New symptom! bizzare smell and taste developed 2-3 months post covid

Posted by sslariz @sslariz, Nov 7 11:50am

I had covid again around Aug 1 - I took paxlovid and recovered very quickly and actually while on paxlovid had best energy ever, no headacches, and back pain significantly reduced.

However about 2 months post covid I started to develop a weirdness in my sense of smell where certain smells were enhannced and changed. Dawn dishsoap smelled disgusting.. at 3 months post, this increased to the point that anything savory smelling smells disgusting and the taste of it is also reduced and worsened.
I can taste salty and sweet things, they taste ok, but cant eat anything savory or fruity. so I'm reduced to very bland foods - cottage cheese for example.
The rest smells strongly like a mix of rotting and smoky. My sense of smell is also very strong for some things like bleach is overwhelmingly strong.
have others had this? I had long covid previously but this is the only symptom I have had since the recent covid infection. I'm planning to get the most recent vaccination and hope it goes away.

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celia16 | @celia16 | Nov 18 2:29pm

I never related my metallic turned bitter taste to the vaccine or boosters. I had a rough day or two after a couple of the vaccines, but nothing lingered. However, after I got covid, I almost immediately started with various symptoms…..Hair shedding, nasal congestion, phlegm in throat, smell/taste disorder, bitter taste, skin issues, eye irritation, paresthesia in feet and hands, etc. Most of them have improved or dissipated. I was also diagnosed with B12 deficiency around the same time and was told by one neurologist and 3 orthopedic doctors that I did not have neuropathy. Go figure. So, I don’t know for sure what culprit is responsible. Maybe several…..?

I do have hypothyroidism, but have maintained good levels for many years with 50 mcg Levothyroxine daily. My tests have always been good and I am due to get it tested again soon. Think my last one was about 10 months ago.
I’ve never had enough symptoms for Hashimoto’s. I underwent a full array for tests from my 2nd neurologist, gastroenterologist, and Rheumatologist for autoimmune diseases, and even though my ANA was abnormal, there weren’t enough other lab results to indicate autoimmune at work. (I do have type 1 diabetes and psoriasis.)

My paresthesia is improving, but the bitter taste remains intact. I really wonder if it will ever let me go.

I do feel for you with the smell/taste disorder. It’s very stressful and disruptive to one’s life. The impact it has on people is very underrated. The constant nature of something you have no control over is life changing, imo. I did do scent retraining….not sure if that helped. My food tastes normal, but without food or beverage in my mouth, I taste bitter.( Oh, right before the metallic/bitter taste I used antifungal topical body wash and took one antibiotic pill. I’ve always wondered if they were somehow related. )

I hope you have recovery. Do you still have the metallic taste or just no taste?

wilsonanderson | @wilsonanderson | Nov 19 9:25am

I recommend the Abscent website for lots of info, research, first person experience, even training etc on the various loss or distortion of the sense of smell.