Anyone lost their sense of smell?

[lambskin]

I had a pretty bad sinus infection which was treated with Z-pack and Augmentin. I took a bunch of over the counter decongestants as well. I have been flushing out my nasal sinuses with saline water. I finally got over it but I have not been able to smell (or taste) now for 3 weeks. I made an appt. with my MD but wondered if anyone else had this happen to them. What have you done to help it? I love my food (I am a food nerd ) so my taste and smell are crucial. Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[partgypsy]

You can go to your doctor, or you can wait another month or so. The olfactory receptors turn over every 60 days, so if you did something to cause them to die off, they should replace themselves over that time. But I would check if you couldn't smell after that point.

 

[azstonie]

You poor thing!!! That is hard.

I worked at a healthcare institution which rhymes with "mayo-nnaise" for 9 years. What I learned there from ENT docs is you can actually irrigate your nasal passages TOO much. There is friendly bacteria in there, much like in your gut, that you need. Folks who over-irrigate lose that friendly bacteria.

If you can stand it, stick to Sudafed (the real thing or its generic, not that fake stuff that does not work) tabs, try taking 1 (a pediatric dose) before you try 2 at a time. The goal here is to let your nose rebound.

Also, NO ONE should use Zicam, if its even still available. They were sued/they lost and I think the FDA yanked the product because it permanently eliminated the sense of smell in many users.

I hope you feel better soon and lots of people regain their sense of smell given the tincture of time/no over-irrigating.

 

[momhappy]

I have no advice to offer, but just wanted to say that I'm sorry that you're dealing with that! It sounds incredibly frustrating. A sense of smell is something that many of us probably take for granted - until we don't have it any more. *Crossing fingers* that your sense of smell returns soon!!!

 

[MJ_Mac]

lambskin - I'm so sorry you're going through this. I suffer from recurring sinus infections so I know firsthand how painful they can be although I've never dealt with a loss of smell. I hope you regain your sense of smell soon - can't imagine how awful it must be.

azstonie - Great info. I never got into the nasal irrigation that much as I found it didn't help. I've had doctors and pharmacists recommend it but after what you've said I'm glad I never persued it.

 

[MollyMalone]

lambskin, I'm going to urge you to make an appointment with a good ENT specialist. And ask to be seen ASAP. As with Sudden Hearing Loss, which also can result from a cold or other infection, some forms of anosmia (loss of smell) that would otherwise be permanent, if left untreated, can be successfully treated with prednisone if that is prescribed earlier rather than later. But I wouldn't expect a general practitioner/internist to be well informed about the various tests and diagnostic analyses re anosmia.

I'm really hoping the ENT can reassure you that your anosmia is a transient condition & that you soon recover all your senses!!

P.S.

Also, NO ONE should use Zicam, if its even still available. They were sued/they lost and I think the FDA yanked the product because it permanently eliminated the sense of smell in many users.

Just as a fyi: it was the Zicam products directly applied to the nasal passages that were implicated in the loss of smell & the nasal sprays, swabs, gels were reformulated about 5 years ago -- after the FDA took action -- to eliminate any zinc, which was believed to be the culprit.

The oral forms of cold "remedies" with zinc as a touted ingredient, like Cold-eeze and Zicam's lozenges, have not given rise to reports of anosmia, but there are no independent studies which demonstrate that they have any value whatsoever to consumers.

 

[arkieb1]

I live with Sinus and loss of smell pretty well all the time. My sinus and in spring hayfever never fully goes away it just gets worse at various times of the year.

 

[KaeKae]

lambskin, I'm sorry to see you are going through this. If I were you, I'd be going to my doctor, just to be on the safe side.

But as a side story, I was dealing with a nasty sinus infection back in Jan/Feb. One of the symptoms I had was a weird sense of smelling smoke. Kind of like cigarette smoke, but not quite. It would come and go, mostly at quiet moments, especially in the car. For a little while I thought I was imagining things! After seeing two doctors, and going though two rounds of treatment (first, antibiotics and a steroid, then three weeks of Zyrtec-D and a nasal spray, whose name I forget right now) that weird smell, along with the more typical symptoms finally went away (and, knock on wood, have not returned.)

I share this to say that the nose and sense of smell is a mystery to me, and I'm hoping, as was suggested up thread, that your symptoms will be able to rectify themselves soon, with our without the help of your doctor. Best of luck.

