Do u think loss/change in taste/smell includes a foul metallic taste?

[EllenRipley]

Just wondered if anyone has had the no taste/smell symptom? My friend tested positive, with no symptoms other than that (frontline worker, partner had symptoms so both got tested).

I've had a sore tongue and a totally foul metallic taste in my mouth for about a week. I know this could be down to many non-corona things, but when the announced the smell/taste thing as a recognised symptom, I googled (of course) and the metallic taste comes up in a lot of reports from here & US. Essentially I have altered taste which does seem to come up in more detailed explanations of the new guidelines. I had some very mild sniffles/headache last week which I put down to hay fever. None of the other classic corona symptoms. Did a HIIT workout earlier, lungs feel fine...

Not very sure what to do or think. This whole thing is becoming a massive exercise in health paranoia!

Definitely not pregnant!

PPs saying "it was too mild to be coronavirus": there is no such thing as "too mild" - most people get mild symptoms, remember?

I had (very mild) breathing constructions starting at the end of March. No temperature that I've noticed and no coughing. Also taste disturbances and a sore mouth (tongue and inside lips). I dismissed it as a reaction to stress, but a couple of weeks ago I also had a few days with heart palpitations and tight chest. I've also got the horrid taste and sore mouth back. I actually had a test done at the weekend (invited through the Zoe symptom tracker app), and it's come back negative. So I've no idea if I've had a very mild version with fluctuating symptoms or if it's something else.

Like another person I was going to suggest acid reflux too. I have it quite severely and I have a horrible metallic taste, a sore throat and a habitual cough. It'a a very unpleasant condition.

@Franticbutterfly it would not surprise me if it was another fun symptom of declining estrogen!

@BamboozledandBefuddled 🤣purple hair and green skin would be brilliant. I expect the government would set up oompah loompah camps for all the clearly virus-riddled freaks.
I would save your money and just wait for the immunity tests - didn't the gov say the latest they've tested is accurate and roll out is imminent?

@fadingfast that sounds like me. Maybe it's a symptom of a different virus that's doing the rounds. That said, isn't there a small window of about 5 days when, if you've got the virus, it will show up? There's also the issue of false negatives.

Thanks for everyone's replies. If you did have covid I'm glad you all recovered (don't think we hear enough about that). I know this thread can't be classed as statistically significant but it is interesting that the metallic taste is a common symptom of what we've all had lately.

I really dont think it's reflux? If it is, it's sudden onset and I don't have any other symptoms 🤔 I'm not ruling anything out though. Maybe it's even hay fever.

Interestingly, a friend who I was texting last night is a frontline worker and told me she's been having exactly the same thing and was fast tracked for testing today.

I'm just trying to drink a cup of tea. My favourite drink. It's vile 😩 (first world problem).

FWIW I've suffered from reflux in the past and it felt very different to what I've been experiencing.

I've had a horrid taste in my mouth on and off recently too, less metallic and more chemical - like when you accidentally breathe in your antibacterial spray when cleaning.

About a week ago for one day all the water and squash I drank tasted strange, sort of salty/like coke tastes in a pub when they need to change the barrel. Tea, milk and OJ was unaffected. It was definitely me, not the water or squash as DH also tasted it and said it was normal. Food and toothpaste unaffected.

Smell is normal - have been wearing perfume to check. No other symptoms of covid, other than a headache. I'm asthmatic and everything I catch goes to my chest, but breathing is normal.

I'm assuming the horrible taste is a side effect of my many meds!

And another one here with a weird metallic taste and weird tongue feeling. I’ve been brushing my teeth endlessly to try and make it taste better. No other symptoms but I’m menopausal and have no idea if I’ve a temperature or a flush.
Teeth issues ? I’m having some and praying for the dentist to reopen so I thought it could be that.

Ooo @EllenRipley can you let us know if your friend tests positive please

@JimMaxwellantheshippingforcast yes I will do!

@Fallsballs this is exactly me. Don't know what constitutes a hot flush or lurgy sweating!

@EllenRipley I never know what the fuck is going on thanks to the menopause.

Weird metallic taste here too🙋🏼 Tea doesn't taste good, and apologies for grossness, but it's like I can taste soured milk at the back of my throat.

I've been so exhausted, put it down to kids and general lockdown malaise, but my toddler has had some mild vomiting and loss of appetite and I've had stomach cramps, and no appetite. I'm not sure if gastrointestinal symptoms are very frequent with Covid..., so really not sure.

@Fallsballs ditto.
I'm hoping to wake up soon to discover this whole experience has been one big, low estrogen-fevered dream.

@Tonkerbea I think gastric symptoms can be more common in kids. I'm sure I've read that somewhere, but don't take my word for it. Feels like I've read the entire internet ten times over in the last few weeks.

Sounds like you've every right to be knackered, even without the virus. I hope it passes soon for you all, whatever it is.

I’ve had metallic/burned tongue for a couple of weeks. Had a dry cough for quite a while early in the year (Feb-March). No other symptoms really and didn’t occur to me that taste was maybe the tail end of Covid. Keep hoping i’m pregnant.

I have not RTFT so apologies if this has been covered

This has been covered on the press conference today, I'm sure the professor said that loss of smell/taste being the only symptoms was incredibly rare, some minuscule %age so for both you and your friend to both experience that would be almost statistically impossible if I understood him correctly.

I wonder whether this is to do with age? I am under 30 and personally (honestly!!) know of 17 people around my age who have had this since March as a singular “symptom”

I don’t know how many of them of them went on to test positive for Covid19 though.

2 did for sure. Not sure if the others ever got tested/medical advice as they weren’t coughing or suffering a fever. Some did self quarantine as there was news from other countries that this was a symptom

I had COVID symptoms just before lockdown and didn’t lose my sense of smell or taste but remember I kept checking the water filter as I didn’t understand why all the water tasted so chemically....

DD had this since Xmas! Went to see doctor in Feb and he basically told her to sod off.

In March she was mildly unwell. Temp and fatigue, no cough, but unwell enough to need two weeks off work. We suspect Covid. She works in London and pretty much her entire office had loss/ change of taste and smell. All in their 20's, none tested, none unwell in other ways.

Interesting isn't it?

@SpringSpringTime fingers Xed that it's a good sign for you!