Loss of sense of taste & smell

A

atwnsw

New member
Hi there,

I am a 43 year old adult with CF and started to lose my sense of taste/smell about 6 months ago. In general, my health has been pretty good overall without any IV treatments recently.

After seeing my ENT she prescribed oral antibiotics which didn't help. Then we did sinus surgery 6 weeks ago which brought some sense of taste/smell (25%) back.

I then lost it again.

She just prescribed prednisone for 4 days after my sinuses appeared to be inflamed (not infected).

I do the sinus rinse 1-2 times per day already.

Has anybody who has lost their sense of taste/smell found a treatment to help regain it?

The doc is cautiously optimistic that can regain it again (even if only partially) since it returned temporarily after the surgery.

What thoughts/suggestions do you have?

Aside from not being able to use my sense to enjoy life, I also worry that I may lose the desire to eat down the road. For now, weight isn't a primary concern but that can change quickly....

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
 
A

atwnsw

New member
Hi there,

I am a 43 year old adult with CF and started to lose my sense of taste/smell about 6 months ago. In general, my health has been pretty good overall without any IV treatments recently.

After seeing my ENT she prescribed oral antibiotics which didn't help. Then we did sinus surgery 6 weeks ago which brought some sense of taste/smell (25%) back.

I then lost it again.

She just prescribed prednisone for 4 days after my sinuses appeared to be inflamed (not infected).

I do the sinus rinse 1-2 times per day already.

Has anybody who has lost their sense of taste/smell found a treatment to help regain it?

The doc is cautiously optimistic that can regain it again (even if only partially) since it returned temporarily after the surgery.

What thoughts/suggestions do you have?

Aside from not being able to use my sense to enjoy life, I also worry that I may lose the desire to eat down the road. For now, weight isn't a primary concern but that can change quickly....

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
 
A

atwnsw

New member
Hi there,

I am a 43 year old adult with CF and started to lose my sense of taste/smell about 6 months ago. In general, my health has been pretty good overall without any IV treatments recently.

After seeing my ENT she prescribed oral antibiotics which didn't help. Then we did sinus surgery 6 weeks ago which brought some sense of taste/smell (25%) back.

I then lost it again.

She just prescribed prednisone for 4 days after my sinuses appeared to be inflamed (not infected).

I do the sinus rinse 1-2 times per day already.

Has anybody who has lost their sense of taste/smell found a treatment to help regain it?

The doc is cautiously optimistic that can regain it again (even if only partially) since it returned temporarily after the surgery.

What thoughts/suggestions do you have?

Aside from not being able to use my sense to enjoy life, I also worry that I may lose the desire to eat down the road. For now, weight isn't a primary concern but that can change quickly....

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
 
A

atwnsw

New member
Hi there,

I am a 43 year old adult with CF and started to lose my sense of taste/smell about 6 months ago. In general, my health has been pretty good overall without any IV treatments recently.

After seeing my ENT she prescribed oral antibiotics which didn't help. Then we did sinus surgery 6 weeks ago which brought some sense of taste/smell (25%) back.

I then lost it again.

She just prescribed prednisone for 4 days after my sinuses appeared to be inflamed (not infected).

I do the sinus rinse 1-2 times per day already.

Has anybody who has lost their sense of taste/smell found a treatment to help regain it?

The doc is cautiously optimistic that can regain it again (even if only partially) since it returned temporarily after the surgery.

What thoughts/suggestions do you have?

Aside from not being able to use my sense to enjoy life, I also worry that I may lose the desire to eat down the road. For now, weight isn't a primary concern but that can change quickly....

Thanks in advance.

