I lost my sense of smell four years ago. The doctors told me that it is natural and that it is not a sickness

case 0818

I can't smell. To me, smelling is like eating chick peas; you can feel it but it doesn't have a taste. I can feel smells in my nose but they don't smell.

case 0819

Three months ago, at the age of 55, I had an attack of acute sinusitis. Since then I lost my ability to smell. Only sometimes I can smell sharp odors and I did not lose my sense of taste.

case 0820

I'm unable to smell. When I go candle shopping I can't smell the candles. Sometimes, which is very, very rare I can smell very strong odors. These would be terribly strong for the normal person, but for me I can barely smell them. I can't smell food cooking, etc.

case 0821

Two months ago I noticed that although I could smell all odors as they presented (strawberry smelled like strawberry) the fact is that when no odor presented itself to me I smelled a distinct constant unchanging odor. This odor was only masked but as I said revealed itself after any other odor presenting itself has passed. Likewise, I have an unpleasant taste in my mouth which did not interfere with my diet as, whatever I ate, I tasted well enough. But in the absence of any food, the foul taste returns to my mouth.

case 0822

I was prescribed a nasal spray for my asthma. About eight months later I noticed that I had lost my sense of smell and also experienced other side effects of the drug.

case 0823

I had a bad flu and lost my sense of taste while I was sick. My sense of taste came back but I can no longer smell. If a product has a strong chemical smell (say, a bathroom cleaner, or gasoline) I can detect a sensation that tells me I am smelling something strong but I cannot identify the smell. I can absolutely not tell if I smell clean after a shower or sweaty after gardening. It is distressing.

case 0824

I lost my sense of smell and went to three ear nose throat doctors. The only treatment that helped temporarily was prednisone. Now, two years later I still have no sense of smell.

case 0825

At the beginning of this year I noticed that certain things, mostly food, began to smell very unpleasant. This makes it difficult to eat. I cannot describe the smell. It is just very unpleasant and unappealing. Also, very interestingly, the same smell attaches to my perfume which I have been using for 15 years and to my spray net which in the past was very mild smelling. At other times during the day, I will smell this same odor when there is no food or other cause for odor to be around.

case 0826

After I had the flu I noticed that my sense of smell had disappeared. I went to my doctor and he said it was unusual to lose your sense of smell unless you had a head injury such as in a car accident. My sense of smell sometimes returned but recently it has gone altogether. I have tried nasal sprays and these worked for about an hour but then the smell was not very strong. Two years ago I was diagnosed with asthma and I noticed when I was on steroids for an asthma attack my sense of smell comes back but as soon as I am off the steroids it goes again. I am very frustrated that I can't smell anything most of the time. Recently I was cleaning the cooker and I must have turned the gas knob on but didn't realize until my husband came home and noticed the gas had been on. I find this very worrying as I have also burnt pans etc. At the moment I have no smell sensation at all.

case 0827

I smell a musty, moldy, stuffy smell after a sinus operation two years ago. The problem is that there seems to be a smell from my nose or mouth. The ear nose throat doctor says it's phantosmia, but can you have that if there is a smell? No specialist has any ideas.

case 0828

I remember that when I was five I told my teacher that I had no sense of smell. That is the earliest memory of me telling someone I've lost my sense of olfaction. Ever since then I've never been able to smell a single thing.

case 0829

I have gradually lost my sense of smell over the last few years. I had a bad cold, allergy and asthma symptoms at the same time. When I recovered from the cold, my sense of smell was completely gone. I have recovered a very small portion of it since. I occasionally get a whiff of a fragrance... like when my husband first puts on his cologne, or a whiff of something burning, or even my own perfume. I sometimes get a whiff my husband or myself when we've been working outside in the heat. It is very, very frustrating to not know if I smell okay when I go out in public. I helped my husband bale hay last week and ever since then all I can smell is exhaust fumes....night and day! Awful! I also have put on weight during this.

case 0830

I experienced a complete loss of smell and taste following use of an unapproved homeopathic product. Now eating food is similar to eating textured water. I have tested my sense of smell using fishy canned cat food and Vicks vapor rub and still have nothing. I do not know yet if this damage is permanent. I found out after the fact that this product had been recalled although I never saw anything about the recall in the news.

case 0831

About two years ago after a bout of flu I noticed that I had lost my sense of smell. It has never returned and I have seen my doctor who told me that the flu virus had killed my olfactory nerves. I had treatment of nasal drops containing steroids, but to no avail. Very occasionally I get a whiff of something, but it passes in a second. Generally I can detect if there is a change in the atmosphere e.g. if someone sprays perfume, but I cannot distinguish the difference between smells — the whole world smells the same to me!

case 0832

I caught a severe upper respiratory infection five months ago. I first developed a hacking cough and fever and then the symptoms went into my nose where the illness ended up as a nasty cold. When the cold entered my nose I lost my sense of smell and taste and they have since only returned to about 25% of my sensitivity before the cold. I have seen an ear nose throat doctor who told me that if my senses do not return to normal in a year the loss is probably permanent, and there's nothing that can be done. I can't smell subtle smells and strong, organic smells (feces, garbage, vehicle exhaust, skunk odor, coffee) all smell the same. They all smell like burnt vegetables in a fetid swamp. I tend to be able to "taste" acidic items like citrus (especially lemons and oranges), and vinegar. I can sense sweet, sour, salt and umami. I can actually pick up many smells if I bring the items close to my nose and inhale deeply, but the odors usually extinguish quickly.