Just think

[Sarahgertrude1]

A bad day anyway but When your work colleagues say it’s a good thing you can’t smell. I’m holding back the tears inside, thinking I would do anything to smell/taste again. Just a throw away comment that means so much to somebody else.

[bexx87]

I get insensitive comments about my chest size or weight gain as they class it as banter because I'm one of 4 women in a office of 25/50 men I think hows that for gender ratio just check out my banner on my profile pic that eis 1 of 2 tables we had booked to see little me surrounded by 10 men which isn't even a fifth of our office

Two people at the front 3rd line support - network team who I work close with

Next two people along you have the service desk manager on the left and then an account manager on the right

Next I'm on the right and a project team member opposite

The next to him another project team member and the guy at the back next to me is my managers manager manager (so senior manager) who over sees the department when we had that wannacry attack that took out the NHS as we support some branches of the trust we had to run around like headless chicks and that was the guy who brought the office thank you drinks for making sure we didn't get held to randsom so they couldn't bunny hop from the NHS as a gateway and the two guys at the front (sorry gonne talk techie now so be prepared to get lost) had to harden all our firewalls so they couldn't punch through

[Shon48]

I sympathise with you . I have lost the ability to taste things properly so therefore have lost nearly 3stones . Fed up with people telling me I have to eat to keep my strength up . Heavens I’m 65 years old and not stupid . I fancy everything to eat but when I try it ,it tastes rank. I would kill just for a piece of toast, butter and marmalade . Luckily I can still smell . Why are people so insensitive? Ignorant people 😡😡. Rise above it 🤗🤗🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Shona xx

[cat3]

I do empathise Sarah. My smell and taste became corrupted shortly before a brain haemorrhage and, though I read it could be a symptom of a brain issue, my GP laughed and gave me nasal drops. Four weeks later I had the bleed. The neuro consultant pointed out that olfactory issues are a classic symptom, and the three other women in my four bed ward were similarly affected.

It's upsetting when people are dismissive about something which affects our daily life. Even now, 7 years on, no one understands the feeling of loss I have by finding favourite foods and smells disgusting, or having no olfactory powers at all (get this intermittently) and living in such a sterile world.

I've tried to appreciate once-favourite foods by forcing myself to recall their taste as I eat them but, though I can manage to tolerate some knowing they're not going to kill me, others taste so rancid or have a weird chemical taste that I have to spit them out to avoid vomiting.

But I've felt a big improvement over the years which became noticeable around the two year point. It might be that new pathways in the brain have started to kick start these senses or that I've learned better management over time. All I know is that it was distressing at first but I rarely think about it nowadays and manage to enjoy most of what I eat.

………....just wish I could smell the flowers !

Don't lose heart m'love ; for some folk the problem actually resolves itself after a couple of years or so. Hope that's the case with you ! Cat x

[CH56Twin]

Hello Sarah I do understand when you say that people do not fully acknowledge what you are saying. Sometimes this is done out of perceived "kindness" by this person. My husband did this when I was initially ill and in his mind he was encouraging me to be positive. So frustrating for me. My goodness he had no idea how much I was trying to be positive. Cut a long story short 18 months later my psychologist explained it to him. Annoyingly he accepted what she said (not me) but I have to look past that and remember at least he now accepts that it is not a case of me not trying. So it does not surprise me to hear your story, but it does make me a little sad. This work colleague has absolutely no idea of where you are in your life never mind an understanding of why you would say what you did - not even an ants concept! Stand strong girl. You know the truth of the matter and the people on this site have an understanding of you and your point of view and your life situation. Try not let the people at work bother you too much if you can. I do know that, that can be sometimes easier said than done. Good luck Clare.

[Sarahgertrude1]

Thank you all for your words of support, it’s nice to know that there are people that understand!! It has been 7 years since my accident where I suffered a brain injury. It has been a long journey. When I hear other people’s stories I know that I was very lucky and I must be grateful for that. But there are times where I just need to hear those words of encouragement/ it will be ok.

[Hidden]

Hi,

It's not just clueless people, the psychologists are taught to "normalise" anything you're facing too. Very frustrating. Sometimes you'd just like someone to acknowledge that it might not be great!

The positivity crew usually mean well, but even on the days when you actually feel lucky to be alive right through to your bones, somehow, someone in full health telling you so, grates on that last nerve!

I'm not religious but there is one phrase that has helped me get through the misguided "I know just what you mean" comments, the dismissive, the sceptical, and the snide comments; their shared looks and raised eyebrows, the family problems, the friends disappearing, your manager's badly concealed relief when you say you can't cope so you're leaving; the "you're just not trying hard enough" through to the "you're trying too hard" comments....

Forgive them, they know not what they do.

I remind myself that it was only when I found this forum and realised how normal all my symptoms were, that I realised that I wasn't going insane - and I had lived though it for two years at that point.

How can they hope to understand something like this when most of the medical profession struggled.

There will always be someone on here that knows what you're going through...keep sharing!

[Hidden]

This post came up on another forum, I shared it to here a few days ago, but in case you missed it...

betterbrained.com/life-with...

[Sarahgertrude1 in reply to Hidden]

Wow, that was powerful!! A great read. Just how I feel some days.