Anyone ever completely loss smell/taste?

Spacepig

Hi guys,
For nearly 2 weeks now I've had no smell or taste, which is a new experience as this has never happened before even with my most severe flu/colds. Doctors couldn't 
see me when I called as I wasn't showing any other symptoms (This came after a 2 nights of chills/headache but no respiratory issues) My nose feels constantly stuffy but not blocked.

I'm not asking for a diagnosis but if anyone's in the same boat or has any tips. I'm otherwise healthy, breathing is fine, no headache, no loss of appetite.
Has this happened to anyone where it's persisted for a long time?

Thank you

comeandgo

Happened to my mother who is in her late 70's.  Doctors no idea why and it's never came back.  She still persists on adding salt to her meals though.

Spacepig

Well that's scary! Was it following from anything specific?

Debran

Yes.  I lost my sense of smell a few years ago.  I had always had a very keen sense of smell before that.  At first I could smell nothing whatsoever but, eventually, I got a little of this sense back - but only a little. 

I found that whereas I had been unable to smell perfume, to some degree this returned.  However, there are still lots of things I cannot smell at all.  Bleach and disinfectant are odourless for instance.  The smell of some things is completely distorted.  When I used to run a glass of water, I could often smell chlorine - now I smell diesel.  I love fish but I now avoid cooking it from scratch as it smells like rotting fish.  Fish ready meals, fish fingers etc aren't too bad.  One day I opened a can of salmon and had to throw it away as it smelled so awful. 

I also often experience a lingering smell that I cannot describe but which becomes increasingly annoying.

pattycake

I had a nasty virus about six years ago.  Then I had secondary infections of bronchitis and laryngitis.  It took weeks to feel properly well again and my sense of smell, which had previously been very keen, completely disappeared.  This affected my sense of taste too as the two things are connected.
The good news is that I got the sense of smell back but it took about 18 months to fully get back to normal.

Spoonie_Turtle

Vitamin B12 deficiency is the only explanation I've heard for it - my aunt had no sense of smell for about 3 years before she found out. Hers was due to colitis, not being able to absorb it.

Spacepig

Thanks everyone very helpful.
I've been over on Reddit and someone mentioned that losing taste/smell may be a byproduct of corona virus;

"Almost all infected people we interviewed, and this applies to a good two thirds, described a loss of smell and taste lasting several days. It goes so far that a mother could not smell the full diaper of her child. Others could no longer smell their shampoo, and food began to taste bland. We cannot yet tell exactly when these symptoms will appear, but we believe a little later in the infection."  <a href="https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/gesundheit/coronavirus/neue-corona-symptome-entdeckt-virologe-hendrik-streeck-zum-virus-16681450.html" title="Link: https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/gesundheit/coronavirus/neue-corona-symptome-entdeckt-virologe-hendrik-streeck-zum-virus-16681450.html">https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/gesundheit/coronavirus/neue-corona-symptome-entdeckt-virologe-hendrik-streeck-zum-virus-16681450.html</a>

molerat

I lost it a few years back probably about 15 or so.  I had a scan to see if there was anything on the brain.  The specialist said it is usually down to a virus or damage to the brain.  The virus has usually been and long gone before you realise and the full effects are felt, it destroys the little hairy things up your nose.  It will either come back after maybe a year or more or maybe never.  I had no real sense of smell or taste but cigarette smoke really smelt awful and still does.  After about a year I was away on holiday and had an awful smell of petrol from the major road outside the hotel, weird as MrsM could not smell it.  Gradually it got better and I think I am pretty much back to normal but some things are still a bit weird.

Spacepig

molerat said:

I lost it a few years back probably about 15 or so.  I had a scan to see if there was anything on the brain.  The specialist said it is usually down to a virus or damage to the brain.  The virus has usually been and long gone before you realise and the full effects are felt, it destroys the little hairy things up your nose.  It will either come back after maybe a year or more or maybe never.  I had no real sense of smell or taste but cigarette smoke really smelt awful and still does.  After about a year I was away on holiday and had an awful smell of petrol from the major road outside the hotel, weird as MrsM could not smell it.  Gradually it got better and I think I am pretty much back to normal but some things are still a bit weird.

Thank you. Did you need to take anything or just let the body do it's thing? I'm not panicking just yet, it's nearly been 2 weeks, at least i'll have a new appreciation for being able to tell if the mil is 'off'.

comeandgo

Spacepig said:

Well that's scary! Was it following from anything specific?

Doctors found nothing to explain it.  

boots_babe

Don't want to cause unnecessary worry, but you should probably read the article below regarding loss of smell being a potential symptom of coronavirus:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-symptoms-respiratory-anosmia-smell-taste-loss-ent-asymptomatic-a9418151.html
Might be worth taking extra precautions and fully self-isloating just in case.