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 0449

I lost my sense of smell for no apparent reason five years ago at age 72. I never noticed it until my daughter said my house had a terrible odor and we then discovered a dead rodent that caused the odor. I mentioned this to my doctor but she seemed unconcerned.

case 0450

In the last five years my sense of smell has deteriorated. A couple of times I tried to get help from doctors. When I tell them about my problem, they look at me and smile. They have no answers or remedies. I cannot smell even strong perfumes, garlic, or ginger. Food does not smell. Sometimes, all of a sudden, I can smell some herbs like dried turmeric leaves or curry leaves. I miss the smell of food grilling, the smell of first rain fall and the smell of flowers. Now I know I have to live with it.

case 0451

I had a cold that lasted about three weeks. I thought I was getting a sinus infection but didn't. Then I realized that I was losing my sense of smell. I have always had a good sense of smell but after the cold I would take a deep breath outside and smell a smoky smell when there was no smoke. The ear nose throat doctor says it could take six months for me to get my sense of smell back. Food also tastes off. I cooked onions in butter and it smelled bad. Cooking a pot roast in the crock pot smelled awful, smoky even though I could sort of taste it. A chocolate chip cookie tasted ashy. This past weekend the smoky smell was at its worst. It was such a strong sensation that it was as if I was sitting next to a chain smoker. Even my eyes were watering and my throat hurt. I used saline spray and the smoky smell is gone. Today my throat is still irritated. My theory is that the reason that the smoky smell is the first odor I perceive is that there is a biological, evolutionary advantage in being able to detect smoke. I can taste pickles, ketchup and milk chocolate, but that's it.

case 0452

I noticed a change in my sense of smell. It is becoming more sensitive for stinky smells and weaker for sweet smells like flowers. Strong and unpleasant smells are more easily sensed than pleasant smells. In my childhood I could smell a rose from ten feet away but now it seems that my sense of smell has gone down.

case 0453

I had an operation to remove my tonsils when I was 6 years old and that is when I lost my ability to smell. Since then I haven't been sure whether it was in my head or if there is something actually wrong with me. I have however, recently been able to pick up a couple of smells which are very dull to me but are very strong to the other people that smelled them. There isn't anything wrong with my sense of taste. In fact I have been able to pick up tastes quicker than other people, like when there was too much salt.

case 0454

A few months ago I realized that I was starting to lose my sense of smell. This morning I baked a loaf of bread, and was unable to smell the bread baking. My family members commented on how awesome the smell of the bread baking, was. Some people may think this is a good thing, because I can't smell stinky things, but at the same time I cannot smell good things either!

case 0455

I have a strong smell of smoke in my nostrils. I do not and have never smoked.

case 0456

I began to notice that coffee, perfume, and spices do not have any effect on my senses of smell and taste. I can taste sweet, salt, sour, chili, and hot and cold temperatures. All flavors have gone, and very occasionally I can smell a cut lemon but this is not sustained. I have seen ear nose throat specialists and had a scan. No one can help and no one seems to realize just how sad it is to live without these senses. Not to enjoy good food or smell the roses is pretty tough. It can also present danger in the case of fires or gas leaks. I don't know how it will all end, but I will keep researching and looking for some advance in the knowledge and treatment of this condition.

case 0457

I lost my sense of smell. I have had occasional treatment after which my sense of smell returned temporarily. Nasal sprays do not help. Occasionally, after a bout of cold symptoms my smell would return but this is rare.

case 0458

I have never had a sense of smell. At a young age my mother realized that I could not smell anything and I still cannot smell anything good or bad. Growing-up was very hard, when most people can smell if they have body odor I could not, which made me ripe for being teased in school a lot. Not to mention it is dangerous because I cannot smell smoke from a fire!

case 0459

Two months ago I broke my skull. My biggest concern is that I now have a total loss of taste and smell. I'm a huge fan of cooking, and an even bigger fan of eating, and I love red wine. I'm worried none of this will ever matter again and food will always be a memory to me now. The neurologists told me that I may regain these senses, and if they are to repair themselves, they will do so within a year.

case 0460

Five month ago, at age 58, I started to notice that I was losing my sense of smell. I thought it was due to a cold. After a month I went to see a doctor who confirmed with a smell test that I could not smell. He checked for polyps and did an MRI. He prescribed a nasal spray that I take once a day and told me to make another appointment 6 months from now. I am desperate.

case 0461

I smell cigarette smoke.

case 0462

I take many medications and have a constant smell in my nostrils from my medications. It feels as if the odor is strong enough for others to smell. Sometimes I feel it also comes from my pores as body odor, or urine, but my husband says I absolutely do not smell of anything unusual.