To be in tears because I can't taste or smell

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Been suffering since 2012. Surgery in 2014 which helped as it unblocked my nose and sinuses but sporadic taste and smell since. Every nasal spray known to man - rubbish. Oral steroids sort the problem but won't be prescribed permanently. Fobbed off by gp in the past. I can't smell burning, have issues at work (doesn't completely stop me doing my job but has been an issue occasionally) and feel low because there is no point going out for a meal, wearing perfume etc. But that sounds so trivial and first world problem I feel I am making a fuss. I have decided to see a taste and smell specialist privately but can't get a gp appointment for 2 weeks. Sorry just feeling miserable.

Poor you. I remember reading about someone who had no sense of smell/taste a few years ago and thinking then how colourless some of the most enjoyable moment of my life would have been!

It's not trivial at all. I hope you have some really good news from the specialist.

That's truly miserable op.
Have you had a brain scan? The reason I ask is that very occasionally it can be due to a tumour, as my DSis discovered.

My dh has exactly the same issues, for the same reasons!

He's been like it for about 10 years now. I'd love to be able to suggest something, but I really can't. Like you say, the oral steroids do help but can't be continuously supplied! Dh is now cutting out dairy to see if that helps at all.

YANBU I lost my sense of taste/smell for about a week after sinusitis once and I cried too - I was so relieved when it came back.

See a specialist - it will be worth every penny to sort it out (hugs)

I don't think it sounds trivial at all, not only are a host of everyday pleasures denied to you, but there are safety concerns as well. I had it once for a few days after a cold and felt bloody miserable. I can't imagine what 4 years of it must be like; sure I'd be thoroughly depressed. I very much hope the specialist is able to help you.

Me too - it absolutely sucks doesn't it? Do you have nasal polyps? I do, as part of my Samter's Triad, so they are recurrent and I'm currently gearing up for my fourth round of surgery.

The Guardian had a great article about it recently which signposted the charity below. They're doing a lot of work in this are, might be worth a look?

www.fifthsense.org.uk

Keep on keeping on. After more than a decade I've become fairly resigned to it (although ever hopeful)

Mine is hugely reduced after months of blocked nose - some sort of hayfever I think. I feel v vulnerable not knowing if I smell etc etc.

YANBU. Sympathy

Here is the link to the Guardian article mentioned by autumnboys.

It really stuck in my head at the time. I don't have the condition, nor had I thought about it much, but having read the article it sounds really hard.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/mar/26/ive-been-told-bacon-smells-lovely-life-without-sense-smell

Hugs to you OP

YADNBU.

This happened to me during my first pregnancy after a very heavy cold. I was very down about it as the Dr's response was literally, "What do you want me to do about it?" I remember feeling so sad that I wouldn't know what my newborn daughter smelled like.

In my case, my sense of smell did gradually come back over several months. But I know I was lucky, and I really feel for you, OP. It's doubly hard as a lot of people don't stop to imagine what it would be like and think it's almost amusing.

DH had nasal polyps and had them removed, he still has regular checkups to make sure they haven't returned. While he had them he lost his sense of smell and taste, any cooking he did was hit and miss as he would keep making things very spicy. DS and I would have tears streaming down our faces and be glugging down milk.

He was very down about it and used to worry that he smelt and wouldn't know. After the operation it has returned not 100% but he does now enjoy food again.

I really hope you get this sorted out, mind you when his sense of smell did return he couldn't get over the strench from some public loos he used so there are some advantages. Two weeks will go by very quickly, good luck.

Thanks everyone. It's really got to me today. I was completely obstructed before my surgery (had septoplasty, polypectomy and sinuses sucked out) but now I can breathe but have pain in one cheekbone most of the time and my nose drips if I tip my head upside down (nice!!) There is something going on obviously. Will read the article.

I understand. I lost my sense of smell almost two years ago when I had sudden, dramatic sinus issues. Prednisone five day course would restore it but it would go again when the course finished. I felt really panicky and depressed. Everyone, including my GP thought I was making a deal over nothing. No obvious cause and it wasn't nerve damage as it comes back with the Prednisone.

It's the little things you miss. Not being able to smell my husband's skin or aftershave really effected my sex drive too.

The nasal spray Avamays has helped and I get spells of being able to smell a few times a day but at about fourty percent, however my sense of taste is ok although not as good as before. If I had the time and money I would go private too.