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 0041

Sometime after using a nasal spray I realized I could no longer smell anything. I tried vinegar, ammonia, garlic, even dog feces: nothing! Over the next few months I would once in a while "smell" a very unpleasant chemical smell much like insecticide, and several times something similar to hair burning. After visiting an ear nose throat doctor I had to accept the fact that my condition was probably permanent. I am a professional chef and this was devastating. I went into a profound depression and even attempted suicide. That was 6 years ago. I have learned to live with my condition and made allowances. There are smoke detectors in nearly every room in my house. My personal hygiene tends to border on the obsessive, and my poor dog runs at the sound of water. I think the most difficult part about my condition (apart from no longer being able to enjoy the foods I love) is that very few people understand the depth of my loss. They make jokes about how lucky I am that I can't smell some things. It doesn't occur to them that the loss of one sense is bad enough, but I have actually lost two senses as I can only taste a few flavors such as salt, sugar and vinegar. Anything else is blah to me. As a chef, to not be able to taste garlic or herbs breaks my heart. People think: "Wow, big deal, you can still see, communicate". They don't understand that cooking was one of my ways of communicating. It was everything to me. I eventually ended up divorced... The odd part is I still can smell in my dreams, and when I wake up and realize it was just a dream I grieve all over again. I am in a new relationship now and I have no idea what my lover smells like. I had not realized it but even lovemaking is affected by my lack of smell and taste. My grandchildren are a joy to me, but I cannot hold them and smell their sweet smell the way I once could. Losing you sense of smell is no less devastating than losing any other of your senses. You go through all the same emotions: anger, denial, resentment, depression and eventually acceptance. I wish people could understand that and be more sympathetic. I hope your study will make people more aware. Especially doctors, who I have found are the worst ones to say "It could be a lot worse". Thanks! That makes me feel sooooo much better.

case 0042

Wherever I go I am overwhelmed by very strong odors. They come from my clothes, furniture, and my new apartment. I have given most of my clothes away and have given my furniture away. It seemed to get better, but now it has come back. I cannot sleep most of the time. Wherever I go, I smell the strong odors from homes, furniture, and even my friends' or children's homes.

case 0043

I was suffering from fever for ten days and now I'm getting a rotten smell when I breathe. In curries, in perfumes, in malls, etc... wherever I go I get a rotten smell. Therefore, I'm not able to eat any kind of food. When I consulted my doctor, he told me that it is just a psychological feeling.

case 0044

I started losing my sense of smell three months ago. I noticed I did not smell things others did smell. I would have to really breath in deeply through my nose and maybe catch a hint of what they smelled. I went to several doctors but no underlying cause was found and none of the suggested treatments helped. I was very sad and felt like I was "missing out" on so much. Tasting food, smelling good smells as well as dangerous ones. I would give anything to smell again. I have lost one of my five senses! I get from others at least you are not blind or deaf. Well, yeah, I guess so, but I would still like to have my smell back!

case 0045

I had a head injury. Several weeks afterwards, I noticed that I had lost my sense of smell and taste. However, I can tell whether something is sweet or sour, and feel the heat from chili. Several months after the accident I developed an aversion to certain foods, as they smelled and tasted of something I had never smelled/tasted before. It was the same smell and taste for all the foods and it is not something that I can identify. This has now lasted for 10 months.

case 0046

I had bone surgery on my left femur three weeks ago. Soon afterwards while still in rehab I noticed a loss of appetite, mild nausea, and loss of enjoyment eating foods I used to like. I soon realized I had a diminished sense of smell and taste. I used to have an excellent appetite and would usually clean my plate at meals. Now I frequently experience revulsion after only a few bites of what I used to consider a tasty meal. This has had a profound effect on my life causing depression and general disinterest in many things that used to be rewarding. I never realized how important the enjoyment of food was to my psychological wellbeing. I have lost about 10 pounds since surgery and I expect to continue losing weight since I do not eat much. Fortunately I am still about 15 pounds above the ideal weight for my height. I continue to try to find nutritious foods that I can tolerate. I am surprised that my loss of smell and taste could cause me to feel nauseous at the thought of eating something I would otherwise be hungry for if I could smell it. One more thing: during the last few days of my two weeks in the hospital, I experienced extreme revulsion at the smell of a cleaning agent that was used heavily throughout the hospital. The continual smell of it night and day began to make me feel so nauseous; I did not want to eat any more meals. I can only hope that my olfactory function will gradually return but from other accounts I have been reading about post-surgical loss of smell/taste/appetite, I am worried it will never return. If that happens, I hope I can overcome this depression and live a normal life again.

case 0047

About three months ago I started smelling exhaust fumes and I thought the window in my bedroom wasn't sealed so I had it changed. The smell didn't subside so I went to the doctor who referred me to an ear nose throat doctor. I have a perforated septum and have had two operations, one being a silicone button the other a skin graft with skin being taken from my buttocks. The skin graft lasted a month and the hole was back. The ear nose throat doctor treated me with antibiotic but the smell remained and I have resorted to eliminating smells one by one. My coworkers stopped wearing perfume, but that hasn't helped. It seems worse when I lay down at night. My eyes sting, my throat stings and all I can smell is exhaust fumes. This has to be the most frustrating illness I have ever had and the doctor has told me there is nothing more he can do. My condition is killing my sex life because when I ask "can you smell that" my partner thinks I am referring to her.