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Loss of smell and taste after head injury

Posted by gwenrn74 @gwenrn74, Jul 28 2:49pm

I was run over as a pedestrian, by a Toyota Tacoma 8-9 months ago. 3 brain bleeds, skull fracture, scalp laceration, contusions, concussions, double vision, tinnitus, balance and dizziness, plus the aforementioned lack of taste and smell. I used to bake and cook. I guess I also have SIBO and need a low FODMAP diet and be gluten free. There is terrible insomnia, depression, anxiety- esp crossing the street. I've been doing my own smell therapy with essential oils. No luck. Im pretty suicidal at this point, but I have dogs- so Im safe. Is there any hope?

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celia16 | @celia16 | Jul 29 5:57am
In reply to @gwenrn74 "Thank you for your kind words. I will try the Vitamin B 12. I am deficient..." + (show)
@gwenrn74

Thank you for your kind words. I will try the Vitamin B 12. I am deficient in Vitamin D currently, and MD is looking at hormone levels to aid in insomnia. I am on the list for talk therapy bc I really need it.
Workman's Comp is so isolating. One can't talk to colleagues and I miss my friends.
I am doing Transcendental Meditation twice a day. I miss my "cast iron " stomach and the ability to eat food without thinking about it. The GF flour is hard to bake with- perhaps NASA is interested in a rubbery saltine cracker that I invented ??

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I’m curious about the hormone levels. Who will do those tests? I have disrupted sleep too. I wonder if it’s the vitamin deficiency or long covid. Mine is improving, but still not very solid.

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1 reply
celia16 | @celia16 | Jul 29 6:02am
In reply to @carnes "I also have traumatic brain injury. I lost my sense of smell and taste. I’m new..." + (show)
@carnes

I also have traumatic brain injury. I lost my sense of smell and taste.
I’m new to this. So I do not know how to navigate through here. I have difficulty finding the correct words to express what I try to say. I forget to say my point in a sentence. It’s not easy to communicate. Gets somewhat frustrating. Beside pain and COPD
Breathing and heart. Anyone have any ideas on how to deal with this when trying to answer questions? Etc.

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Your post seems clear to me, but if you want to could you get therapy?

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2 replies
Mentor
Scott, Volunteer Mentor | @IndianaScott | Jul 29 6:14am

Hi @gwenrn74 I can add that after my wife's TBI her senses of smell and taste altered greatly. Lots of old favorites became untenable and vice versa. While things did change over time some of the changes in what she found appealing as far as smells, tastes, and even sounds remained changed. We came to avoid a lot of those smells she now disliked and that helped her quite a bit.

Strength, Courage, & Peace

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kayabbott | @kayabbott | Jul 29 7:58am
In reply to @gwenrn74 "Thank you very much. This has been life altering." + (show)
@gwenrn74

Thank you very much. This has been life altering.

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Getting my life back is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. Looking back, I have lost a few things, mostly some memories, don't remember numbers or peoples names, and some smells/tastes are different (thankfully not chocolate), but I am emotionally stronger now than before. I didn't realize until after how hard it was and that I wasn't giving myself enough credit for healing. I am still me. Do something nice for yourself every day because you are climbing up a mountain. Rewiring takes a frustratingly long time, with peaks and valleys.

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kayabbott | @kayabbott | Jul 29 8:16am
In reply to @carnes "I can’t have sugar or flour of any kind. I would be grateful for receipts. Thank..." + (show)
@carnes

I can’t have sugar or flour of any kind. I would be grateful for receipts. Thank you Kay.
I have trouble with smell and taste. When I smell something it usually is not the real smell. To me it’s a bad smell but to other person it’s nice smell.
It’s late. I better try and sleep. Lol.

