Posted by: Cris555 Posted on: 10/27/2009
I'm 67 and have had anosmia all my life, so therefore it is nothing new to me. It actually has helped me in my profession, as a nurse I could go into any patient's room no matter how odoriferous it was and it would not bother me. I also could attend autopsies with no "smelling" difficulties. As for eating, I go for texture, like crunchy things. I have discovered I like hot things. I can detect anything that is burning (a good thing) and skunk smells like coffee (when first open can get a slight whiff) to me so its possible I have hyposmia instead of full fledged anosmia. It is somewhat of a joke with the people I've worked with, when they say smell this or do you smell this and I just shake my head, then they acknowledge my inability (not disability) to smell. I'm considering this topic as my Phd research topic, so will continue to monitor for info.
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Posted by: joelinsandiego Posted on: 10/22/2009
I am 31 years old and also can not smell but seem to be able to taste. I had a tramatic brain injury when I was 18 and have not been able to smell since. I try not to think about it to much but it seems to happen daily that someone asks me to "smell this". It really hard to stay posotive but the one thing that makes it easier for me is the alternative was death. I am lucky to be alive and for that I am thankful but there are days where I wish I could smell rain, or the outdoors. I hope someday there is a cure for this cause I would love the live the rest of my life with the gift of smell. Hangin there anyone suffering from this cause it seems to get easier after time but I totally understand your concerns and pain. No one else can really understand how hard it is so really its a sickness I deal with on my own but its nice to know Im not a freak and there are others like me.
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Posted by: Iammichal Posted on: 10/20/2009
Lost my sense of smell five weeks ago after a head injury. Can taste the basic things like sweet, sour, bitter, salty. Can get hints of flavors but I am very sad about not being able to smell lilacs in the spring or taste raspberries. Went to neurologist, general practitioner, ENT and no one had any thing positive to say. "Maybe over time" some thing will come back, "no current treatments", "no magic pill", basically nothing can be done. Never take smell and taste for granted, it is a big part of life.
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Posted by: Renod Posted on: 10/2/2009
Reno from Melbourne, Australia. I have been on anti-depressants Zoloft & Prothiaden as well as on the tranquillizer Xanax for over 10 years. Over the years I have reduced dosages to a small maintenance dose which i will need for the rest of my life. I am 62. For over two years i have been unable to smell or taste anything. An x-ray of my sinuses indicated they are clear. Is anyone who has been taking these medications experienced loss of smell / taste? My GP thinks Prothiaden may be causing the problem but my psychiatrist disagrees. I am confused and frustrated. Any ideas?
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Posted by: HannahF4992 Posted on: 9/6/2009
I don't know if i was born without a sense of smell, but, I cannot remember ever smelling anything. I can taste fine, but I can't smell anything at all.Everyone else in my family can smell. I'm 17, and I'd like to smell something before I live on my own. I'm afraid of living alone and my house catching on fire and me not being able to smell it. So, if anyone figure out something that works, please let me know.
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Posted by: ZooaRoo Posted on: 6/21/2009
I was born without a sense of smell. I don't miss what I have never experienced but most people don't believe me. I would like to smell Australia, the Georgia night air, or cookies! I would LOVE to smell cookies just once.
My dad has no smell, my sister has no smell. We can taste. I heard people who used to be able to smell and now cannot don't taste things. Is that true?
And is the most common question you get asked, "So, if i were to fart in your face you couldn't smell it?"
...I always want to reply, "Yes, i could. But only YOUR fart. Your fart is special."
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Posted by: billc Posted on: 6/16/2009
I lost my smell about a year ago. Tried antibotics, no help. My brother told me to just use my basset hound for a "smelling nose dog".I work with paints and the likes. I can't tell when my respirator is bad. It happened to me after a cold. Not being able to smell "STINKS".
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Posted by: helpmeplease Posted on: 5/27/2009
I lost my sense of smell about 5 years ago due to an attack of meningitis. Apparently viral infections are one of the causes of Anosmia and actually "alters" the "thinking of the DNA. In my case the "thinking" of the DNA in my ofalctory nerves. I visited the Smell and Taste Clinic in Washington 2 years ago and the Doctor..Dr Henkel..specialises in this field. He prescribed "theophillan" ( a old asma treatment ) and said that with perseverense it would correct the "thinking" of the DNA. I tried it for about 6 months and then got tired of taking pills ( my own fault ). To date, there is plenty of Research being done re Anosmia and every couple of years new information is given to the Medical fraternity..the best that you can do is to ask your ENT to put you onto the Database in the event they start experimenting with "stem cell therapy" as the first area of the Human body that will be experimented with will be the ofalctory nerves in the nose as, apparently it is the only regenerating nerve in the Human body. Once on the Database we might be the lucky or...unlucky guinea pigs..but it's hope at least.
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Posted by: johnna11 Posted on: 5/23/2009
I am in the process of seeing an ent doctor for my loss of smell. After reading all these "posts" i do not think anything is going to bring this "sense" back. This is so frustrating, I get so tired of people saying, yum...doesnt that smell good??Or, smell these flowers they are wonderful!!!! I wish I could, but it looks like i should cancel any further appointments, and just be happy I am otherwise healthy.
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Posted by: warren27 Posted on: 4/22/2009
I lost my sense of smell about 4 years back,i have been to see a specialist who treated me for acute sinustis to no avail,i still have a sense of taste but not very strong,has anyone tried alternative treatment? ie acupuncture etc or can anyone suggest any form of treatment as i Beleive Anosmia is not well known in South Africa and Doctors seem to just treat it as some kind of upper respirtory disorder. PLEASE HELP

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