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Original poster

Total loss of taste and smell. Fed up.

66 replies

PollyPepper · 04/09/2021 15:09

Obviously I know compared to others I am incredibly lucky. We have lost people close to us to Covid and in the shadow of that, this is nothing.

DH and I on day 6 of isolation, both positive on PCR and LFT's. Our taste and smell has completely gone and it is pretty horrible. One of the only things I had to look forward to and enjoy during isolation and feeling so crappy is now no more! Everything just tastes like cardboard. I just took a huge bite out of a raw onion just to TASTE something and.....Nothing.

It's starting to get me down, I'm so envious of those who can still taste.

Does anyone have any words of advice/tips/encouragement?? I'm so worried I'm going to be one of the many who say they still have no taste or smell months and months down the line.

I'm about to burn an orange and mix it with brown sugar. What has become of me.

OP posts:
fruitsaladyummyummy · 04/09/2021 15:11

Mine came back after 8 days gradually and 10 days later I was back to normal. Texture over taste for now, carrots and apples and crunchy things. Other than that I can sympathise, I was so miserable and craved chocolate!

DarlingDarlin · 04/09/2021 15:34

Me too. The texture thing is freaking me out.
Think the boredom is making it worse. I am so grateful to be well enough to notice but it’s really annoying.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 04/09/2021 18:51

I'm 3 weeks post positive PCR. My smell and taste is gradually coming back, I'd say it's about 50% of what it was pre Covid. It took a while, my smell started coming back first, taste didn't really start coming back until this week. Hang in there.

Marcee · 04/09/2021 18:55

My taste disnt completely go. And much better now.
My smell started coming back from day 9. And continued to improve.
Now on day 12 and can smell most things still faint compared to normal but much better.

Original poster
PollyPepper · 04/09/2021 19:02

Thanks everyone. I think if it was one or the other it wouldn't be so bad but to have both senses totally wiped out in the space of 12 hours is a shock. The one thing I was enjoying and that's gone too! Sad

Good idea re:textures. Just eating a babybel which i usually hate but at least it's giving me tongue something to do (mind out the gutters)

OP posts:
Puppymania · 04/09/2021 19:11

I'm on day six and only noticed that taste and smell had gone yesterday, feeling too rough earlier to even notice. I was surprised I didn't smell as I hadn't showered since Monday, then I realised I did but I just couldn't tell! Feeling a bit better, have had a bath, so should be a bit sweeter now.

actiongirl1978 · 04/09/2021 19:16

I'm about two weeks out from initial symptoms and mine has just come back.

My taste went almost completely - what was left was around the edges.. I could taste very sweet, or salty or umami but there was no flavour.

I now almost have it back, there is still some subtlety missing, so I drink coffee and it's still lore bitter than flavourful but it improves with each cup.

A week ago I tasted some coffee and spat it out, all I could taste was bitterness.

I stuck to salty food, very sugary food and things which gave me any manner of sugar rush such as pasta or bread.

actiongirl1978 · 04/09/2021 19:17

I think I put about 3lbs on in a week.

katesbushh · 04/09/2021 20:12

It is so strange isn't it.

I felt the sensation of something minty etc
The coolness
But the taste and smell. Totally gone.

I loved ice lollies while it was like this as the crunch was satisfying.

katesbushh · 04/09/2021 20:13

I'm 6 months in and nearly anything is back to normal.
Only difference is I no longer love the smell of garlic cooking. It just smells off now.

katesbushh · 04/09/2021 20:13

*everything

Geepee71 · 04/09/2021 22:30

I'm struggling with not having either sense of taste nor smell.
Although i can vaguely taste orange squash.
Think I'll try and eat healthy for the next few days, no point eating chocolate or biscuits if can't enjoy it.

Rabblesthecat · 04/09/2021 22:57

I got mine back after about 9 months of it being back every now and again

Sadly onions and garlic now taste and smell like a rotting corpse

Which is bad when you are a chef

Bubbublish · 05/09/2021 02:42

My sense of taste and smell went about the beginning of August. I didn't eat for quite a few days when I was very unwell but once my appetite started to rerun, everything I ate was disgusting and kind of felt slimy (that's the only way I can describe it). Perhaps it was a good thing losing taste and smell coz the hospital food did not look very appetising. Both are coming back slowly, I can taste strong foods and smell things if I'm up close. Most of the time I think I can smell burning, a bit like a bomb fire smell, very strange

BitchIAmFromChicago · 05/09/2021 02:56

Yes to the constant smell of burning / cigarette smoke!
I lost my taste and smell at the end of May. It has only recently marginally come back but some days there’s nothing.
My taste buds definitely feel dull and I don’t get pleasure from food like I used to. Some foods taste like utter shite (eggs).

RavingAnnie · 05/09/2021 03:24

I'm about 3 weeks in from symptoms starting and my smell has just come back today 😊 I noticed because I suddenly could smell the bin! It's not full force yet but so glad to be able to smell something!

indie123 · 05/09/2021 08:09

I feel for you its so annoying. I tested positive early August and lost my taste and smell 3 days later. It started to come back 2 weeks later on its own. Its weird though as a month later its not 100% back..its probably at about 70%. Some things also smell and taste different. And weirdly there's certain foods i can barely taste at all still. For the most part overall something is better than nothing though hey.

I hope yours comes back soon

Glugglejug · 05/09/2021 18:24

You’re very early on in your illness so don’t stress too much! My sense of taste and smell disappeared completely around day 5 but was back by the time I was out of isolation. I do agree it is very weird to lose some of your senses, especially so abruptly, but you may recover them quite quickly!

ShellieEllie · 05/09/2021 21:19

I share your pain @PollyPepper I'm currently Day 11 of no taste or smell Sad I too have found that textures are important. I'm finding cereal, nuts and crisps to be the most enjoyable things to eat at the moment.

Geepee71 · 05/09/2021 21:33

Just trying butterscotch angel delight, am trying to convince myself I can taste it. I can't bah!

ShellieEllie · 05/09/2021 21:44

@Geepee71 I thought you were going to eat healthy Grin

Geepee71 · 05/09/2021 22:02

@ShellieEllie I failed at the first hurdle! [Grin]

I had roasted tomato with rice for dinner, so part healthy, but unfortunately lacking in taste.

Geepee71 · 06/09/2021 10:12

Today (day 7 or 8) coffee tastes like warm water, so have moved over to hot ribena, which I can sort of taste.

Mum32021 · 06/09/2021 10:39

I'm week 4 0 smell and I can taste strong flavours if its sweet other then that nothing xx

Geepee71 · 06/09/2021 11:16

Oh no @Mum32021 I am hoping this is a very short term thing.

The plus side is cleaning cat litter tray is not quite as grim!