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Some smells smack me upside the head; if someone is smoking I have to leave due to the stench. Can you have gluten free flours? Most are from grains, but not all. Most GF cookbook authors have websites (don't know if I can send my recipes). Sugar can be left out of recipes, just increase the amount of seasoning such as spice(s) or peppers if you can taste those OK. If you are fine with almond flour, here is a good site for those recipes. https://elanaspantry.com/recipe-index/ . Buckwheat is is a seed, not a grain. Here sites with buckwheat recipes: https://miglutenfreegal.com/buckwheat-gluten-free-heart-friendly/ https://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes/for/making/gluten-free

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1 reply
carnes | @carnes | Jul 29 10:29am
In reply to @kayabbott "Some smells smack me upside the head; if someone is smoking I have to leave due..." + (show)
@kayabbott

Some smells smack me upside the head; if someone is smoking I have to leave due to the stench. Can you have gluten free flours? Most are from grains, but not all. Most GF cookbook authors have websites (don't know if I can send my recipes). Sugar can be left out of recipes, just increase the amount of seasoning such as spice(s) or peppers if you can taste those OK. If you are fine with almond flour, here is a good site for those recipes. https://elanaspantry.com/recipe-index/ . Buckwheat is is a seed, not a grain. Here sites with buckwheat recipes: https://miglutenfreegal.com/buckwheat-gluten-free-heart-friendly/ https://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes/for/making/gluten-free

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That’s very kind of you Kay. Once the whole grain is ground its flour. No matter almond oats , etc. I’m allergic. I’ve tried them all but I didn’t realize wheat is a seed. I’m allergic to wheat. Grains are the edible seeds of the grain.
I really appreciate your reply.

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1 reply
carnes | @carnes | Jul 29 10:35am
In reply to @celia16 "Your post seems clear to me, but if you want to could you get therapy?" + (show)
@celia16

Your post seems clear to me, but if you want to could you get therapy?

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Thank you for reminding me, Celcia. I have done some therapy. It was helping but my insurance wouldn’t pay any longer. Now I have trouble even getting a ride there.

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kayabbott | @kayabbott | Jul 29 10:51am
In reply to @carnes "That’s very kind of you Kay. Once the whole grain is ground its flour. No matter..." + (show)
@carnes

That’s very kind of you Kay. Once the whole grain is ground its flour. No matter almond oats , etc. I’m allergic. I’ve tried them all but I didn’t realize wheat is a seed. I’m allergic to wheat. Grains are the edible seeds of the grain.
I really appreciate your reply.

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Some seeds are from grasses, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt (gluten containing grains), oats, rice, quinoa, millet, and others. They are genetically quite different from nut and seed flours such as almond, buckwheat, hemp, flax, and others that are not grasses. Your comment suggests that you are allergic/sensitive to a number of things. I keep a food log because of autoimmune diseases (celiac...), just to see if I get new food intolerances.

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1 reply
carnes | @carnes | Jul 29 12:29pm
In reply to @kayabbott "Some seeds are from grasses, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt (gluten containing grains), oats, rice,..." + (show)
@kayabbott

Some seeds are from grasses, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt (gluten containing grains), oats, rice, quinoa, millet, and others. They are genetically quite different from nut and seed flours such as almond, buckwheat, hemp, flax, and others that are not grasses. Your comment suggests that you are allergic/sensitive to a number of things. I keep a food log because of autoimmune diseases (celiac...), just to see if I get new food intolerances.

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Hello Kay, you are so sweet. Naturally even though I doubt if I can, I certainly want to try again and see what happens. I’m somewhat reluctant since I’ve been told but I’ll let you know if I get enough nerve to check it out again. That would be great. I’m grateful for your offering to help.

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gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | Jul 29 5:22pm

Dear @gwenrn74
I’m happy in a why that you can remember, understand, feelings, and the doctors show you. Problems, oh problems change our life; some feel “normal” and other people are not normal (what means “normal”? I have no idea anyway).

I’m glad that you know of what’s going on for your self. For me, I’m not normal. Am I crazy on-my-brain? No, I hope, but some times do the wrong thing or can’t understand from some on does something to me.

I had/have a bicycle accident 13-14 years ago. I lost my past memory and lost my ability to work & help &\as a pro local government city and close to the top until my bicycle accident.

I’m down to only 20% of my abilities… but now I’m only to:
(1) cleaning/drying clothes on a machine
(2) taking our doggies outside (thankfully our yard helps me that I can’t walk doing this)
(3) trying to play music on my guitar/amp again
(4) trying to cutting our grass thru other yearns
(5) clean or get rid of things that is sorta heavy for me not my wife
(6) reading, but it’s slow and can’t understand some words
(7) COVID counting eat taste for 2 weeks
(8) and 9n…
Thx,
Greg D.

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