Taste and smell issues

[Catperson18]

Good evening,

I hope everyone is well. I saw this page through Facebook and thought it might be helpful to find out more about my condition and what I am going through.

Just coming up for 3 months ago I managed to take a spill backwards 8 foot off of a wall. It’s all been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions since then. I have been incredibly lucky, Kings pretty much saved my life and I have had such a caring wife and family.

I am still trying to get used to my new life with my fancy crash helmet and the what seems to be the obligatory headaches and dizzyness (which I am hoping will be fixed next month)

What I am really struggling with is my sense of smell and taste. I have both but everything is very confused. For example fruits Lemon/Orange/raspberry along with Rosemary/Oregano etc just have the same floral taste. Meats like pork and steak either have no taste or strange taste

I really am enjoying sweet puddings and things that are heavily spices or cooked for a long time and cheese and bread.

I get that this is a price that I may have to pay for being alive. But does anyone have any advice of anywhere I could go to get this looked at or has a similar Experiences ? My local GP suggested that is could be where my wires have been scrambled after taking the hit to the scull and the consequent operations but I would like to investigate if there is any options to make this better.

Thanks in advance

[HungryHufflepuff]

I’ve lost my sense of smell. There is apparently a program to train yourself to relearn smells (I don’t know if this works for someone with no sense of smell at all) but I can’t remember what it’s called. It was created fir people who lost their smell and taste due to coronavirus. Maybe you can find it bu googling. Wishing you all the best.

[cat3]

Hi Catperson. Loss or distortion of smell/taste is a common symptom of brain injury. I still can't eat red meat 9 years on from a brain haemorrhage ; beef, lamb, pork all tastes rancid ..(depressing at first but manage fine without it now).

My sense of smell was badly affected and I had to dispose of favourite perfume & other fragrances, though nowadays I can smell very little.

But I was adamant that I'd force myself to stick with certain foods that I'd loved all my life. So, starting with tomatoes, I persevered for around six months in eating them (family didn't get why I tortured myself, screwing up face all that time).

But I managed to 're-train' my brain by concentrating really hard on the the tomato itself and on the taste I'd always loved. Eventually they became tolerable and then enjoyable. Other foods followed ...but not all.

Bear in mind that your (what's called) 'Olfactory disturbances' might resolve in time with no need for intervention (some do). So maybe give it more time and then decide whether to seek help (I was told there's no effective treatment) or whether it's manageable after all ......hope it's the latter. Cat x

[paxo05]

Hi,

Like cat says it is fairly common to different degrees also it may not be permanent.

Initially i lost most taste and some smell. Thankfully taste has sttled down aoart from sour. Mik and cream being main culprits not being able to taste when off.

Smel is weird as i cant smell gas and things cooking al i get is the smell of heat( a smell i never knew existed pre bi).

Basically its early days. Try and acept how you are at present but strive to improve. It can be a long process but ike you say you are still here to battle on.

I must admit i wish i had learnt to accept earlier. Also the that acceptance isnt defeat and doesnt mean giving up to improve.

All the best

Pax

[Catperson18 in reply to paxo05]

Thanks for the reply. I am getting that smell while cooking, this seems to then overtake some of the smells I should be having. I am getting used to it slowly, it’s just foods before that I used to look forward to eating have now changed and I guess I just need to get out of my head that they will have the same taste profile

[Paddington18]

Hi

3 and a half years on from his TBI, my partner still has no taste and no smell. He can sense the heat of ginger and chilli but nothing else. It makes him sad he gets quite down about it. We tried the retraining programme but it relies on memory of smells and his memory is shot! However, we remind ourselves that he’s alive and largely functioning in the world. Our cooking focuses on textures and he prefers hot food

[sammm2k]

Having little taste & smell can be annoying until you get used to it it also has an effect on my appetite, I never feel like eating but know I must to survive. Its been almost 6 years for me but on positive note I don't smell dogs mess when I'm picking it up lol 😆 but I do smell burning...weird

[Catperson18 in reply to sammm2k]

Very strange, I am just smelling the scent of cooking which I didn’t before. Small blessing is I don’t get woken up if one of the cats used the litter tray in the evening.😀

[Painny]

Sorry to hear about your injuries. I had Covid last year, a severe Covid, hospitalisation. For two months I did not touch food and drink, my sense of smell and taste became very strange. These two senses are even more confused after the head injury.

So I just let it be but I’m due for a second round of MRI.

Have you considered seeing a private consultant?

[Catperson18 in reply to Painny]

I am due to see the consultant regarding the cranioplasty next month at the hospital and was going to discuss with the surgeon, I was aiming to give it 3/4 months to see if it comes back.

[Painny in reply to Catperson18]

Such a good idea, I hope all goes well, let us know about the advice you get if possible. Wishing you well xx

[Catperson18 in reply to Painny]

Thanks. I have just been given an appointment to speak to a surgeon about a Cranioplasty next Friday. I am going to see if he has any suggestions.

[Painny in reply to Catperson18]

Hope all goes well 😍

[FiHut]

Like you I have lost my taste for certain food stuffs but the bigger problem is the texture of the food in my mouth and bad enough to make me sick - no idea where it has come from. I also find myself feeling nauseous just walking around the supermarket when I imagine how the foodstuff would feel to eat!!

[Catperson18 in reply to FiHut]

Sorry to hear this. I must admit one of the most frustrating things is cooking something I really think I’m going to like and forgetting it’s not nice (eggs in particular) hope it sorts it out for you.