AIBU to want my doctor NOT TO LAUGH AT THIS ARRRRGGHHH

[bupcakesandcunting]

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 "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?

My poor MIL lost her sense of taste and smell after a bad flu virus a few years ago. She is only just starting to get it back now. Her doctor wasn't particularly helpful either, but she's also the type not to push things.

She now can't stand the taste of chocolate, and says it tastes burnt/bitter. She does enjoy white chocolate and fruity flavours now, and is enjoying her food more.

She used to love her Molton Brown smellies and that was hard for her too.

Maybe get a second opinion? You may well have to be patient seeing as it was only last week, but if it were me, I'd be asking for more help if it hadn't returned after a bit.

G-ma lost her 'smeller' and couldn't taste things and really lost a lot of weight and got depressed...it's not something to be laughed about imo.

OOOh ladies be careful with the curries - you might hurt your stomachs as well! just lke someone who doesn't have sensation might cut/ burn themselves and not know.

I can sympathise - how awful - isn't taste made up of 75% smell or something anyway?? Must gutting to really 'fancy' something nice to eat and never be able to get it even though you might be 'eating' it!!

Goodluck - hopefully you will be back to normal very soon or in the other case....have your baby

On the another note....surely stopping a sense of smell or taste would be better than gastric bypass etc etc

I had a cough which lasted a few weeks recently and did lose my sense of smell. On a positive note I lost weight as i just wasn't interested in eating for the enjoyment of it, only to stop myself being starving! As your cold was only last week hopefully your sense of smell will come back soon. Not sure why the doctor was saying it may never come back. Bit early to predict that I would think.

Ok I didn't realise this could happen . I would be really upset about this too and would at least expect my bloody GP to attempt to empathise with me.

I do have a high spice threshold so worries on the tummy front. DH said this one was more like a vindaloo though. Only wish I could have tasted it!

I'm not feeling hungry at all at the minite but hav to eat because of the medication I'm om (can't take on empty stomach) Am making tomato pasta with chillies and feta cheese now, as tomatoes'/feta are acidic. See if that works!

Thank you for the sympathy. It means a lot, I really wondered if I was fussing over nowt.

YANBU I lost my sense of smell and taste after a bout of flu.

So, I was having lunch with somebody at work, and in a fit of desperation to taste something, anything, I fetched a pot of English mustard and basically painted both sides of a piece of ham with it, then ate it. My colleague was open-mouthed as I chomped my way through the whole slice.

I felt, smelt, and tasted nothing. It was quite scary tbh.

But everything went back to normal soon after.

You have my sympathies.

Didn't it make your nose run and eyes water? Or do you need a sense of smell for that to happen?

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.