Anthony
 
A

atwnsw

New member
Hi there,
<br />
<br />I am a 43 year old adult with CF and started to lose my sense of taste/smell about 6 months ago. In general, my health has been pretty good overall without any IV treatments recently.
<br />
<br />After seeing my ENT she prescribed oral antibiotics which didn't help. Then we did sinus surgery 6 weeks ago which brought some sense of taste/smell (25%) back.
<br />
<br />I then lost it again.
<br />
<br />She just prescribed prednisone for 4 days after my sinuses appeared to be inflamed (not infected).
<br />
<br />I do the sinus rinse 1-2 times per day already.
<br />
<br />Has anybody who has lost their sense of taste/smell found a treatment to help regain it?
<br />
<br />The doc is cautiously optimistic that can regain it again (even if only partially) since it returned temporarily after the surgery.
<br />
<br />What thoughts/suggestions do you have?
<br />
<br />Aside from not being able to use my sense to enjoy life, I also worry that I may lose the desire to eat down the road. For now, weight isn't a primary concern but that can change quickly....
<br />
<br />Thanks in advance.
<br />
<br />Anthony
 
J

jdubbs

New member
Hi Anthony -

I don't really have any useful tips to regain your sense of smell. I lost mine completely about 12 years ago. Honestly, I don't even notice now unless someone says "do you smell that?" (which does drive me a little insane if they KNOW I can't smell anything). My food tends to be salty, spicy or sweet. If you do lose your sense of smell, you will adapt.

Good luck.
 
J

jdubbs

New member
Hi Anthony -

I don't really have any useful tips to regain your sense of smell. I lost mine completely about 12 years ago. Honestly, I don't even notice now unless someone says "do you smell that?" (which does drive me a little insane if they KNOW I can't smell anything). My food tends to be salty, spicy or sweet. If you do lose your sense of smell, you will adapt.

Good luck.
 
J

jdubbs

New member
Hi Anthony -

I don't really have any useful tips to regain your sense of smell. I lost mine completely about 12 years ago. Honestly, I don't even notice now unless someone says "do you smell that?" (which does drive me a little insane if they KNOW I can't smell anything). My food tends to be salty, spicy or sweet. If you do lose your sense of smell, you will adapt.

Good luck.
 
J

jdubbs

New member
Hi Anthony -

I don't really have any useful tips to regain your sense of smell. I lost mine completely about 12 years ago. Honestly, I don't even notice now unless someone says "do you smell that?" (which does drive me a little insane if they KNOW I can't smell anything). My food tends to be salty, spicy or sweet. If you do lose your sense of smell, you will adapt.

Good luck.
 
J

jdubbs

New member
Hi Anthony -
<br />
<br />I don't really have any useful tips to regain your sense of smell. I lost mine completely about 12 years ago. Honestly, I don't even notice now unless someone says "do you smell that?" (which does drive me a little insane if they KNOW I can't smell anything). My food tends to be salty, spicy or sweet. If you do lose your sense of smell, you will adapt.
<br />
<br />Good luck.
<br />
 
K

kfw1963

Guest
Anthony, I had sinus surgery about 8 weeks ago and my taste and smell have not come back. I am very disappointed as I was told it would. I still have sinus pressure and post nasal drip and some stuffiness so I don't know if that is the reason. I also am doing the sinus rinses 2x day along with Flonase trying to reduce any inflammation. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that the sinus surgery was only to reduce my chance of lung problems, from drainage, and will not significantly improve my sense of taste or smell.
 
K

kfw1963

Guest
Anthony, I had sinus surgery about 8 weeks ago and my taste and smell have not come back. I am very disappointed as I was told it would. I still have sinus pressure and post nasal drip and some stuffiness so I don't know if that is the reason. I also am doing the sinus rinses 2x day along with Flonase trying to reduce any inflammation. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that the sinus surgery was only to reduce my chance of lung problems, from drainage, and will not significantly improve my sense of taste or smell.
 
K

kfw1963

Guest
Anthony, I had sinus surgery about 8 weeks ago and my taste and smell have not come back. I am very disappointed as I was told it would. I still have sinus pressure and post nasal drip and some stuffiness so I don't know if that is the reason. I also am doing the sinus rinses 2x day along with Flonase trying to reduce any inflammation. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that the sinus surgery was only to reduce my chance of lung problems, from drainage, and will not significantly improve my sense of taste or smell.
 
