Loss of sense of smell for over two weeks [Archive]

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Pamplemousse

08-05-23, 13:59

Well, sadly I'm back here :(

A few weeks ago I developed a really horrible cold-like chest infection thing: the worst part of which came about midway when I was wheezing so badly at night the noise kept me awake for two nights. That was coupled with other things that just led to a Sunday From Hell (and lost earnings). But no real sneezing, no really bad cough, no fever. Just "one of those viruses", which others seem to have had - anybody here, for example?

The most unpleasant (and if I'm honest, distressing) thing though is that for two weeks or so I've not had any sense of smell whatsoever - not even the faintest hint of it. My nose does feel like it's congested or even swollen inside and (very) occasionally bleeds a little from the left nostril, but no sense of pain or irritation.

Why 'distressing', you may ask? Well, believe it or not a keen sense of smell can be useful in my job, but also no smell means food and drink - something I get great pleasure from - has become rather a 'meh' experience. However, and here's the crucial bit - the loss of a sense of smell was one of the first indicators that my sister-in-law had developed Parkinsonism and I'm terrified that the same is going on here.

Has anybody else here experienced this, before I try and see the vet?

Darksky

08-05-23, 14:20

I very much doubt it’s linked to Parkinson’s…you have a virus, that’s what it’s linked to.

Have you had a covid test btw?

There are loads of really stinking viruses about now. We had a bad once a couple of weeks back and lo and behold my other half has picked up another one already.

It will get better as these things do, in their own time. We just have to suffer in the meantime.

nomorepanic

08-05-23, 14:32

Sounds like Covid to me.

Pamplemousse

08-05-23, 14:36

Re: Covid tests - I'm always bothered that I don't "do them properly", but I did two spaced a couple of weeks apart and both were negative.

To be honest, I too thought "is this Covid?" given the odd nature of the illness, but the tests - such as they are - say otherwise.

If it was Covid (I've never had it), I'm surprised it was so... uneventful?

Darksky

08-05-23, 16:29

My eldest son had covid and repeatedly produced negative tests. :shrug:But covid is not the beast it was, at least for non compromised people. I had it about a year ago, it was nothing really. In fact the anxiety was worse…the fact that I’d produced a positive test after all that time and I knew I finally got ‘it’.

It may or may not have been covid but it’s definately some virus or other that will work it’s way out of you in its own good time.

Catkins

09-05-23, 06:35

I've knowingly had Covid twice, the first time the lateral flow test was repeatedly negative but a PCR was positive, the second time the lateral flow test was positive straight away. It does sound like Covid to be honest, but as Darksky says there are a lot of viruses about just now.

Carnation

09-05-23, 09:16

Mr C and I have had a virus which is a blocked nose, no sneezing, blocked ears, a cough, loose boughs, loss of smell and taste, no appetite and wheezing when lying down. It's not a cold, it's not flu, it's not covid so it must be a virus of some kind.

Pamplemousse

09-05-23, 13:11

Carnation

09-05-23, 14:04

Pamplemousse

09-05-23, 15:36

We are both in our 3rd week and it absolutely floored us.
The coughing seems to be coming from the throat or upper chest area. We do feel better but it's still lingering and it takes it out of you, especially the lack of a good night's sleep.
We had a little blood from the nose too!
What about you?

I'm probably into my third week (or more) now. It wasn't completely debilitating although I did have a couple of coughing fits at work that really took it out of me a week or two ago. Not sleeping too badly now, although during the day I feel listless and occasionally breathless too - today's not so bad. Not had any nose bleeds for a few days now, likewise the cough has subsided but there's very noticeable post-nasal drip. I often find myself heading for bed during the day but that could just be the depression over it all getting to me.

Like you, the coughing seemed to be definitely trying to shift crap from the upper lungs and throat, but I never had a sore throat: the first indicator things were going wrong were a "peppery" feeling in my nose.

But worst of all, it's the inability to smell. Last week a mouse or a rat got into the kitchen at work and died under the cupboards: people were complaining about the smell and all I could say is "what smell?". I do have some sense of taste but it's altered by the loss of smell.

Carnation

09-05-23, 16:56

We didn't have the sore throat either.
The post nasal drip is causing the coughing, I'm sure.
I did hear that it was a 4 week virus and probably like yourself cannot wait to see the back of it.
Taste is beginning to come back but certain foods taste funny. I also had a chicken in the oven at the weekend and couldn't smell the normal aroma.

Pamplemousse

10-05-23, 22:28

Got a right royal bollocking off a friend of mine for posting here about this rather than seeing a GP. As my (medically trained) sister said - "and what exactly would a GP do?"

Carnation

11-05-23, 10:11

You posted because you wanted to see if anyone else had something similar to you. A GP wouldn't necessarily say that.

Scass

12-05-23, 15:20

Got a right royal bollocking off a friend of mine for posting here about this rather than seeing a GP. As my (medically trained) sister said - "and what exactly would a GP do?"

Well yes exactly. And if you had been concerned you would have got in touch with your GP wouldn’t you?

Pamplemousse

29-05-23, 21:24

Still can't smell anything so I shall make an appointment to see a GP next week.

It is really frustrating.

