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Lost my sense of smell
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pattycake
Posts: 1,590 Forumite


I know that it is unacceptable to give medical advice on this board but I really need some help. I had flu in the middle of December and then had secondary infections of laryngitis and sinisitus. I was prescribed antibiotics for the latter infections. I am feeling quite a bit better now but my nose still feels blocked and I literally cannot smell a thing. Even Olbas oil on a tissue is virtually without scent.
Do I need to be patient (no pun intended!) or should I get back in touch with my GP?
Thanks for any advice.
Do I need to be patient (no pun intended!) or should I get back in touch with my GP?
Thanks for any advice.
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I get that during my sinusitis flare ups. I can neither smell nor taste anything, but it usually clears within one or two weeks. I think only a doctor can give you proper advice as to what to take or not take.Be careful who you open up to. Today it's ears, tomorrow it's mouth.0
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A similar thing happened with me many years ago after an attack of the flu. Unfortunately I had developed nasal polyps and nearly 10 years later I am still trying to find a cure. Fingers crossed you don't have these.Mortgage Free in 3-T2 : Started at £151,000 Nov. 2009 Mortgage Free Oct 1st 2015
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I lost my sense of smell for 3 weeks with sinusitis. See your GP to see if antibiotics or a nasal spray are needed.
Hope you get better soon! You don't realise how much you value your sense of smell until you loose it!0 -
I've never (as far as I can remember) had a sense of smell. It makes me a very fussy eater - can't take anything even mildly spicy and go by texture much more as I don't get flavours. But on the plus side when DH lets rip at night I'm immune0
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I lost my sense of smell at 10, great when some passes wind!!
Joking apart, I would pop and see the GP they can advise which way the best to go xxxx rip dad... we had our ups and downs but we’re always be family xx0 -
Thank you all for your replies. I have seen my GP this evening and he has prescribed a steroid nasal spray. He says I need to use it for a month and not to expect a quick fix. If no improvement after that time, I have to go back.
I do hope I will be sorted out though. I am hating not being able to smell anything. I know there are plenty of nasty niffs but also lots of lovely things to smell.
I look after my baby granddaughter a couple of days a week and I have not been able to tell if she needed changing by sniffing as I usual do. I have been paranoid that she is dirty and constantly peering down her pants! Poor thing.0 -
I look after my baby granddaughter a couple of days a week and I have not been able to tell if she needed changing by sniffing as I usual do. I have been paranoid that she is dirty and constantly peering down her pants! Poor thing.
I had that constantly when I had mine! I relied on friends to tell me or had to take a peek...and pray it wasn't a runny one :eek:0 -
An update. I used the steroid nasal spray for 8 days but found that my chest was becoming very tight and I felt dry and scratchy in my throat. Another visit to the GP. He did not believe it was the spray although conceded it could be a reaction to a preservative or something.
I have stopped using the spray (on the advice of the GP) and I have now to wait a month to see if my sense of smell returns. Things are exactly the same and I am finding the thought of never being able to smell again very depressing.0 -
When you had the cold did you use Sinex Nasal Spray or something similar?
These have been known to cause a blocked nose and loss of smell if taken for too long. Took me about a month to get my sense of smell back after using it for one day more than the package said.Save £200 a month : [STRIKE]Oct[/STRIKE] Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr0 -
No, I did not. All I took was paracetamol until I was prescribed antibiotics by the doctor. I did try Sudafed before going back to the GP but that did not help at all.0
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