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Loss of smell and taste after head injury

Posted by gwenrn74 @gwenrn74, Jul 28, 2024

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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gwenrn74 | @gwenrn74 | Mar 18 4:48pm

One, it's common after tbi for people to stop loving coffee, chocolate and onions and garlic. I believe they are researching the olfactory nerve and the cribiform plate and neuroplasticity

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momofthr33 | @momofthr33 | Oct 13 9:35pm

I have similar problems and am 10 months out. I headed down a terrible path this month related to dealing with my symptoms and have been going through a difficult divorce. I miss my garden and can’t smell the herbs I have been able to grow. I miss the experience of cooking. My neurologists I have seen don’t seem to want to treat this part of my injury and have concentrated on my migraines. I miss the smell of my kids’ hair like after they get out of the bath. I never know how long my periods of me feeling like me are going to last or when I’m going to be in such extreme pain that I do or say things that I normally wouldn’t do. I’m curious how other parents deal with this, especially during a difficult separation.

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momofthr33 | @momofthr33 | Oct 13 9:41pm
In reply to @gwenrn74 "Hi Loss of taste and smellers ! It's Jan 2025, and I'm still without taste and..." + (show)
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Hi Loss of taste and smellers !

It's Jan 2025, and I'm still without taste and smell. Everything tastes like wax paper OR onions and garlic taste vile, as does coffee. I joined Monell a research group for loss of taste and smell and a support group for the same loss. Thanksgiving was hard, as was Christmas. I am saving money by not eating out. Is there anything else I can do ? I do my own scent therapy by sniffing Essential oils : rose, lemon, cloves, eucalyptus- but peppermint is an odd rotten smell- like toothpaste is horrid, as is the oil in lipsticks. Doe sanyone know why I smell bad, rotten smells after a TBI one year ago ?

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@gwenrn74 I am nearing the one year mark. The best I can describe my smell is like a deep fried eraser. I cooked bacon for the first time this last week and it was horrible. Scents that used to be soothing like calming essential oils smell just like it too.

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momofthr33 | @momofthr33 | Oct 13 9:59pm
In reply to @lisalucier "@gwenrn74 - I'm really sorry about your suffering. It sounds like you've experienced a lot of..." + (show)
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@gwenrn74 - I'm really sorry about your suffering. It sounds like you've experienced a lot of losses.

Being wide awake for 4 days sounds really difficult. If you've not yet checked out the Mayo Clinic Connect Sleep Health support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/sleep-health, there might be some members there with information to share from their experiences with insomnia.

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@lisalucier I also have those insomnia stretches. I got so desperate and confused last time it did not end well. I made extremely poor decisions. I’m wondering if anyone else has had that issue and how they manage it when they are not themselves. The time line changes but I do either feel ok and then cycle to insomnia and not ok and then sleeping and ok again. It’s impacted my relationships with family and friends and even with my eldest child.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 13 11:11pm
In reply to @momofthr33 "@lisalucier I also have those insomnia stretches. I got so desperate and confused last time it..." + (show)
Profile picture for momofthr33 @momofthr33

@lisalucier I also have those insomnia stretches. I got so desperate and confused last time it did not end well. I made extremely poor decisions. I’m wondering if anyone else has had that issue and how they manage it when they are not themselves. The time line changes but I do either feel ok and then cycle to insomnia and not ok and then sleeping and ok again. It’s impacted my relationships with family and friends and even with my eldest child.

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@momofthr33 - that sounds like a lot of losses, from a relationship to sleep and smell. A lot taken away that you had. I'm sorry.

For insomnia, you might look at some of the discussions in the Mayo Clinic Connect Sleep Health group, such as:

- Battling Insomnia https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/battling-insomnia/

Has your sense of smell after the TBI gone from nothing to a negative smell? Is it evolving?

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