Change to sense of smell - Can’t Eat!

[Togetherismyfavouriteplace]

I am almost 12 weeks pregnant and for the last 5 weeks my sense of smell has been really weird. Before that, I noticed things smelling a little off but for the last 5 weeks it has been so bad it’s difficult to live with.

Everything smells really funny, I wouldn’t say ‘heightened’ things just don’t smell how they should. Examples - most hot food smells really greasy, water smells like metal, the clean washing smells like rubber, garlic and onions just smell outright repulsive.

It’s so bad that I’m struggling to eat. As soon as I put anything in my mouth the smell is so strong in my nose it makes me sick. I am living off a very small handful of ‘safe’ foods but it’s become really miserable.

Just after reassurance that this is normal and will pass. This all started 5 days after my first C vaccine and I’m paranoid it might be linked to that? I’m due my second in a couple of weeks and if I knew it was because of that, I would not be taking the second one, that’s for sure!!

Please someone else have had this so bad to the point they struggle to eat. I just want it to know it’s normal and will pass as it’s so awful!

I’m not sure how useful this insight is, but…. James Herriot’s wife, Helen, had this in “All Creatures Great and Small”!

Have you done a PCR test?

Altered smell and taste can be a symptom of Covid infection - did you have any other symptoms of possible Covid around the time of it starting? If the onset was 5 days after your first vaccine then it wouldn't have had time to boost your immune system properly, so it's possible you could have caught Covid around that time - the smell/taste changes can last longer than the initial infection. An infection back then might not show up on PCR any more, but it's worth doing a PCR test anyway as it could still show up and might explain your symptoms?

@tiredanddangerous & @Scirocco
I did a PCR on the day these symptoms started just to be sure. Have done PCR’s since for peace of mind and all negative.

I definitely think it’s pregnancy related it’s just very severe and I wish I could know for sure to stop my worrying!

Are you sure you didn't have Covid at the time? That sounds very like how people describe Covid anosmia.

I had an incredibly heightened sense of smell when I was pregnant. But that was more that everything that smelled a bit unpleasant or strong made me gag, rather than things smelling different. So a whiff of cigarette smoke on the breeze and I was in the corner retching, the kitchen bin had to live outside and I avoided anywhere cooking food.

I have the exact same thing!!!! I've def not got covid I actually had no smell since I had covid months ago and it came back with pregnancy but just a strong horrible smell. Disgusting literally can't eat 🤢

Me OP! I'm 23 weeks now and it's still not really any better. It didn't start until around 16 weeks though and I had covid at 12 weeks if relevant. I completely sympathise because it's put me off eating completely xx

Yes, I had this. I didn't have covid, everything just smelt terrible e.g. my washing powder suddenly stank like arse. Wasn't related to the covid vaccine either, I had the smell thing in first trimester and didn't have first jab until 16 weeks.

Z

I was the same with thr smells. I occasionally add a scent booster to my washing...I had to rewash everything as thr smell was awful.

I just had sniff food in general and I was sick. I'm 8 days post paestum now and still have increased smell - the air just smells funny (it has done my whole pregnancy).

Yes! I had covid in January and Lost my smell but not taste.

I became pregnant at the end of March and my smell started to come back but things don't smell as they should and some things I still can't smell at all.

Since becoming pregnant my taste changed....chocolate and meat for example taste absolutely disgusting!

The only foods I've been able to eat throughout my pregnant that don't taste foul are bread, cereal, cheese and pancakes literally nothing else!
Baby won't let me have fizzy drinks etc I can only have water and milk everything else tastes disgusting its so odd!

I've been reassured that once baby arrives my taste will be back to normal but at 38 weeks I'm absolutely fed up and I miss food!

I hope things get better for you it really is difficult

I had a very heightened sense of smell with hyperemesis. I couldn’t stand the smell of my ex (partner at the time). He was absolutely repulsive.

Every single item of food in my kitchen seemed to have been tainted with the smell of an open pack of bounce dryer sheets that had been on the side for a few days. But of course, it actually hadn’t, it was just my super heightened sense of smell and taste. It was like I’d suddenly developed the senses of a cat or something.

The only foods I could tolerate were mashed potato’s, gravy and garden peas. Everything else was completely off limits.

I had similar when pregnant many years ago so pre-covid. Things just smelt "off" or slightly mouldy for a while. It did improve over the weeks though.
For a while I lived on salt and vinegar crisps, cheese and veggie burgers.
This too shall pass!

I have this!! It is really getting me down. I also struggle to eat or actually function because even the faintest smell puts me over the edge so work is hard . Bread (especially toasted ), cooked food, crisps, coffee, toothpaste , vegetables it all smells the same, nothing like it's actual smell, and really foul. A foul smell I can only describe as a little like dog breath/bin juice?!? The smell is so strong that I can taste it when I breath through my mouth.
I had wondered was it COVID related as it sounded to me like parosmia , which many people get after covid. I did have covid in August however my smell went back to normal a few weeks later. However pregnancy has definately brought this on. Hoping that it eases soon :(

I had this when I was pregnant. In hindsight I probably had HG; I couldn't eat or drink, I lost so much weight. All I could eat was a couple of plain cream crackers (tiny bits at a time), (well cooked) scrambled eggs and chicken consommé. Couldn't even brush my teeth as the smell of the toothpaste made me throw up. DP was cooked bacon and I almost killed him. Commuting was horrendous - I vividly recall the awful smelling citrus based cleaner they used in Liverpool Street Station. It was horrendous and it lasted most of my pregnancy. You have my sympathies OP.

I'm in my first trimester , everything smells horrendous and I can only eat white bread. At this rate that will be my Christmas dinner too!!

Not pregnant but my 13 year old had covid in Sept. She lost taste and smell for a week or two. Then was fine.
However 2 weeks ago she started struggling to eat as everything smells bad. I wondered. If she had a sinus infection or something but no. V v odd

I lived on satsumas and strawberry jam on crackers with mugs of tea. It's not fun

@Thesechipsdontlie me too! In fact I plan to stay in my house alone at Xmas as I don't want to burden everyone else with my smell intolerance ! How many weeks are you ? I'm 8 and hoping this is something that starts to peak then subside very soon 🙈

@justasking111 did it last the whole pregnancy

@Rekorderlig88 I've heard of this happening, it's called parosmia !

No it gradually eased but I still couldn't eat a lot of foods or stand smells.

I was like this in my first (way before Covid) pregnancy! All my senses were heightened/distorted including my hearing as well as taste. I pretty much survived on Big Macs and McDonald's fries

@Ally5506 I'm 7 weeks....last time it was til third trimester so I am hoping that it eases off soon!! No mince pies this year it seems!