Are people still losing smell?

[Mattietoes]

Just wondering if people are still having this experience?

I reckon I started with covid around 29th December, noticed an effect on my smell on the 30th and only tested positive yesterday (first test I did). It's not completely gone but much, much weaker - e.g. can smell bleach/scented candle if I hold it right under my nose, but went into bathroom just after DH had had a shower earlier and couldn't smell any of the residual shower gel etc. Taste is relatively normal, though not getting full flavour of food. Haven't noticed any real change over the last few days, which is stressing me out. I had covid in Dec 2021 and lost smell/taste completely for two days, but then it came back very quickly. This is hanging on much more stubbornly!

Getting myself very worried that this will last forever because there's been no change at all in the last few days. It's good to have some smell but it's only about 20% of normal and I find it very distressing. I am still testing positive on lateral flow, though fairly faint.

Thanks!

No, I didnt loose taste or smell with this one.

I had Covid early in October for the second time and my sense of smell faded out for a few days. Back quickly though, just like the first time.

Hmm, probably different variants around. My sinuses feel very sore and dry with this one which I haven't had before.

My father has it at the moment, he says his sense of smell is fine. No fever, just a cough and a lot of sinus issues.

Yes, I lost my sense of smell when I had covid at the start of December. Not completely like I had the year before but very much limited like you say. It took nearly 2-3 weeks to come back to normal. Hope it comes back for you soon, because like you say, it is actually quite distressing. I think it's the thing that's bothered me the most when I've been ill.

Yes, and it has always happened with all viruses but is worse/more common/different with COVID.

This charity has info: https://www.fifthsense.org.uk/

Also: https://abscent.org/about-smell-loss

Everything I read when I was looking into this said is that the vast majority of people get their sense of smell back but it might be a while and it can be a bit different when it returns.

Yes definitely the most distressing thing for me! Is yours completely back to normal now? And did you do anything to help it come back?

Look into smell training if you want to try to assist it.

I tested positive for covid on 18 December, haven't lost taste or smell completely but certainly not as intense as was it was before covid. However does seem to have been better today, so hopefully it will be back fully soon.

Me! I tested positive New Years Eve after a couple of days of symptoms - was feeling truly awful so tested.

I’ve been off food, and foods not tasting right. Today I noticed I couldn’t smell very well. I can’t really smell soap and perfumes, but like you I can smell candles (strong smelling ones) if I stick my nose right in it. I would say my smell is at about 20% normal too. It may have been like this for a day or two.

My appetite is out the window and I just don’t want to eat things, as I know it will taste rubbish. Living off waffles, toast and the odd protein shake.

My sense of smell came back after about a month or two.

Such a similar experience! We'll have to monitor how quickly it comes back... I have moments where I think it's coming back and feel really excited, but then other times it seems weaker than ever. From what I've read, I think the fact that we have some residual smell is a good thing, in terms of recovery.

I had a cold before Christmas. The day before Christmas eve I was cuddling my dog when I notice I couldn't smell her. I couldn't smell my takeaway and people smoking when I noticed my smell had gone. Tested myself for covid cause of seeing my grandparents over christmas but tests was negative. My smell came back to normal few days later.

I’ve completely lost smell and taste - so much so that I thought I’d forgotten to put the oven on (roast chicken)

Am v tired with a cold and loosing bowels bit negative LFT?!

I would test again in a few days, wouldn't be surprised if it was positive...