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 0438

I grew up and discovered that I could not perceive smell when people talked about pleasant or unpleasant odors that I couldn't smell. This condition has continued to this date.

case 0439

I had an infection in my nose six years ago. I had completely lost my sense of smell by the next year and it has never returned. Over the past five years I've had a blocked nose and for the past few months I experienced a bad smell up my nose all the time.

case 0440

I fell with the back of my head on the road. I didn't notice till about a week later whilst applying deodorant that I couldn't smell. A neurologist told me that my olfactory nerve was severed as a result of my brain shifting inside my skull when it hit the road. My sense of taste is surprisingly unaffected at all and food still tastes the same as always which is a positive thing.

case 0441

I first noticed that I had a problem when I thought that my shower gel had gone moldy but very soon I began to notice that food also tasted bad or "off". Soon I realized that I am unable to sense any smells either pleasant or unpleasant. While cleaning my mother's oven using pure ammonia, I realized that it was only by the mild sensation in my eyes that I am able to sense pure ammonia. Likewise, I cannot register the smell of cat urine and can clean out very well used litter trays without smelling anything! However, when it comes to food, my world has changed beyond belief as the only foods that taste "right" to me are boiled potatoes and milk. Most vegetables and fruits taste like rotting compost, or rancid, burnt oil. I have lost half my body weight, most of my hair and all but one of my teeth. I have discovered that I can eat couscous with soured cream and sugar, chocolate chip cookies and milk. This comprises my entire diet and has done for the past year or so. I have yet to find any food that I can honestly say I enjoy. I used to keep trying old favorites, but the sense of disappointment when I find them to be completely unpalatable makes this a pointless exercise. Naturally, I am unable to appreciate the smell of summer rain, new mown grass, Christmas trees, or the ocean. Commercial perfumes and colognes can be so overpowering that they can cause me to heave — likewise the smell of barbecuing food or baking bread. I am told by my ear nose throat doctor that the condition may have been related to some virus and the prospects of my sense of smell ever returning are slim. Occasionally, I am treated to a brief whiff of apple pie but it is only a phantom and usually ends up with me hyperventilating in an effort to enjoy as much of the pleasant smell as I possibly can before it disappears again. Other than the odd phantom smell, there are no nice scents in my world. I have seriously considered (and attempted) suicide as my enjoyment of life has been so severely curtailed. I suspect that some of my healthcare professionals do not believe that my problems are real, preferring instead to ascribe some hysterical cause to my condition and I will admit that since the change I have become argumentative and angry with strangers. So few people can understand the full implications of my loss, and I am tired of trying to explain it to others.

case 0442

Two years ago I had a serious accident. I was in a coma for three days. I woke up and was fed, but could not smell or taste. It has been that way ever since.

case 0443

I first noticed that I lost my sense of smell about eight years ago when I walked into my home and my girlfriend told me the house reeked of natural gas. I could not smell this at all. I became concerned because it was not a gradual loss. I lost it all at once. I can taste somewhat, at least I think I can. I wish I could regain this sense someday; I really do miss my sense of smell.

case 0444

I lost my sense of smell about a year ago when I had a cold. The cold went away but my sense of smell did not return. I went to a physician but no medication helped. I also lost some food taste.

case 0445

One morning, all of a sudden, my smell and taste changed for the worse! I can't stand the smell/taste of onions, coffee, chocolates, pan fried meat, barbeque, some sausages, some fruits, cleaning fluid, toilet spray, even the fresh air that I breath has a vanilla smell.

case 0446

I fell and suffered a fractured skull 13 years ago. The impact was at the back of my skull which pushed the brain forward. There was bruising to the front of my brain. I have been unable to smell or taste since.

case 0447

Ten months ago I stayed in a hotel and all the rooms had the same sickening fabric dryer sheet smell to them. I told the manager I simply cannot stand this overwhelming smell and that I would need to stay at a different hotel. He looked at me like I had two heads, and agreed. I noticed that the other staff members were staring at me like I was a crazy man. I went to another hotel and I smelled the same thing. To make a long story short, the increased smell lasted about a month then went away. It went away until six months ago when it hit me again. This time it was accompanied by tremendous ringing in my ears, tingling in my legs and feet, pain in my right foot, and a tremendously unsteady gait. It lasted about two weeks. The symptoms hit again five months ago, then once a month. Now it is happening once a week. I now have a tremendous general malaise. I went to a neurologist and had just about every test known to man.

case 0448

About six months ago I sensed that something was amiss with my sense of smell as I continually smelled a strange smell which seemed to come and go. It smells like a stale, musky, damp carpet. Since I have had this I am sure I have also lost my taste and often feel like I have a metallic feel in my mouth.