste again!

LetsgoflyaBlatherskite · 10/03/2011 10:42

Sympathies here too. I've got Tonsillitis at the moment and it's affecting my sense of taste. Everything tastes a bit weird and not very nice. It's awful.

Doctor definitely shouldn't have laughed at you.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 10:45

Oooh I will try that, harassed. Is that like a nasal douche what Heston Blumental was using on the aeroplanes the otehr night?

OP posts:
harassedinherpants · 10/03/2011 10:49

I didn't see that, but it is a nasal douche. It's really good actually, I've given it a go if I've got a cold or when I have hayfever.

You buy it as a kit with sachets of the mix, but if you google you'll find a recipe on line to make up the solution. Salt and bi-carb but can't remember the quantities as dh has more sachets after recent op.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 10:49

Yes, he was using nasal douches. Looked bloody rank but I'll try anything!

OP posts:
OmniaParatus · 10/03/2011 10:50

I know how you feel, I am 28 weeks pg and have had no sense of smell since about 8 weeks.

I can't even smell when my DD needs her nappy changed, or if DS has an accident and believe you me those are both pretty pungent!

I also don't know if food is fresh, if I smell (I wash every day and use body spray but I just don't know!) My sense of taste is also affected, all chocolate tastes cheap and nasty Sad and I am a total chocoholic so really miss it.

I haven't bothered going to the doctor as my mw told me most of the treatments aren't suitable for pg women, but if I went and he laughed at me I would be livid!

Aonach · 10/03/2011 10:50

You have my sympathies. This happened to me about 4 years ago. I had a heavy chest cold which lead to asthma and allergic rhinitis which lead to me having no sense of smell what so ever. The asthma I could reluctantly deal with but the smell thing depressed me. A steroid nasal spray can help reduce the inflammation and make your smell receptor work again but this didn't work for me. I was referred to ear nose and throat and seen a fab rhinologist who did smell tests and put me on steroid drops which did work. It was amazing bring able to smell again. Unfortunately you cant use them longterm as the side effect are higher than spray form. Unfortunately he admitted it maybe something I would have to live with and use drops periodically.

I then became pregnant and this made my allergies settle and my sense of smell can back. Consultant said this often happens as the immune system is different due to hormones. I retained my sense of smell throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Recently I had a bad cold and got sinusitis and a precaution I gave used steroid spray and so far retained my sense of smell!

People don't realise how horrible life is when you can't smell. I used to gas myself and burn things snd be so paranoid re body odour etc. I felt I couldn't taste things and even though I love cooking could be sure things tasted right.

See a different gp and ask about nasal steroids and getting referred.

Good luck.

octopusinabox · 10/03/2011 10:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VeronicaCake · 10/03/2011 10:53

It is most likely to come back. The medical name is anosmia, there is some useful advice out there if you google it.

And ime GPs tend to be a bit crap when patients are facing a nasty symptom that they can't do much about. He shouldn't have laughed.

RespectTheDoughnut · 10/03/2011 10:58

This thread is quite funny for me - I'm anosmic & always have been, & people always tell me that it's not that big a deal, that it makes very little difference, 'at least I can't smell nappies', etc... It's quite nice to see my point of view written by other people Grin (The worst thing, I think, was not being able to smell DS's 'new baby smell' when he was born :()

You're absolutely right though - your doctor really shouldn't have laughed at you. Doctors shouldn't laugh no matter how 'minor' the ailment, & the loss of 1.75 senses (with taste being the .75!) isn't that minor, to be honest.

ENormaSnob · 10/03/2011 11:04

Yanbu at all.

I love food and smells etc so really feel for you.

Shower daily and use good deodrant (for your sanity, not because you stink)

my aunt had this years ago and lost loads of weight because she didn't enjoy eating.

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 11:08

"my aunt had this years ago and lost loads of weight because she didn't enjoy eating"

This is the one potential bomus. I am still carrying "a little holiday weight"

Re-assuring though to know others have had it, it IS rubbish and I'm not being petty/OTT in being irritated with it. Thanks for the advice :)

I sent DH to fetch me a chicken madras on monday thinking it might "unblock" me. It didn't. I could feel the heat in my mouth but couldn't taste it. Dh tried a spoonful and said it was bloody HOT and thoguht it was funny to sit watching me wolf it down without breaking into a sweat Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 11:09

BONUS, fgs...

OP posts:
MangoTango · 10/03/2011 11:12

I thought it was normal to lose your sense of smell/taste when you get a cold. I always do, but then it comes back once the cold is completely over. Why do you think it may not come back?

OatcakeCravings · 10/03/2011 11:12

YANBU - this has happened to me. I lost my sense of smell about 18 months ago with a bad bought of flu and although I've regained some of it back its not the same as it was and I find it annoying.

TryingVeryHard · 10/03/2011 11:13

YANBU I hate it when GPs take these things so lightly Angry
I temporarily lost my senses of taste and smell due to sinusitis, when it happened for the first time I was gutted it's an awful feeling! but the GP was very relaxed about it grrrrrrrr
Luckily I got better after 2 rounds of antibiotics (!) and everything came back to normal
Hope you get your senses back soon Grin

Original poster
bupcakesandcunting · 10/03/2011 11:13

Mango my cold has gone (just the cough remains) and I've had some pretty bad colds before and never had this. Also have been Googling Blush

OP posts:
TryingVeryHard · 10/03/2011 11:15

Yeah I did the same thing with a hot curry, tasted like cardboard bleurgh

Honeybee79 · 10/03/2011 11:18

Your GP behaved like an insensitive twat. In no way is it funny. Angry

Yes, it's not life threatening but loss of smell and taste seriously affects quality of life. I would be gutted too.

Hope it improves.