K

kfw1963

Guest
Anthony, I had sinus surgery about 8 weeks ago and my taste and smell have not come back. I am very disappointed as I was told it would. I still have sinus pressure and post nasal drip and some stuffiness so I don't know if that is the reason. I also am doing the sinus rinses 2x day along with Flonase trying to reduce any inflammation. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that the sinus surgery was only to reduce my chance of lung problems, from drainage, and will not significantly improve my sense of taste or smell.
 
K

kfw1963

Guest
Anthony, I had sinus surgery about 8 weeks ago and my taste and smell have not come back. I am very disappointed as I was told it would. I still have sinus pressure and post nasal drip and some stuffiness so I don't know if that is the reason. I also am doing the sinus rinses 2x day along with Flonase trying to reduce any inflammation. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that the sinus surgery was only to reduce my chance of lung problems, from drainage, and will not significantly improve my sense of taste or smell.
 
C

carmick

New member
I started losing my sense of smell back in elementary school. At the time it was just a joke among my friends (e.g. haha I can't smell the skunk), but by high school it was totally gone. No one actually mentioned that it could be related to cf until college even though i had nasal polyps as a kid. My mom actually thought I was faking it until recently. In the last couple of years I started getting my sense of smell back every now and then. Like for a few days I will be able to smell strong things (shampoo, spicy food) but then it will go again. It doesn't seem to be related to anything like overall health or treatments, maybe sinus inflamation? So I guess I can't really help you other than to reassure you that yes your sense of smell might come back, at least a little.
 
C

carmick

New member
I started losing my sense of smell back in elementary school. At the time it was just a joke among my friends (e.g. haha I can't smell the skunk), but by high school it was totally gone. No one actually mentioned that it could be related to cf until college even though i had nasal polyps as a kid. My mom actually thought I was faking it until recently. In the last couple of years I started getting my sense of smell back every now and then. Like for a few days I will be able to smell strong things (shampoo, spicy food) but then it will go again. It doesn't seem to be related to anything like overall health or treatments, maybe sinus inflamation? So I guess I can't really help you other than to reassure you that yes your sense of smell might come back, at least a little.
 
C

carmick

New member
I started losing my sense of smell back in elementary school. At the time it was just a joke among my friends (e.g. haha I can't smell the skunk), but by high school it was totally gone. No one actually mentioned that it could be related to cf until college even though i had nasal polyps as a kid. My mom actually thought I was faking it until recently. In the last couple of years I started getting my sense of smell back every now and then. Like for a few days I will be able to smell strong things (shampoo, spicy food) but then it will go again. It doesn't seem to be related to anything like overall health or treatments, maybe sinus inflamation? So I guess I can't really help you other than to reassure you that yes your sense of smell might come back, at least a little.
 
C

carmick

New member
I started losing my sense of smell back in elementary school. At the time it was just a joke among my friends (e.g. haha I can't smell the skunk), but by high school it was totally gone. No one actually mentioned that it could be related to cf until college even though i had nasal polyps as a kid. My mom actually thought I was faking it until recently. In the last couple of years I started getting my sense of smell back every now and then. Like for a few days I will be able to smell strong things (shampoo, spicy food) but then it will go again. It doesn't seem to be related to anything like overall health or treatments, maybe sinus inflamation? So I guess I can't really help you other than to reassure you that yes your sense of smell might come back, at least a little.
 
C

carmick

New member
I started losing my sense of smell back in elementary school. At the time it was just a joke among my friends (e.g. haha I can't smell the skunk), but by high school it was totally gone. No one actually mentioned that it could be related to cf until college even though i had nasal polyps as a kid. My mom actually thought I was faking it until recently. In the last couple of years I started getting my sense of smell back every now and then. Like for a few days I will be able to smell strong things (shampoo, spicy food) but then it will go again. It doesn't seem to be related to anything like overall health or treatments, maybe sinus inflamation? So I guess I can't really help you other than to reassure you that yes your sense of smell might come back, at least a little.
 
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