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 0120

I experimented with cocaine. Now I have a reduced sense of smell. It's not as full and rich as it used to be.

case 0121

I have no sense of smell. Now, in my early thirties, I am coming to the realization that not being able to sense smells in my everyday environment is really almost like a handicap for me. I cannot smell food when it goes bad; I regularly have to check the milk in my fridge by tasting it. I cannot smell the cat's litter box when it's time to change it. I cannot smell the perfume I bought my girlfriend. I have to trust other people for their idea of what smells good. I depend greatly on the name of deodorants. When my children were young, I couldn't smell when they needed to be changed. My regular physician doesn't seem to make an issue of my inability to smell. The only person that ever really expressed interest in it was a counselor (therapist). She considered trauma but I never had head trauma. I am confused and feel hopeless.

case 0122

I had the flu and when the symptoms disappeared I noticed that I couldn't smell anything other than astringent smells (ammonia, cleaning liquids, perfume, artificial flavorings, etc.). My sense of taste was affected in the same way. Six weeks after the flu, an ear nose throat doctor diagnosed it as anosmia and said that I will never be able to smell again. I was treated with antiviral medication and steroid drops and my sense of smell has returned somewhat. The sense seems to be better at times and then will disappear completely again. After a while it would appear again. It seems that the sense varies to what type of smells I can detect at different times. Certain smells (like garlic) which I can detect are completely distorted. Others seem to be okay but very slight. Organic smells seem to be the most elusive. I can't detect body odor or feces at all, for instance. This has now been going on for eighteen months. Some days I'm confident that it is improving, just to be disappointed again the next.

case 0123

My loss of smell and taste has been gradual. I noticed two years ago that I could not smell the scent of flowers. Lately I cannot smell or taste coffee or other flavors. I really enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning and now it is like drinking hot water.

case 0124

The only treatment that I found effective for smell loss was prednisolone to reduce the swelling of the membrane followed by the use of drops to keep the membranes from swelling again. During this time my sense of smell returns. All other treatments were ineffective. After prednisolone administration, my sense of smell returned within 48 hours and stayed for about three weeks until the prednisolone wore off.

case 0125

After a normal cold my sense of smell never recovered and I am really depressed about it. It appears that the authorities do not consider it an impairment, but I do. I can't smell if the gas is on and I can't smell something burning. I am very conscious of social gatherings because I don't know whether I smell too much. Before all these I had a better sense of smell than an average person. Now I feel disabled.

case 0126

For the past five years anything like urine, coffee, and other things with a strong smell all smell the same inside my nose. It smells like rotten flesh. No one knows what it is or cares. I just live with it but it is not pleasant.

case 0127

Three months ago I had my gall bladder removed. Since the surgery I have experienced phantosmia. Mine is the smell of cigarette smoke which of course doesn't exist. It is only experienced in air conditioned environments. If I go outside in the warmer air, I do not experience it. It is such a strong sensation that sometimes it makes me sneeze or cough. No one else in the room smells the smoke smell, just me.

case 0128

32 years ago I was unconscious for a couple of days after being beaten. After getting out of the hospital I realized that, in addition to other problems, I could not smell or taste anything, not even a skunk. What I can perceive is sweet, sour, bitter, and salt (leading me to overuse salt), and spiciness.

case 0129

One day, out of the blue, I started experiencing a horrid taste/smell while not eating/drinking anything. It only lasted for 20-30 minutes but I was quite thrown off because I never experienced anything like it before. A year ago the smell distortions (which at times smell like burning, garbage, bowel movements and many other noxious smells) had gotten so bad that I had the issue more often than not. It makes everything taste horrible and smell horrible. I have been able to deal with it but I have never been able to smell or eat chocolate and coffee while I have the smell/taste because they are just too bad to handle. Due to the intensity and length of time I finally decided to go see my doctor because it was beginning to weigh on me emotionally. Every time I would get it, I would drop into an annoyed/sad mood because I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy anything I ate or drank, and everything would smell horrible.

case 0130

I have undergone sinus surgery four years ago. My nasal obstruction was cleared but I started facing other problems like a gradual loss of my sense of smell that started last year. I have not lost the sense of smell completely, but it is dramatically reduced.

case 0131

I lost my sense of smell after a head injury three months ago. Recently I have noticed on some occasions the smell of cigarette smoke but couldn't detect a source of the odor; no one in my house smokes. I hope that it will heal with time and will also try acupuncture. I feel very frustrated and depressed about this loss, I have always been someone who loves good food and the wonderful smells nature has to offer. I may have to live with this condition all my life but I truly hope that one day I will be able to smell our baby.