I lost my sense of smell four years ago. The doctors told me that it is natural and that it is not a sickness

case 0108

My sense of smell was very sharp but after a cold I lost it. I couldn't smell coffee, or garlic, or anything else. Doctors, even ear nose throat doctors, didn't see anything to worry about and had no suggestions. I occasionally get flashes of smells, an orange or some spice, but most of the time I smell nothing at all.

case 0109

About eight years ago I lost my sense of smell. I became aware of it only gradually, thinking at first that the flowers were too cold to be fragrant but when I could not smell anything at the perfume counter I realized the sense of smell was gone. However, my sense of taste is as sensitive as ever! I thought taste goes when smell goes. The only thing I ever smell is a faint aroma of coffee now and then.

case 0110

For the last year I have had absolutely no sense of smell and very little sense of taste. I cannot smell smoke, burning oil. I have burnt food on the stove because I left the room and did not know that it had boiled dry even though the smoke was going through the house. I have mentioned it to my doctor but he hasn't even addressed the issue. I don't know what to do about it. It is depressing.

case 0111

I hit the ice with my head after a fall and went to the hospital because of concussion symptoms. After 10 days or so I noticed that a drink did not quite taste right and soon after wondered if I was smelling anything. I picked up a ripe banana and couldn't smell a thing. I couldn't smell orange, garlic, or perfume. My taste seems fine, or at least not bad. Everything I read suggests that taste leaves with the smell so I can't narrow my symptoms to a cause.

case 0112

On a flight about a year ago a batch of savory filled paninis were overdone and the very strong smell hung around in the cabin for a long time. I found that the smell seemed to be imprinted on the inside of my nose after that and it was all I could smell for a while. While on this trip we visited a couple of wild penguin colonies and unfortunately the smell of the guano was also very strong and also imprinted itself on my nose! For weeks these two smells seemed to alternate. They gradually faded and left me with either the scent of scorched linen, or the smell of cheap fruit jam, as found in a disappointing jam doughnut. I can't smell flowers, grass, perfume, coffee, etc. apart from a very fleeting and faint impression. Sometimes I notice the two smells above to an irritating degree, at other times they are fainter.

case 0113

I started losing my sense of smell in my twenties, and it has gotten progressively worse since then. A year ago I could still smell strong things like gasoline but now I can't smell anything. My doctor tells me there is nothing to be done.

case 0114

Twenty-five years ago I broke my nose. Afterwards, my taste and smell decreased slowly. Now I cannot taste anything nor can I smell even a skunk or a fire. I have occasionally had a tease of a smell or a phantom smell that no one else can smell (usually a very bad smell). I have a super life but find a part of life that most people enjoy is missing. I can cook very excellent meals but need testers to check seasoning. I find it very upsetting to have a wonderful meal such as a steak or lasagna and all my family or friends exclaiming how wonderful it tastes. I could eat cardboard and not know the difference. Everyone gets me to change my grandson's diaper when he has a bowel movement, although I can't tell when that has happened so I have to check all the time. I find this condition upsetting and dangerous.

case 0115

During an episode of the flu I lost my sense of taste, which I considered normal for the flu. A few weeks later I noticed that I could not smell even though my nasal congestion had subsided. My sense of smell has not returned in the year since. Prior to the flu, I had a very acute sense of smell. I visited an ear nose throat doctor and am currently in treatment, however, the doctor thinks that my smell sensors were attacked by the flu virus and that I most likely will not regain my sense of smell.

case 0116

About three years ago I started smelling diesel fumes which nobody else around me seemed to notice. This went on for about two years and I started to think that I was just oversensitive to fumes so I tried to live with it. Then, three months ago, I stayed for a few weeks in a home with a fryer that was giving off an awful chip fat smell (at least that was how I perceived it) and since then I have this smell with me everywhere I go. Until a few days ago I thought I was smelling of chip fat. I thought it was in my hair and on my clothes. I kept putting my clothes in the wash even before I wore them, kept washing my hair, really scrubbing it, and when I still smelled it, I sprayed my hair with deodorizing body spray. Whenever anyone came close to me I would pull away, conscious that they may be smelling "chip fat" on me. I then realized that there are times when I didn't notice the smell so I asked a family member to smell my hair. She said all she could smell was shampoo, which surprised me. I described what was happening to me and she assured me that there wasn't even the slightest whiff of chip fat. I visited my doctor today and told him about it and he explained the possible causes and prescribed a steroid nasal spray.

case 0117

I had a traumatic brain injury seven years ago. I made candles for a living and I noticed that my sense of smell was gone. I could not really make a distinction between the scents for a long time... Later on, my sense of smell began to come back.

case 0118

Two years ago I started smelling burning wood whenever I was near my TV, laptop computer, under a light, or when my furnace was turned on.

case 0119

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with anosmia caused by "nasal block". Nasal polyps were surgically removed but the condition did not improve. I haven't ever smelled my kids! Very depressing to begin with but you adapt (but can never forget what you've lost...).