ServerError

29-05-23, 23:39

I've had covid three times and lost my sense of smell each time. My first infection was the most severe in terms of symptoms, but smell came back after a few days. The third time was a very mild illness and my smell was on and off for a few days but normal as soon as the worst of the infection passed. The second time was interesting: it was a much milder illness than the first time, but it took weeks for my smell to return. I was so relieved when it did. In the majority of cases, smell does return. There's some suggestion that smell training helps, where you repeatedly smell things over and over and it kickstars your smell again. I did a lot of this as soon as mine went and I suspect it may have helped, but I don't know for certain. Some people swear by zinc supplementation, but again, I don't know. I do know it's a really crappy thing to have to put up with. People don't understand the impact it has, as it robs you of the enjoyment of food or even the outdoors, and it can be potentially dangerous if your smell doesn't warn you to a threat such as something burning.

alpacagirl

30-05-23, 06:31

I lost my smell/taste with Covid. It was a weird experience. I could still taste sweet/salty etc but no actual flavours. I kept trying to smell my strongest minty essential oils but nothing. I was so happy the day I caught a whiff of dog food :). For me it was only about 4 days without any smell and then took a while to get back to normal. This was during bushfire season and I was always peeking out the window as we are in a high risk area.

Carnation

30-05-23, 09:32

Pamplemousse, I'm still having smelling issues. It's so faint. My taste has returned but its still not 100%.

Pamplemousse

12-06-23, 21:02

An update. I had a repeat performance of this infection ten days ago! I got to speak to a GP today and frankly, it was a waste of time. I was told that if my sense of smell doesn't return in another four weeks, I'll be eligible for smell training.

However... I did think I could smell something cooking in the microwave today. Here's hoping.

Carnation - how are you doing?

ServerError

12-06-23, 21:45

When I lost my smell, the first sign of it coming back was when I started to think I might have smelled something, so here's hoping.

When I told my doctor about losing my smell/taste, he said it usually comes back in the end and not to worry too much about it. He was right in my case. I do wonder if not worrying about it and believing it would be okay helped in some way. Also, I start smell training as soon as I notice a problem. No idea if it helps but I think it's possible.

Carnation

12-06-23, 22:28

Pamplemousse

12-06-23, 23:33

When I lost my smell, the first sign of it coming back was when I started to think I might have smelled something, so here's hoping.

Now oddly, that's what happened today - but strangely if I put my nose over said ready meal, I couldn't smell it! Fingers are crossed here too.

When I told my doctor about losing my smell/taste, he said it usually comes back in the end and not to worry too much about it. He was right in my case. I do wonder if not worrying about it and believing it would be okay helped in some way. Also, I start smell training as soon as I notice a problem. No idea if it helps but I think it's possible.

Trouble is, I always have a nasty thought in the back of my mind: several years ago (in pre-Covid times - remember those?) my sister-in-law also lost her sense of smell after a cold. Sadly, it was mere coincidence: in fact it was an early indication of what was to become Parkinsonism.

Pamplemousse

12-06-23, 23:36

My smell has come back but it's much fainter than it normally is pamplemousse.
I can't believe the doctor said that to you but as ServerError has mentioned the smell training then maybe it's something worth trying.

The trouble is, I rely on my sense of smell in my work - as in, "is that piece of kit overheating?", never mind "is the milk off for the tea?"

Carnation

13-06-23, 09:46

Pamplemousse, my dad had Parkinsons so I'm very aware of the symptoms and I can understand that you may have concerns. The 'no smell' issue is not an automatic indication that it points to this. I had a test for Parkinsons because of my worrying.
I know several people that have this smell issue after they have had a virus / flu. I think the smell training is a good idea.
I expect you have to extra vigilant at work because of this, must be a real pain.

Pamplemousse

11-07-23, 14:43

Well, eleven weeks down the line and my sense of smell is now limited to odd flashes of things like bleach, mangoes and my late wife's perfume - but all very faint and transient, otherwise it remains non-existent.

How have others coped with this?

dorabella

12-07-23, 00:13

When that happened to me (the Virus in 2020) first time I lost both sense of smell and taste ... went on for nearly a week.

I found, in terms of 'training' that acidic or piquant are the best stimulators ... try vinegar. or fresh lemon. I was sniffing the vinegar bottle for a week and got quite high on it. Found the sense of smell coming back preceded that of taste.

shazbog

22-07-23, 08:32

I am same now about 2 weeks ago had a niggling sore throat and swollen glands in one side of neck but now have really thick loose cough that makes me wheeze at night when laying down and blocked nose but difficult to blow away and cough is very yukky - and oddly i don’t feel particularly unwell - feel hot occasionally but no temp and it is throwing me into a complete meltdown with my health anxiety. I am totally run down - had my first cold sore for 18 years and now have the summer off work but feel it is going to take me this time to get just anywhere near normal

Lencoboy

22-07-23, 12:50

I reckon a lot of what's been happening recently with these so-called 'mystery' bugs is some kind of knock-on effect from the recent Covid pandemic, rather than actual Covid itself, which (for better or worse) is barely figuring in the main news headlines of late, especially as during the 2-year period between spring 2020 and spring 2022 we were living under heavy restrictions which of course virtually eliminated the spread of non-Covid bugs, and since the easing of such restrictions many have obviously come back with a vengeance, even though most of us didn't generally bat an eyelid over them pre-pandemic. Plus Covid in turn for the vast majority is probably now just 'another' virus.

I guess the same also applies to the likes of Swine Flu and many other viruses from over the years.