Can't taste or smell!

[Dorothea]

It's been about a week, I'm getting over a cold. I can't smell anything, and I can't taste anything it's very frustrating! Has this happened to anyone else?

[annekat]

Some of us with significant damage in the sinus and nasal area cannot smell or taste well, if at all. I can taste OK but can't smell. My taste is not as good as it was. I feel it is probably permanent, but once in awhile think I catch a whiff of something, when I'm not trying. That gives me a small amount of hope. In your case, if this is a new thing and happened during a cold, it seems more likely that it could improve and you could get those things back. Some do, I think, and I hope you are one of those.

[Dorothea]

Thank You very much annekat!

[mishb]

Today I can smell, and I don't like it very much :crying:
Not being able to smell has some wonderful advantages, I actually prefer it :razz:
No smelly sweaty people on the train, no smell of rubbish bins, dogs droppings and other bad odours.
I do miss the smell of roses in the garden and some amazing foods but that's okay.

So how come I can smell today? Today I went to my ENT and he put that horrible scope camera up my nose.

You see, my left nostril has collapsed inside (not saddle outside) and the two walls of the nostril touch together and form skin, joining the nostril closed, which is the reason why I cannot smell. The right nostril, funnily enough, is the one that is affected by WG, not the left.
When the scope goes in, the ENT has to break a hole through the skin in the left nostril to be able to get a look into the sinus area........Yes, ouch.
It normally bleeds afterwards, but not today, it is just running like a tap, and the sneezing is driving me crazy. I never have a runny nose.
Well since the nostril has a hole punched in to it - I can smell through my left nostril.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, it wont last very long, before the nostril closes over again. I have this done every 6 months.


Dorothea, I agree with Anne, in that because of your cold, you will probably be able to smell again once everything has cleared up properly - well let's hope so
But in the meantime, make the most of your new freedom of not being able to taste the horrible foods or smell the horrible smells

[cjhnsn29]

Dorothea, I have that same problem can't smell or taste. It is annoying but know you are not alone. I believe all the sinuse surgerys I have had probably didn't help much ither. I just try and be positive and say there are a lot of things I am glad I can't smell.:)

[cjhnsn29]

I am one of the lucky ones that can't smell or taste. It's been several years now. I just recently had to redo my upper mouth and jaw area. They had to do bone grafting etc. I am hoping this will help. I have the saddle nose and most of my issues are in my head/ face area. I have 32 stitches in the upper mouth and jaw area.

[PJ2010]

I also have lost taste and smell. Yes it is awful because I love food and the beautiful smells around. I can still taste sweet, sour and salt. I still love cooking and when I eat I go by texture and whether it is salty or sweet. One weird thing is that a woman's perfume to me really stinks. I mean, it's probably expensive perfume but to me it is putrid. ��

[annekat]

I'm sorry for those of you who've lost both smell and taste, and especially for those with significant damage in the upper mouth and jaw. I have the saddle nose and severe erosion in my nasal cavity, but no problems in the mouth or jaw, for which I'm thankful. As I said above, I've pretty much completely lost smell, with occasional fleeting exceptions. True it's nice not to smell the bad things, but I'd like to know, for example, whether my house smells bad, or whether I do! My taste has lost some of it's intensity, unfortunately. But I'm thankful it's not completely gone, and I definitely make up for some of the loss by enjoying the textures of food, as PJ2010 mentioned above. I think texture in food has always been important to me, as it probably is to most, but now even more so!

[Birdie]

I mean, it's probably expensive perfume but to me it is putrid. ��

I've got that too but it predates Wegeners. Perfume = assault, deliberate chemical warfare...

[cjhnsn29]

Thanks Annekat! It's not fun but I for one live with it.

[annekat]

Thanks Annekat! It's not fun but I for one live with it. Me, too. I don't think about it that much. I'm lucky to be doing as well with WG as I am.

[little sister]

Most of the time I can't smell. (It doesn't usually bother me except for when the lilacs or hyacinth are in bloom.) But just like someone else mentioned, I will suddenly smell something. Strangely, in my case, usually no one else can smell what I'm describing. I can still taste but some foods have a different flavor now. And what is the most fun is that my nose runs when I eat. Doesn't have to be spicy. Evidently it is akin to salivating I'm told by my rheumatologist. Ever try to discreetly wipe/blow your nose when dining with others? I'm not really complaining. These are such MINOR issues. Still, it's nice to know I'm not crazy and others have also experienced some of the same things.

[Alias]

I lost my sense of smell while I was acutely ill. I hated it, and was thankful when it returned. I agree it's a minor issue in the scheme of things, though. I do seem to have an altered sense of taste and smell that is permanent. Like Little Sister, I will sometimes experience smells that are mysterious and not detectable by others. Very weird!