Changes in my senses

  • Thread starter Thread starter slyboots
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

slyboots

Guest
I didn’t really know where to put this.

I have had a pretty nasty virus for about 8 days. It seems to have started Easter Monday. An ear drum nearly ruptured. My coughing wracks my lungs and makes my stomach muscles hurt. My sinuses, throat and ears have felt as if they were on fire sometimes. I have felt nausea often. But it’s a virus which they tell me should pass soon.

Perhaps it’s the lack of sleep. Or the fevers I have had. Or something else I have no idea about. But a few odd things have happened which are disconcerting.

I have almost completely lost my sense of taste and smell. I cook for friends and family for pleasure and as my weight shows enjoy eating greatly. Likely it will come back (?). But if it should not a source of my previous pleasure in life would be gone. I can still cook but will have to rely upon others to tell me if it is is pleasant to eat or not.

As for the sense of smell, while I first fretted about the loss of the pleasurable things I now see how much I depended upon it in my life. Sure I like to smell nice aromas. But the grand baby might need changed and I would be the last to know. Seems odd that I should care about that. Or more importantly what of danger smells like electrical things which have overheated. It all happens sometimes. I wonder how I will learn to deal with this if it should stay around.

I wear bifocals to see. I hear in spite of tinitis earned by years of loud rock music, medication interaction and other things. My sense of touch is noways as acute now in my middle 50’s as it was even 10 years ago.

In spite of this or because of this I am praying for joy in life. It’s not as if I am in a more terminal condition than are all humans. I have no known sinister ailment lurking about. But I ask you to pray for me. That I may remember God gave me more than physical senses. Perhaps in lieu of those He calls me to more often use my sense of humor, a sense of wonder, or sense of His presence?

This message sounds a bit childish I think. A little silly maybe. But my heart had me write it. So I have. Please pray for me. And I will pray for you as well. 🙂
 
I’m so sorry to hear about your recent (and on-going) illness. With symptoms of such seriousness and length (eight days and counting?) I hope you have seen a doctor by now. It’s too soon to tell if your loss of smell and taste will be long-term/ permanent or just temporary until you get over this illness, so don’t panic yet, but do get proper medical attention.

My husband’s great-aunt (84 years old) lost her sense of smell (I don’t know about her sense of taste, but I know they’re closely related) and has therefore lost her appetite. She’s lost forty pounds or more in the last months or year. I’ve also heard that using zinc nasal sprays or creams (e.g. Zicam) for colds or flus can damage your sense of smell. But sense of smell and taste are so closely related to a healthy appetite – God gave us the pleasures of smell and taste to keep us eating, which is necessary for our well-being – that you should definitely get medical attention for this, especially if it lasts beyond your recovery from the virus.

Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery!
Christine
 
If your sinuses are congested and affecting your smell, your sense of taste could be affected too. My daughter had this for a little over a week, and it went away as fast as it came. I hope it’s the case for you.

Have you tried a Neti Pot to flush your sinuses? My sister uses one and likes the results. If you want to see how it works, go to the web page; I don’t want to go into the details here.
 
Several years ago, I had influenza, the real thing, the thing we are vaccinated against. (Until I actually had the flu, I never got vaccinated because “I never got sick.” Ever since then, I am faithfully vaccinated.)

The symptoms you describe sound like what I had. Viruses are just nasty things.

When I was finally over it, everything smelled and tasted like fish. Also, I stopped drinking my beloved Cokes (and haven’t gone back to them, although I love Mt. Dew) because they tasted like metal.

I lost about 30 pounds.

My sense of smell and taste gradually returned and six months later, I was fine (except I still don’t like the taste of Coke).

I hope you’re feeling better soon!
 
I would take advantage of that lack of smell and eat raw garlic while I could, personally. I feel for you. I know what a bad virus is like. It changes everything. Keep warm, keep hydrated and let someone else change grandbaby. You don’t need to disturb your tummy or expose the child to your germs.
 
I also hope that you have seen a doctor. If not, you may be depriving yourself of some relief.

About 8 years ago, when I was in undergrad, I came down with a really nasty bug and went to the doctor when my fever spiked to 102 F and my throat was so sore that I could only eat ice cream. The antibiotics helped with the sore throat, but I still ended up with a stiff neck for a few days and strangely enough, completely lost my senses of smell and taste. My nasal passages were clear, I could breathe through them with no problems, but I couldn’t smell anything and all I could taste of food was saltiness or sweetness (the taste bud flavors). I think that lasted about a week and then my senses came back in full force. That was a fun bug (sarcasm). It seemed like I had a new symptom every day. There was the coughing from sinus drainage, and the waking up with my eyes crusted shut from draining tear ducts, etc. The one good thing was that it happened during midterms week, and one of my midterms was a laboratory practical for my vertebrate anatomy course. Apparently one of the preserved cats we were using had gone a bit “off”, but I didn’t know this until after the exam, when all of my classmates were complaining about the smell. 😛
 
slyboots said:
I didn’t really know where to put this.

