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Original poster

How long until i can taste or smell again?

20 replies

Eggnoggoanngoanngoann · 26/05/2020 11:34

Hi. .. Anyone out there who's lost their sense of taste or smell recently, could you tell me how long it was until you got it back? I lost mine around the 20th March, right at the start of lock down and before this was a recognised symptom. Got up, was cleaning, put oil diffuser on and... nothing! The rest of the family had to assure me it was working and it was me that was broken Grin. Since then ive had the odd wiff of something which lasts a few seconds every 5-6 days and i can taste basic senses ie.. salty sweet sour.. but cant actually taste any flavours. DH came in this morning asking what burning smell was..only to realise i had left straightners on Shock. Anyhow, enough of my ramblings! If anyone else out there lost it & got it back ... whats the average time scale please? Thanks

OP posts:
xxlostxx · 26/05/2020 12:33

I could have wrote your post OP! I have had the same for the same length of time. I have read some people saying it started coming back after 10 days but this has gone on and on for me now and I'm fearing I'll never get it back! Would be interested to hear from anyone who has had it return or is in the same boat.

Original poster
Eggnoggoanngoanngoann · 26/05/2020 13:10

Thanks for replying @xxlostxx . Yes i also have this fear. Glad to know its not just me then and its kind of normal for some people. Fingers crossed we recover soon and can enjoy a nice meal and smelling the summer flowers FlowersSmile

OP posts:
flowers12 · 26/05/2020 13:20

I tested positive on 5th April and its only just coming back now. Certain smells and tastes I still haven't got back. Hope your's come back soon

Original poster
Eggnoggoanngoanngoann · 26/05/2020 18:16

Thanks @flowers12 thats not that far from when I lost mine so this gives me hope it wont be much longer. Fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Chocqueen99 · 26/05/2020 19:13

Im in the same boat! And im forever commenting on posts about it lol... i have a post about also, only posted on it a few hoirs ago.. yeah not much i can add just that same here and for the same length of time i think mine was 26th March.. and there is a fair few what are similar to us.
But yeah see loads got it back after a few weeks.

Chocqueen99 · 26/05/2020 19:15

Yeah also worry this is it and it wont get better, im a big foodie so im scared lol!

tidyupandeatyourgreens · 26/05/2020 19:29

I lost mine completely for a good 3 weeks and it didn't really come back until about a month after first losing it. I totally understand that fear and the distress it causes - I was beside myself and terrified it wouldn't come back! My husband suffered a lot more than with the virus and was extremely ill although he only lost his taste and smell for about 6 days. There doesn't seem to be much logic to how long it takes to come back but the overwhelming evidence seems to suggest that it does for the majority of people so hang on in there. I'd say that my sense of smell is still not quite what it used to be (almost 7 weeks on) but it doesn't bother me and can appreciate everything I drink and eat - being able to taste a glass of wine was a big one for me! I've never experienced such an overwhelming loss of these 2 senses before and it's extremely unnerving....

TheDogsMother · 26/05/2020 19:40

Not to derail but welcome to my world. I hope you all get yours back soon though due to other reasons I have lost my sense my sense of smell and taste. Sadly there isn't a great deal of support considering it's two senses lost.

BamboozledandBefuddled · 26/05/2020 20:01

I was ill at the very end of March, haven't been tested but assume Covid is a possibility as I lost my sense of smell. I've still been using aromatherapy oils in burners (being hopeful) and have had brief spells today where I could smell the oil. Hopefully, it's getting back to normal Smile

user1486723488 · 26/05/2020 21:42

Can I just ask whether any of you smelt anything that was a bit like ozone at the beginning? Like when you use the printer a lot, it has a certain smell. I've not used the printer at all, so it ain't that but all I can smell is ozone. Nobody else here at the moment to ask if they can smell it too....thanks

Chocqueen99 · 27/05/2020 22:11

Not sure what ozone is or smells like buy i do get a funny sensation/smell its hard to explain really, i wasn't even ill maybe a slight cold. Its annoying people are forever asking if something tatse nice an u have to keep reminding them that you have no idea.
Ive been able to smell things close up for about 6 weeks but no real improvement. Cannot smell any foods hence why my taste is so crap.

Lasvegas · 27/05/2020 23:21

My was about 3 weeks Of loss. Lost it suddenly.

skinnyhotchoc · 27/05/2020 23:31

3 weeks it took for mine to come back which handily tied in with the onset of morning sickness and the smell of everything making me hurl.

Chocqueen99 · 27/05/2020 23:36

Ill be happy if mine comes back properly at 3 months its only a few weeks away Sad

Chocqueen99 · 29/05/2020 20:49

Ive got barely any smell today seems to have got worse Sad

Northernsoullover · 29/05/2020 20:51

I saw my GP this week..She thinks she had Covid-19 back in early March. She still has no sense of smell but has started to catch the odd blast of strong perfume.

oralengineer · 29/05/2020 21:27

I possibly had Covid mid Feb. Builder at work came down with same symptoms 13 days later. Both of us have had altered sense of taste and smell since. I can smell some things when close up to my nose but anything floral such as air fresheners, not a thing. Sense of taste is basic but cooking is a nightmare as I rely on smell of cooking food rather than timer. I can’t smell bread baking until I open the oven.
Because I can smell things, but only when it’s virtually stuck up my nose, I didn’t really notice it. It has been a blessing when they were muck spreading in the fields around us and when the dog rolls in fox poo.

Chocqueen99 · 29/05/2020 22:46

Oh its not only me then thank god it jist feels like it will never get back to normal doesn't it?
Yeah taste is very basic for me but i still eat loads lol.
Most people really did get it back after a couple of weeks, mind you i wasnt ill at all just a bit of a cold so no idea if i had the virus.

Hiphopopotamus · 29/05/2020 23:12

I lost mine at the end of March and it took a few weeks. The thing that really sped it along was smell training - look it up on the anosmia society page. I also joined a really helpful Facebook group about Covid19 smell loss which was really good for tips to bring the sense back. Think of it like physio therapy for your smell! All the sympathy - it’s a horrible thing

xxlostxx · 07/06/2020 21:05

Finally I have had a good few whiffs today, consistently and for the whole day! It's been well over 2 months now. And I can taste things slightly better too. I'm hoping it's not short lived. Just reviving the thread to give others hope, I was fearing it could be permanent it went on so long.

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