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 0048

I didn't notice any particular dulling of my sense of smell until my later teen years. I remember when my grandmother was making pizza and complaining about the intense stench of parmesan cheese, which I couldn't detect at all. Shortly after starting university, I found that my sense of smell was fading very quickly. It caused me to lose weight my first year, because I lost so much interest in eating food — I tended to fixate on textures. A lot of the flavors disappeared and I ate very few things as a result, sticking mostly to foods I could "remember" the proper taste of. I was living in a dorm, and none of the other students thought this was normal, so I didn't seek out medical consultation. I also wasn't completely surprised, as I have a great-uncle who lost his sense of smell before he reached adulthood, and a cousin on that side of the family who was much the same, so no one in my family really remarked on it being too odd. The last thing I remember smelling was when I was 19 years of age. I was driving with a somebody past an open sewer. While they fought not to vomit, I was sure I could smell pea soup. I remember that moment clearly; though I didn't know at that time it would be the last thing I ever smelled. A lot of people think that this is a blessing, I can't smell cat litter or baby diapers or skunks, I'm oblivious to people with bad breath or body odor. But I also miss out on the smells of food and cooking, I miss out on the smells of nature, and of course there's the fear factor. I spent years being quite paranoid about fires and smoke dangers. I also almost made myself very ill at work once when a sewage leak happened in our building. I stayed at work while other people were fleeing with extreme nausea. Plus, there's the ostracizing that can happen. No one really knows about anosmia, I've had people react oddly to it (though most adults take it in stride). It's not an obvious disability like being blind or deaf, there are days when I feel like I'm normal, and days when I wish people could understand. It's a regular occurrence for even long-term friends and family to ask about how something smells, or to check on something by smell. Oftentimes I just go "oh, that's great" rather than make waves, or have to launch into an explanation, or remind someone. It doesn't make for great dinner conversation to explain that I don't get the same flavor sensations from food that they do. I've often wondered if this is genetic, which is sort of what my family had assumed all those years ago, or if it was somehow due to my grandfather's heavy smoking. I also wondered if it was some sort of brain trauma, I'd been smacked in the back of the head with a brick when I was eight years old, hard enough to black out.

case 0049

Even though I'm a senior citizen, my senses of smell and taste were just fine until I received a concussion (blow to my forehead and back of head) in an accident almost four years ago. Since then, I cannot smell or taste anything. I was well-known for my cooking and the recipes I created. One of my greatest pleasures was cooking for friends — having them over for dinner. Now I can't do that because I can't season the food. When I eat, I try to remember what each food tastes like as I take each bite or sip. But I can't taste anything. The only reason I eat now is to relieve hunger pains. I get no enjoyment from eating. I can't smell rain or snow, or my flowers, or my dog. I can't smell clean laundry or fabric softener. I can't smell hairspray or permanent solution. I don't know whether my house stinks, or whether I stink. I can't smell chemicals, except once in a while I get a whiff of chlorine when I turn on the tap. One good thing about losing my sense of smell: I don't smell dog waste when I pick it up. I also had potentially very dangerous incidents involving gas that I could not smell. So much pleasure is lost when one loses his/her sense of smell. I used to love to smell the coffee brewing in the morning, or apple pie baking. I love the fragrance of the flowers in my garden, or the "smell" of autumn in the air. I can't smell freshly cut grass or hay. I used to be able to smell an approaching snow storm. There's a difference in the fragrance of impending rain and snow, and I could smell that.

case 0050

When I am inactive, like watching TV or sitting at the computer, I smell cigarette smoke and it makes my throat tighten up just as it does when exposed to the real thing. I was even thinking there must be a homeless person hiding in my basement... I do not smoke, nobody I live with smokes, I do not have friends who smoke; it's a mystery. Sometimes, this goes away for weeks at a time....and then it returns.

case 0051

One day I snorted what I thought was cocaine that was given to me by a stranger. I think it may not have been cocaine since I felt nothing but an itch in my nose that was followed by incredible pain in my upper nose. After three days I still couldn't breathe normally but it got better after five days. A couple of months later my partner noted that I can't perceive any odors anymore. Flowers are odorless for me and I don't enjoy the smell of cooked meat. Many things have changed in my life.

case 0052

My sense of smell within a few months' time turned to always smelling a bad distasteful smell. I first noticed it in my bedroom and then began to associate the smell with my partner first and then with myself. I have washed everything and cleaned, changed soaps, done everything I can think of but the smell seems to now follow me around and I hate it! Even when I use perfume I can still smell it. My partner and I have a good relationship. I have this nagging feeling that I am sick and that is the reason I have this bad smell around me, but I have no basis for it. This has been going on for over a year. I have not told my partner because I did not want him to think he smells bad to me and he has never mentioned that I have a different smell either. I am hoping no one else can smell it but I am not sure. It is starting to drive me a little crazy.