I have had a pretty nasty virus for about 8 days. It seems to have started Easter Monday. An ear drum nearly ruptured. My coughing wracks my lungs and makes my stomach muscles hurt. My sinuses, throat and ears have felt as if they were on fire sometimes. I have felt nausea often. But it’s a virus which they tell me should pass soon.

Perhaps it’s the lack of sleep. Or the fevers I have had. Or something else I have no idea about. But a few odd things have happened which are disconcerting.

I have almost completely lost my sense of taste and smell. I cook for friends and family for pleasure and as my weight shows enjoy eating greatly. Likely it will come back (?). But if it should not a source of my previous pleasure in life would be gone. I can still cook but will have to rely upon others to tell me if it is is pleasant to eat or not.

As for the sense of smell, while I first fretted about the loss of the pleasurable things I now see how much I depended upon it in my life. Sure I like to smell nice aromas. But the grand baby might need changed and I would be the last to know. Seems odd that I should care about that. Or more importantly what of danger smells like electrical things which have overheated. It all happens sometimes. I wonder how I will learn to deal with this if it should stay around.

I wear bifocals to see. I hear in spite of tinitis earned by years of loud rock music, medication interaction and other things. My sense of touch is noways as acute now in my middle 50’s as it was even 10 years ago.

In spite of this or because of this I am praying for joy in life. It’s not as if I am in a more terminal condition than are all humans. I have no known sinister ailment lurking about. But I ask you to pray for me. That I may remember God gave me more than physical senses. Perhaps in lieu of those He calls me to more often use my sense of humor, a sense of wonder, or sense of His presence?

This message sounds a bit childish I think. A little silly maybe. But my heart had me write it. So I have. Please pray for me. And I will pray for you as well. 🙂
Click to expand...
I had something similar starting 3 weeks ago today. I lost 6 pounds because I had no sense of taste or smell, could only eat small amounts of food and then felt nauseated, and coughed until I was sure I was going to herniate something. I did go to the Dr. and he gave me antibiotics, but I still have an occasional cough, although I am eating better now because my senses have returned, and today I actually feeling hungry. I hope you have been to the Dr. to make sure it is not something more serious.

Yes, when we lose our senses, it does make us appreciate them when they come back. I’ll say a prayer for your recovery.
 
ks60 said:
If your sinuses are congested and affecting your smell, your sense of taste could be affected too. My daughter had this for a little over a week, and it went away as fast as it came. I hope it’s the case for you.

Have you tried a Neti Pot to flush your sinuses? My sister uses one and likes the results. If you want to see how it works, go to the web page; I don’t want to go into the details here.
Click to expand...
My girlfriend’s husband uses the Neti Pot and says it really helps. I am thinking of buying one to have on hand.
 
This year was the first time I lost my sense of smell (and taste) while I was sick. (I have friends that say this happens often when they are sick). I had a really bad cough that lingered as well. I have an extremely strong sense of smell so it was really weird for me but I could smell absolutely nothing. I could taste faintly only things that were very strongly flavored.

Weeks after I was sick I woke up to use the bathroom, as I walked into the living room I smelled something absolutely awful. My husband had given me flowers about three weeks earlier. The smell was coming from the flowers, the water had become stagnant. My husband was still up and I had him throw them out right then because the smell was just awful. Then I suddenly realized my sense of smell was back.

Actually a little part of me missed not smelling because my sense of smell is so strong sometimes things that others can barely smell makes my stomach turn.

My guess it’s linked to your virus but I would check with your doctor for reassurance.
 
Thank you for all your encouragement.

It’s a little over a week now and I have lost about 6 lbs. LOL. It’s an ill wind that blows no good they say. Just as Cat, I also have absolutely NO desire to drink Coke, usually my favorite beverage. And like SeekerJen, I can only barely taste salty or sweet (which leaves a bitternessin my throat).

I have seen my doctor Friday Morning and today. This morning she gave me a breathing treatment and I am to return for one tomorrow. She is a fellow Catholic and usually we see each other at mass. She watches over our whole family much like a guardian angel. She is treating me for acute asthma which I have not had in 15 years but apparently has reared it’s head again.

Yesterday our children and grandchildren came. I got to hold the littlest, 7 month Nathan and watch Madeline 6 yo and Hank 18 months old play in our yard while their parents visited on the porch.

It made it easier to forget I was unwell. 🙂
 
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top