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Original poster

How long did your Covid anosmia last?

37 replies

Rosesandstars · 07/12/2023 19:56

I've just come down with Covid for a second time and lost my sense of smell (for the first!).

Just wondering how long this lasts? I imagine I won't be able to taste any christmas food!

OP posts:
sunbeams74 · 07/12/2023 19:57

Took me 2 months but some things (eggs and coffee mostly) still taste and smell weird and not like they used to!

Bubblegirly · 07/12/2023 19:59

First time I had it a year ago it lasted about2 weeks. Had it last week and smell went for about 7 days and taste 3 days x

pbdr · 07/12/2023 20:01

Only about 3 days or so

Finallygotmy3 · 07/12/2023 20:08

Mine came back after 3 weeks but completely messed up! Some things smelt completely wrong to me but others were fine, it was so strange it was like I could only smell the chemical component of a product. So for example, fabric softener, I could not smell the nice scent, just chemicals, toothpaste was chemicals, this one is grim but flatulence also smelt like chemicals. I also randomly kept getting cigarette smoke smells for hours on end.

I got Covid for the first time in December 2020 and I'd say the last year my smell and taste is normal again! I got it again in April 2022 but that was just like a cold, I've definitely had different strains. Fingers crossed you can taste your Christmas Dinner, I couldn't at all and I was so gutted for the pigs in blankets 🤣 it's the only December I've lost 8lbs instead of gained so every cloud 🤣🤣

MCO1981 · 07/12/2023 20:11

I had Covid over two years ago now and still do not have back full smell and taste buds - I'd say I have about 30% and that's it !!

SkyFullofStars1975 · 07/12/2023 20:14

Mine has never returned to "normal" after my 1st bout in 2021. Mind you, I had my 1st immunisation 4 days before testing positive and was knocked sideways by it. Things still smell "off" to me when they're not.

I've just tested positive with round 2 and already things have that weird covid smell. Absolutely gutted.

Mummymummy89 · 07/12/2023 20:14

My FIL insists that his still isn't back to normal after two years. Says he can't taste beer properly (for him, this amounts to destroying all quality of life).

For me, smell and taste came back within just a couple of weeks

HousedInMySoul · 07/12/2023 20:14

Mine was also OK after 3 days. Hope you're lucky op

Archymum · 07/12/2023 20:17

Maybe 4-5 days. Like everything else COVID related, it seems the range of severity and length of symptoms varies widely. As soon as mine went, I started to do the smell therapy stuff. Who knows if it made a difference or not.

SgtJuneAckland · 07/12/2023 20:18

About 4 weeks to mostly come back , 6-8 weeks before I was back to normal, but DH says I'm like a bloodhound and I can regularly smell things he can't

LadyGwendoline · 07/12/2023 20:18

Mine has never come back. From beginning of 2020. Hope yours does.

Mapletreelane · 07/12/2023 20:34

My taste is OK, but smell about 30 % from first bout of covid in 2021. Had covid 2x more and was hoping my smell would get a reset but no unfortunately. I've kind of resigned myself to it never being back to full strength. Although I could still smell Lush though a few shops away whilst out Xmas shopping last week!

JuliaGoolias · 07/12/2023 20:34

5 days.

Medenagan · 07/12/2023 20:40

3 years! It’s still only back sometimes but I thought it was gone forever. Hope yours comes back sooner.

flowerchild2000 · 07/12/2023 20:49

Mine never fully recovered from 2020. Lots of things smell like dog food when they shouldn't, it's absolutely disgusting. Most times I just can't taste well. I can't eat the foods I used to either, I'm like a toddler now. It's the worst, I hope yours goes back normally!

SuperheroBirds · 07/12/2023 20:57

The first time I had Covid I lost my sense of smell for 9-10 months. The second time it was just a couple of days (I was so relieved).

Malariahilaria · 07/12/2023 21:07

First bout nothing. Latest one it's been about 2 months and my sense of smell is still off the charts. I'm driving DH mad by insisting on opening all the doors and windows after every meal is cooked as the smell is so intense I feel sick.

Taste is all wrong. Was so upset today as never allow myself twiglets til xmas and opened the first tub today and bit into one and.......cardboard. sigh...

TokyoSushi · 07/12/2023 21:14

Mine has never been right since February 2022, I think it's smell more than taste. But I can't do that thing where you can almost smell what's in your mouth, so that really affects the taste.

DeedIDo · 07/12/2023 21:18

It will be four years in March.

enjoyingscience · 07/12/2023 21:43

I had Covid in feb and I’d say I’m about 95% back now. Took a decent six months of having phantom smells, lots of things tasting different or unpleasant, and some things totally missing

HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow · 07/12/2023 21:50

About 9 months for 1st lot of Covid, and a couple of days for the 2nd bout 18 months after the 1st

Wakeywake · 07/12/2023 21:53

About a week, but my sense of smell is less sharp than before, and it's been almost a year.

Hotpinkangel19 · 07/12/2023 21:55

MCO1981 · 07/12/2023 20:11

I had Covid over two years ago now and still do not have back full smell and taste buds - I'd say I have about 30% and that's it !!

Same.

CaineRaine · 07/12/2023 21:55

3 years and counting unfortunately

Pippa12 · 07/12/2023 21:56

Genuinely months to get my smell and taste back, even now most things don’t taste quite like they should!

Take care with no sense of smell. I set fire to my kitchen putting toast under the grill and completely forgot it was there.