Does anyone have loss of sense of smell / taste? Any improvement when better medicated?

[TaraJR]

Does anyone have experience of losing their sense of smell when hypo? This has happened to my sister over the past year or more. Her sense of taste isn't 100% now either, but it's her sense of smell has deteriorated more. She's been hypo for over 20 years, and only ever had Levo. I wonder if this can be a hypo symptom? And if so, could it improve if her levels & medication were optimal. I bet they're not! Thank you.

[RedApple Administrator]

TaraJR,

Inappropriate thyroid hormone levels certainly can affect any and all of the senses. Many people experience problems with taste, smell, hearing, vision etc.

Obviously there can be other causes for these problems, but ensuring optimum thyroid levels is a good starting point. B12 deficiency is worth considering too.

[TaraJR in reply to RedApple]

Thank you... I've learnt lots about thyroid issues over the past few years, and this forum has helped me get my lie back. But I hadn't heard about it affecting the senses. I'd like her to get all her levels checked properly, and take it from there. She doesn't know if she's got Hashimotos, or what any of her levels are

[RedApple Administrator in reply to TaraJR]

Let's hope she listens and acts on the wise words of advice from her caring sister

[TaraJR in reply to RedApple]

Thanks RedApple - You're too kind! I hope she will. She's been sent to lots of other specialists for different tests... Sounds a familiar story doesn't it. If I hear any more I'll try to remember and post on here...

[Gr8Nica]

When I was diagnosed (Hashimotos) as soon as I was put on levo I've lost my sense of taste completely and my sense of smell went very wonky. Initially, I was so sensitive, every perfume, smell of food or even toothpaste was so strong it was making me sick then there were times I could not smell anything. It took several months for it to get better however on occasion I still have problems with taste and smell, probably when my hormones are low.

[TaraJR in reply to Gr8Nica]

Oh goodness, that's horrible. Are you still on Levo, or have you been given something different? Are your levels really good now?

[Gr8Nica in reply to TaraJR]

Still on levo, never was allowed for T3 to be added nor changed to NDT.

My levels still need to be improved, altogether with my anemia and low vitamins. Still a little bit ahead of me.

[Hillwoman]

I've had this problem for a long time, and both sense of taste and sense of smell continued to deteriorate until I started treating longstanding pernicious anaemia myself. As with thyroid disorders, the medical profession simply do not have a handle on the damage caused by current diagnostic and treatment protocols.

In my case, the damage proved to be permanent - I can't taste much at all on the right side of my tongue; natural floral scents now seem muted or absent - but your sister may well improve with B12 supplementation, since one doesn't need to have PA for B12 to be low. Deficiency is quite common, epsecially with hypo-T and Hashi's. It's all to do with low stomach acid and intrinsic factor production. Izabella Wentz, the Thyroid Pharmacist, is a good source of info on this.

[TaraJR in reply to Hillwoman]

Many thanks for this.. I'll get all this info to her. And a link to Medichecks. I think she needs a full profile done to start with.

[Hillwoman in reply to TaraJR]

Yes, that would be a good place to start.

Your sister is lucky to have you.

[purple64]

I have graves which is hyperactive. I have lost my sense of taste and smell. I know if things are sweet bitter salty or sour but other than that I could be eating anything 😂. It's also hard to know if anything has gone off eg milk as my sense of smell is not so good 🙄. I will mention it again when I see my GP or Endo.

[Kell-E]

I did not know that I had a problem with sense of smell. After having been on levo for six years, when I switched to NDT I noticed that everything smelled like something. For instance I can smell hydrangea blooms whereas before I didn't know they had a smell. On levo I had good T4 levels, but T3 was low and RT3 was relatively high. On NDT my T4 level is low, RT3 level low and T3 low in range, but things like sense of smell have improved.

[humanbean]

I haven't lost my sense of smell and taste completely but they are much, much more muted than they used to be.

I have a theory, which I haven't had tested, that I may have developed Sjogren's Syndrome, a condition in which moisture producing glands in the body are affected. My mouth and nose are both extremely dry, amongst other problems, and I'm sure with less secretions that smell and taste would be affected.

I won't be able to ignore these issues much longer because I'm getting other effects that could be caused by Sjogren's too.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3...

[TaraJR in reply to humanbean]

Thanks... food for thought here. I'll send this info to my sister; I think it's worth looking at