 

[diamondringlover]

I am on week 2 of a sinus infection and bronchitis and for the last week I have no sense of smell or taste...I hope when this finally clears up they will come back, so I am watching this thread with interest, take care and I hope yours comes back soon as this is not a very pleasant thing to not be able to smell or taste I have never had it gone for this long.....I am not a fan lol

 

[luv2sparkle]

Yup, I used Zicam and have very little sense of smell. I have to say, though, having 4 boys, it hasn't always been a bad thing.

 

[Garnetgirl]

Lambskin, it's a horrible thing to go through. We generally don't think as much about our sense of smell as our other senses - until it's gone.

I've had this problem every time I get a cold. Most recently, I had the flu and lost my sense of smell for nearly a month. It DID finally come back. I certainly hope this will be the case for you.

Best wishes.

 

[azstonie]

KaeKae, that is exactly how I know my sinuses need attention, the off-smell like cigarette smoke that comes and goes.

Lambskin, you can irrigate, just not too much. Also, with Ocean spray, for example, you can stream it or use a wider spray and moisturize your nasal passages. I wonder if dryness leads to cracks and the cracked/open skin is the pathway for infection. Maybe do your irrigation per the ENT and then moisturize to keep the passages from being too dry?

 

[KaeKae]

KaeKae, that is exactly how I know my sinuses need attention, the off-smell like cigarette smoke that comes and goes.

So, it's happened to you more than once? I hope I don't experience it again, but you can be sure that if there is a next time, I'll be going to my doctor much more quickly.

 

[azstonie]

KaeKae, it happens a couple of times a year. I usually up the vitamin C and use Ocean spray to moisturize or irrigate. If my mucus (sorry) changes from clear to anything else, I go to the doctor (ENT).

 

[KaeKae]

Good to know, azstonie. Strangely, just this morning, I thought I was smelling something weird again. It hasn't happened again, and my head feels okay, so I'm crossing my fingers and going to pull out that vitamin C you mentioned. I bought a netipot not long ago, but haven't even opened the box. Maybe I'll do that tonight.

 

[lambskin]

Thank you all for replying. I did not use nasal sprays and I did not take Zicam. Only a variety of Day and Nightquils, Contact and Actifed. I just tried the sinus wash for about a week and saw no change. I am not congested but I have slight postnasal drip-no sore throat- or ear or head aches so the smell should have come back. I can smell perfume samples in a magazine but they are not strong. I could smell ammonia when I cleaned but not so much-so my eyes watered first. I still can not taste Cheetos and most other foods . But I still eat as certain food textures-cold, wet, crunchy etc feel good. Unfortunately I have not lost weight. Tomorrow I see my doctor and hopefully will not leave without a course of steroids. I'll keep you posted. Again, thank you all for your concern and comments.

 

[azstonie]

Hi KaeKae: Good plan there.

Bad smell is sometimes a symptom of a brain tumor---don't freak out okay? I get bad smell about 2 or 3 times per year and I don't have a brain tumor. You most likely don't either but if the bad smell increases in duration or badness, follow that up.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[KaeKae]

azstonie, no freaking out from me. While waiting to see my doctor, I searched ALL the possibilities. Lucky for me, the office has an x-ray machine on site and they did one, to be sure it was a sinus infection. My doctor read it, and prescribed the meds that worked, but also mentioned that if the radiologist saw anything she didn't, they would be in contact. That was back in February, so all is good, I hope!

And, actually, for a minute yesterday, I thought I was sensing that weird smell again. Until I realized it was the paint my kindergarteners were using within a foot of me. Washable tempera sometimes does smell funky.

 

[NOYFB]

DH and I are both getting over sinus infections (and bronchitis for me as well), too, so I can totally understand where you're coming from. I have had no appetite for the past few weeks because I literally could not smell or taste anything. The senses are starting to come back (I finished my course of antibiotics a week ago), so I agree with the others that it just takes time.

Sorry you are dealing with this. There's some pretty nasty bugs out there right now.

 

[lambskin]

Saw my doctor and he said to use Nasalcort for a few weeks as it has the same steroids as prescription nasal sprays. The good news: He says I will get my smell back. The bad news: It will take about six months!

 

[KaeKae]

Saw my doctor and he said to use Nasalcort for a few weeks as it has the same steroids as prescription nasal sprays. The good news: He says I will get my smell back. The bad news: It will take about six months!

SIX months??? This is one case I hope your doctor is wrong, and it returns much sooner! But, it's good to know you can look forward to getting back to normal.