Loss of sense of taste and smell.

[RobH74]

Hi everyone. I suffered a double skull fracture at the end April and since my operation I have lost my sense of taste & smell. The last 2 months I have seemed to acquired chemical type smell also? Im a bit lost at the mo so any help would be amazing!

[cat3]

Hi Rob. Loss of taste/smell are common brain injury issues. Like you, rather than losing my sense of smell, it became corrupted a few weeks before a brain haemorrhage. Weeks later, my taste became corrupted too.

Everything was tinged with a really unpleasant chemical smell/taste. I gave my favourite, fresh smelling perfume to a friend who couldn't understand how I could interpret something so 'lovely' as foul.

It was the same with long standing favourite foods such as red meat, tomatoes, chocolate, fruit etc ; the whole situation felt bizarre and depressing.

The problem has persisted for many years but, honestly, I soon started adapting to it, initially by avoidance of things most problematic, and gradual reintroduction of tainted foods in small amounts.

8 years on, I still can't tolerate red meat and still struggle with tomatoes (but tolerate tomatoes as one of my few fruit options) and I'm no longer troubled by the issues and enjoy a wide range of foods. I'd say, after the initial shock, I adapted to the changes within 6-9 months.

Anosmia (loss of smell/taste) is the commonest olfactory issue and one which can resolve itself, whereas Troposmia is less so and more persistent. But it's amazing how, with time, you'll adapt and manage the condition.......and there's always a chance it'll resolve. Good luck in coping with it Rob ; it's horrible in the early days, I know.

Best wishes, Cat x

[RobH74 in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat for this. I'm finding the whole process quite upsetting now as it doesn't seem to be getting any better at all. I have noticed that I feel more in textures than taste if that makes sense? Like if I eat a chilli then my taste buds that register heat and spiciness will react I just cannot taste it. I work in food production in a blend department so I use some very strong spices and other ingredients which can be quite potent but nothing registers. We use a very pungent mustard blend which my colleagues literally struggle to use as its so strong but I now am the man who mixes it as its doesnt effect me! I do the cooking at home and have always loved experimenting with new flavours but I do struggle with appetite now as well. My surgeon has booked me in for an MRI next week to see if anything else might be causing the loss but I'm also preparing myself that I need to learn a new way to somehow enjoy food again!

[cat3 in reply to RobH74]

It will come ; I promise. I know my SAH is much further behind me than in your case but, somehow, our brains manage to compensate in time (and time is the key).

I used to concentrate hard on remembering how a particular food item used to taste as I as was eating it and I'm convinced there's an element of retraining involved as it was only a matter of (approx) 9 months before I'd stopped 'grieving' for lost taste......and SOME taste HAS returned.

My only issue I have now is when someone says "You can't smell that ?......are you kidding me !!" when they know I have this problem. 😒

I really hope things improve for you Rob. Take care, Cat x

[RobH74 in reply to cat3]

I'm going all in on textures, colours and very new foods😀 Im going to retrain my brain.

[RockyMountain]

Hi Rob, I lost my smell and taste over 10 years ago following a TBI. You just have to adapt I’m afraid. I eat texturally, colours and variety. It’s a good opportunity to cut out all processed stuff and eat clean which is what I do.

The big thing is smell is associated with so much, memories, experiencing the full spectrum of life, that sense of plastic and not real, real.

My advice seize what you are, a survivor, embrace the positive and live your life.

Take care Alex.

[RobH74 in reply to RockyMountain]

Thats the thing that I feel I miss the most, being able to smell! Its such an integral part of enjoying life. Its been good to speak to others who have gone through the same experience and thank you for your kind comment Alex.

[eddstjohnoneday]

hi friend i had double inpact severe tramus found out about 4 to 5 years later id had a fracture cant put dates on this because apparently i had normal brain 2014 but double inpact was feb08 mri severe tramus i wonder if it was fracture d then .secound scan 30april 2014 got told another mri that had another severe tramus but it could of happened in 2011 serious heamatoma got ct results or maybe the second tramus was 2015 like i was told because my dad died but id been complaining of bad dizziness electric shocks 2011 to 2014 anyway sorry for me being so i suppose like im having a outburst im not im better than that

got a heart of gold and i can't get angry but i cant give a date my friend but i cant smell or taste or cry but i think a lot of are family members have the same symptoms my freind

hope and we have our angels on helpline plus we are family here so were special eddie

[RobH74 in reply to eddstjohnoneday]

Thank you my friend for sharing with me. 🙏 MRI is tomorrow so I hope they find what maybe causing it? If not, then I learn to taste and smell in another way!

[IndigoSunflower]

Hey,

The way a Dr described it to me was that my SAH had led to my 1st cranial nerve (the olfactory nerve) to be crushed by the weight of the blood. I lost my smell and taste but its slowly coming back. Chips or anything deep fried had this awful grease taste at first and things like peanut butter or white chocolate don't taste like anything now and I put this down to the lack of smell of these things, it's very subtle and therefore the taste is non existant. I hope your senses restore themselves. One thing I've found is that not being able to smell is a blessing in that, sometimes I have such sensory overload at least I don't have smells adding to that. I consider it a little gift my brain gave me to make everything a little bit easier and on the plus side, when they are manuring the fields and everyone is complaining, I can't smell it. It's hard and it's unfair that this has happened to us but now I try and see the best of a bad situation. I'm fortunate though and I just lost my smell rather than had it distorted.

Eve

[RobH74]

Thank you Eve. It seems everyone has a different recovery after a head injury and that's eased my mind knowing this. I'm now thinking more about dealing with it and not so much worrying about it. My kids have been really enthralled about what Dad cannot smell or taste, and I've been subjected to numerous tests they have put me through 😀

[sashaming1]

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