Krje1980 From Norway, joined Feb 2006, 192 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 13176 times:
Hi all.
9 days ago I was hit with a very bad cold, and 2 days later I lost my sense of taste and smell. I developed a very bad sinus infection (for the first time in my life), and ended up going to the doctor two days ago. He prescribed me some antibiotics, and, fortunately, the intense pain associated with the infection has diminished. However, my cold remains, and I am still, after seven days, not able to smell or taste anything at all. I have not gone for this long without smell/taste before, so I am starting to get a bit worried since smell and taste is normally supposed to come back after 3-4 days at the most. Has anyone here gone through anything similar before? Ought I to worry, or is this something that eventually will pass? I'm thinking of contacting my doctor again, but if anyone here knows anything I would still be grateful.
Sorry if my post is a bit of a "rant." I guess I just need somewhere to vent my frustrations, and since a.net is my favorite internet forum, I thought this might be the best place!
It usually happens to me to, but never more than around 3 days. I did some research on the internet, and it seems that if you don't recover taste/smell after 3 days, it is quite abnormal.
Sorry if I sound like a wimp, but I'm pushing my eight day now, and I can't help but getting a bit worried.
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 13125 times:
It will get better. Sinus infections have a longer recovery period than the common cold, even with antibiotics. You've got two separate problems - the infectious bacteria, and the inflammation. The inflammation can last long past when the bacteria are killed or under control.
Remember that your sense of taste is directly connected to your sense of smell. If you cannot smell, you most likely won't taste anything. Your best sense of smell requires air flow past the sensory cells, not just air flow into the area. (This is why you smell things best when you inhale deeply and allow to flow into your mouth as well as the nose.)
I've been through numerous sinus infections and I can tell you that if you're an average patient, you will get better. It could be a month, though.
One thing to absolutely avoid - Zinc nasal sprays. They are known to damage sensory neurons in the nose, permanently damaging the sense of smell. Zinc lozenges are okay.
I see. Thanks for the info. I have been using a nasal spray from time to time during my cold, but after checking the contents of the spray, I could not see anything with zinc. The spray is called Zymelin by the way. I was actually encouraged by the doctor to use it from time to time, so I just hope it hasn't made things worse.
Redngold From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 6907 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 13086 times:
Your doctor probably wouldn't prescribe a zinc nasal spray now that it's been shown to cause such damage.
I forgot to add - the inflammation is what gives you the sinus pain and "stuffy" feeling, because the membranes are swollen and close the passages that allow air to pass. Use the spray your doctor has prescribed and it should get better. I personally would avoid any other type of spray other than plain saline, because a lot of the other non-prescription sprays can cause rebound congestion when you stop using them.
LHMARK From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 13079 times:
Hey, now you can eat Berliner Currywurst without gagging!
"Sympathy is something that shouldn't be bestowed on the Yankees. Apparently it angers them." - Bob Feller
Krje1980 From Norway, joined Feb 2006, 192 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 13058 times:
The doctor didn't prescribe the spray (it's bought over the counter), but he said I shouldn't worry about using it.
As for the lack of smell and taste, I guess you are right that now I can take certain jobs I would rather stay away from! But imagine how boring traveling will be when you can't smell the perfume in the airport shopping areas, the jet fuel, the cabin, and the smell upon arriving in a strange and distant land!
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7791 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 13046 times:
You're not alone, i had full blown flu last week and i lost my taste buds and sense of smell completely for 8 whole days. It was incredibly frustrating and i've never had flu for that long. Went to the docs and he simply confirmed what i knew. It will definitely go, it's frustrating but it's just a matter of time.
EasternSon From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 660 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 13038 times:
It happens, but don't worry, your sense of smell and taste will come back.
However, it's important to keep track of your sinus infections, and the type of antibiotics the doctor prescribes to you.
Chronic sinus infection, coupled with high dose antibiotics can cause anosmia, or total loss of sense of smell (permanent).
That would suck.
"The only people for me are the mad ones...." Jack Kerouac
OHLHD From Finland, joined Dec 2004, 3962 posts, RR: 27 Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 13023 times:
I feel with you!
I just finished a north Norway trip from TOS via Alta-Hammerfest to the Nordkap and I decided to walk the Knivskjelodden and damn the whether was so bad!
For 3 days I was so down because of 5 degrees and bad wind and rain there. No I am back in Finland and recovering!
Yesterday I got myself 2 pikes from the lake and I am feeling better now!
Aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8358 posts, RR: 47 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 13021 times:
Quoting Krje1980 (Reply 2): Sorry if I sound like a wimp, but I'm pushing my eight day now, and I can't help but getting a bit worried.
I think most of us can totally understand. I lost a little bit of my sense of smell to conc. HCl years ago, and that is not a nice thing. It's pretty bad when, several years after that, everyone in the classroom comlains that the smell of chlorine is just a bit too strong for their tastes but you smell but a whiff of the stuff.
Quoting Redngold (Reply 4): If you cannot smell, you most likely won't taste anything. Your best sense of smell requires air flow past the sensory cells, not just air flow into the area.
Of course he'd most likely be able to distinguish the most basic of tastes, but not specific flavours. Hey, Krje1980, how about an experiment? Buy some crisps containing glutamates. If you know and get that absolute urge to have more of them after the first few bites, voilà, you can still taste umami.
All in all, I wouldn't worry too much. Just ring your doctor and he'll explain, with full knowledge of your history.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
Well, I never had any problems with sinus infection, or my sinuses in general, before this. I got a normal cold, but I think it got worse since I decided to go to work instead of resting in for a few days (which normally cures me in two-three days). During my time at work I got increasingly bad, and my sinus infection developed in the next couple of days. Two days ago was the asbolute low point. The whole left side of my face (including the forehead, behind the eyes, the jaw, the teeth) was aching constantly - causing truly intense pain. However, after starting my antibiotica cure, these pains are pretty much gone. All that's left now is a cold that seems to never end, as well as the lack of smell/taste.
Thus, I hope that I am not in any danger of developing chronic sinus infection. Losing smell permanent would truly suck beyond belief!
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Of course he'd most likely be able to distinguish the most basic of tastes, but not specific flavours. Hey, Krje1980, how about an experiment? Buy some crisps containing glutamates. If you know and get that absolute urge to have more of them after the first few bites, voilà, you can still taste 
If some guy loses his sense of touch, could you line him up a gig as a crash-test dummy? 
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