Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone who's lost taste due to covid.....

79 replies

Lubrana061302 · 26/08/2021 17:12

Has it helped you stop eating for the sake of it? I am currently isolating as I tested positive for covid on Sunday. My smell and taste only went on Tuesday and I'm finding it a struggle to even eat anything as I can't taste a thing. I have been living on soup. Previous to this I would eat and eat just for the sake of it. Has anyone found that this has changed post covid?

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/08/2021 18:47

**ate

BoomChicka · 30/08/2021 08:33

I was exactly the same - I lost about 7lb! I'm glad my taste is back but my appetite came back with it, and I've overindulged just because I can enjoy food again.

I had a phase where I could only taste things I knew too - so when I ordered something I'd never had in a restaurant I couldn't taste a thing! Like my brain couldn't tell me what it tasted of Confused that was really weird.

HesterShaw1 · 30/08/2021 10:02

How long did it take to come back @BoomChicka?

BoomChicka · 30/08/2021 11:08

I'm 6 weeks on Hester, taste returning was gradual but I'd say fully back for 2 weeks now?

Kindleandacuppa · 30/08/2021 14:44

Just thought I would update my taste and smell have both returned - smell not fully but I would say 80% Grin taste about 90% and I'm 11 days from my positive test Flowers every day my senses are getting stronger!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 30/08/2021 15:17

@Kindleandacuppa

Just thought I would update my taste and smell have both returned - smell not fully but I would say 80% Grin taste about 90% and I'm 11 days from my positive test Flowers every day my senses are getting stronger!
Great news! My smell seems to be returning faster than my taste. I ate some chocolate today and I could sort of taste it, my smell seems a bit stronger today. 16 days on from positive test.
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/08/2021 16:17

Ds lost his sense of smell today as well as his taste the other day. Not happy at all !

HesterShaw1 · 30/08/2021 16:44

@Kindleandacuppa

Just thought I would update my taste and smell have both returned - smell not fully but I would say 80% Grin taste about 90% and I'm 11 days from my positive test Flowers every day my senses are getting stronger!
That's very encouraging!

I'm never going to take my sense of smell for granted. I'll make it my mission in life to smell things and enjoy it!

I have certain smells returning more strongly today.

Piggywaspushed · 30/08/2021 16:45

My smell came back about two weeks in. DS still has no smell. Tested positive on August 4th.

Trinacham · 30/08/2021 20:31

I'm 11 days since symptoms started and keep testing my sense of smell but not even a hint back still

mafted · 30/08/2021 20:46

I spoke to a woman the other day who hasn't been able to smell or taste for 11 months, she said she'd lost two stone as she just gets sick of eating.

Original poster
Lubrana061302 · 30/08/2021 21:53

So nice to hear some of us are heading towards being able to smell and taste again. Hopefully everyone will be back to normal soon. I had a coffee today for the first time since testing positive and it tasted absolutely foul. It wasn't pleasant at all but I'm taking it as a positive in that I actually tasted something! I'm almost positive I could slightly smell DS nappy tonight. Never thought I'd be missing that smell Envy

OP posts:
AvaCallanach · 30/08/2021 22:16

I tested positive mid July.
I lost my smell but not my taste. I can now smell things but my sense of smell is probably about 50 percent of what it was - I can't smell our dog, for example, I just remember that he used to be a bit smelly, and I can't smell damp towels etc, but I can smell onions and coffee and woodsmoke etc.

Dd had it at the same time and her taste has gone awry. She finds lots of things taste rotten. She really can't afford to lose weight so she's eating a lot of sweet crap as it's all she can stomach.

Original poster
Lubrana061302 · 31/08/2021 07:27

@AvaCallanach totally off topic but I love your username!

OP posts:
AvaCallanach · 31/08/2021 07:35

Ah, you are the first person who has got it!

addictedtotheflats · 31/08/2021 07:37

Ive just had covid and there was absolutely no point in eating with no taste. I was hoping it oasted longer because ive got weight to shift but it came back after 5 days.

Original poster
Lubrana061302 · 31/08/2021 09:30

@addictedtotheflats that's really quick 5 days. I'm 8 days now and I think it may be just slightly starting to come back because of the rotten coffee taste yesterday and the slightly whiffy nappy last night. Fingers crossed. Although I know what you mean about needing to shift weight. Double edged sword

OP posts:
Original poster
Lubrana061302 · 31/08/2021 09:30

@AvaCallanach really? I'm surprised at that. Love those books.

OP posts:
HesterShaw1 · 31/08/2021 10:23

My sister gave me some lilies the other day. This morning I can sniff just a suggestion of them.

It's been handy in some ways e.g. I am using up some soya milk I bought to make a lasagne for a vegan friend not long ago. Can't taste it so I might as well use it up on my cereal. Normally it tastes like a suspension of flour in water, I find Envy

Choconuttolata · 31/08/2021 10:42

I am 9 months on. Smell somewhat returned, I can smell most smells, but not strongly. I struggle to smell if meat or food is off so have to be careful. I also get weird phantom smoke smells on and off that started around the time my smell began to return. Salty foods and spicy foods were the first things I could taste at all. In the acute phase I couldn't smell or taste curry. Now I can taste most things fine.

HesterShaw1 be careful if still fatigued as you can push yourself into being much worse energy wise if you overdo it too soon. I only returned to work after 8 months off due to long Covid, still nowhere near full time hours and overdoing it still sends me into a relapse. I end up back in bed. Plan rest breaks in and build up slowly. You may also find cognitive tasks more fatiguing. If you are not managing a full day of daily tasks, cleaning, walking, shopping, admin etc... at home then I would recommend trialling that first before returning to work to see how you respond. Post-exertional symptom exacerbation can occur 48 hours after exertion so good to monitor energy for a few days afterwards to see how you manage. It is easy to feel fine so do more then the next day it catches up with you.

Anyone who's lost taste due to covid.....
Anyone who's lost taste due to covid.....
HesterShaw1 · 31/08/2021 11:02

Thank you @Choconuttolata. That's good, if rather alarming, advice.

Choconuttolata · 31/08/2021 11:10

Sorry didn't mean to alarm you, I just know too many who have underestimated the long tail of Covid and pushed too quickly back to activity/work and ended up worse. Long Covid is not something I would wish on anyone.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 31/08/2021 13:46

My smell is definitely returning, my taste not so much. Would prefer it the other way round!

Twilightstarbright · 31/08/2021 17:59

I was able to taste my coffee very faintly this morning. I was very excited!

Mum32021 · 31/08/2021 20:33

I'm 17 days now since symptoms and still no taste or smell 😫

Swipe left for the next trending thread