Loss of smell after TBI

[Reeve77]

Hi, after my TBI I lost all sense of smell, anyone else had this? Did it ever come back? I must admit the thought of not smelling cooking bacon again does annoy me a little............

[Candace8]

Yes I did have that and it has come back, not brilliantly but I can smell my dogs pumps so it can be better not too. It came back very very slowly. I'm 6 years on after my bi and it didn't start happening till bout a year ago. I can wear perfume now and I really missed those smells. It should come back. It's not definite but it can take years. Re perfume I can only smell it for about 30 seconds but I still love it even if it's short. It's nice when people say I smell nice. Saying that I probably put to much on but hey , I really hope yours comes back. It doesn't send the message to the brain at first xx

[dawny in reply to Candace8]

Had my tbi 4 n half month ago, taste and smell so disgusting I'm struggling to cope, time will tell xxxx

[Reeve77 in reply to dawny]

You will get better and will learn to get used to it, I would never say get over it or anything but you will learn to deal with it, it’s horrible, mine has been nearly 3 years now and it still bugs me, the worst thing for me is I don’t know if I smell or not!! I can’t use deodarent cost to me it stinks and it’s horrible!!! I would rather smell than sight or hearing tho, that’s one blessing, chin up dawny, you may always get it back, the smell of bacon cooking on a Sunday morning is just a distant memory but I am always hopeful x x

[cat3]

This is so common Reeve. I found it freaky at first 'til I found that the three other women in my ward had the same symptom.

My taste has also been corrupted in that many of my favourite foods now taste awful i.e. bananas, tomatoes and all red meats. I'm 5 years on now and, although I haven't found many improvements in my olfactory senses, it no longer troubles me as it did in the early days.

It's like many aspects of brain injury ; we cant often fix things but we can learn coping skills and tricks to live with them. Interestingly, the two tastes/smells which have returned are chocolate ............................and bacon ! xx

[dawny in reply to cat3]

All that's left is salt and marmalade, the rest is so unpleasant I can't put it into words.

[Reeve77 in reply to dawny]

I get you on that one, I put an air freshener in my work van today and it’s horrible!!!! Everything smells like tar!!

Just as a way of update all, I have managed to get my group 2 licence and have passed my LGV class 2 (January)

On a bad note tho, my compensation claim has been dropped!! Gutted!! Poss £200k just gone!! All because of the first responder report, not happy, however I’m going to another solicitor for a second opinion, always worth a go, it’s never been about the money as such but holding people to account, my life has changed forever, my family went through hell and back while I was in a coma, it’s not fair that no one is held to account - sorry guys rant over 😀😀 x x

[Balaton52]

Hi Reeve, weird isn't it! 5 years on and mine hasn't returned.... taste did tho. If one sense had to 'go' I'm glad it was that one really . Have to ask hubby lots of smelling questions...have I put perfume on? Which one? What's this one smell like? But when all the males are visiting I'm often glad I can't smell lol.

Like everything else resulting from our 'incidents ' we'll learn to live with it!

Xx

[Reeve77 in reply to Balaton52]

Thanks for the replies, yes without a doubt I'm also glad that it was the loss of smell and nothing else, I'm used to it now but still find it annoying sometimes but as you say, we just learn to live with it

[Nutkin33]

Hi there

My accident was almost 4 years ago and I still have no sense of smell. My taste is not that great either I make all my food as spicey and textured as possible!

Good luck with yours. It may come back eventually!

Debs

[lily82]

My TBI was over 20 years ago, and my sense of smell isn't normal. I can barely smell anything, and things that should smell nice (perfume, flowers etc) smell horrible.

Does/ did anyone get 'phantom smells'? Cos that was really weird!

[Reeve77 in reply to lily82]

Hi yes I also get phantom smells, mainly things from my childhood, toffee apples, my mums old caravan..........

[debbie36a]

My husband has lost his sense of smell and it's permanent they've said. Although sometimes he's convinced he can smell burning when there isn't x

[Reeve77 in reply to debbie36a]

Hi, yes I have also been through that stage of smelling burning but haven't for a while, now everything just smells like tar......

[lily82 in reply to debbie36a]

Phantom smells? I had that too.

[Reeve77 in reply to lily82]

According to my solicitor who has dealt with my sort of claim many times said she has heard that many many times so it must be common...........

[Reeve77 in reply to debbie36a]

Hi Debbie, Just out of interest any change on your husbands sense of smell? I know you said it was permanent but you never know 🤞🏻

[sashaming1]

My post-TBI smell and taste is just mostly gone.