Connect
Searching for answers around loss of smell be taste pre/post surgery
Seems like I’m not alone here but wanted to throw this out there and see if anyone had any suggestions.
I had a severe case of sinusitis, not polyps but inflammation. I got constant sinus infections since I was a kid and always had post nasal drip/bad congestion.
3ish years ago, it hit its peak where I started losing my sense of smell and taste. 4 ENTs later, we decided on surgery.
At this point, my smell and taste would come and go. Steroids would help, antibiotics did not.
Had the surgery, everything went well. 1 week post op had stents removed and immediately I could smell a little bit. Like not as if smell was up close but far away if that make sense.
3 months after, things seemed to be getting better, was doing 4 flushes a day, 2 with budesonide. Then out of no where, it went away completely.
That was almost a year ago — I had days where I can sometimes smell a little bit, but not taste a thing. Some days I can’t smell or taste anything at all. Hold a bottle of whiskey under my nose, and not even a flinch.
I’ve tried stopping certain medications I take that have smell loss listed as a side effect, but still nothing. I’ve gone in probably 6 times in the last year and my ENT is always very excited on how things look.
Eventually I forced him to take a culture and it came back with Staphylococcus Aureus which was resistant to every antibiotic he prescribed thus far. Gave me a new one and within hours I could start smelling again. Ran its course, felt great could smell but taste was still mostly gone.
Got another sinus infection and this time I decided to see an infectious disease doc. He said that we needed to kill the entire colony which involved a 7 day run of antibiotics (sulfur based) and scrubbing my entire body with Hibiclense daily in the shower for a month.
Did this, worked but now I’m back to intermittent smell and sometimes no taste at all.
I’m looking for any and all help. Thanks in advance.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.
Connect
I started with headaches in back of head then I lost my smell and taste. After continuous antibiotics, ENT discovered my Sephnoid sinus was very infected. After a 2 1/2 hour surgery, I am on a rinse 3 times a day. I have not gotten my smell or taste back. ENT said it may not come back or could take a year or more. I can taste salty, hot, bitter and sweet but no flavor. It’s hard to describe. My ENT said it best. I can take a bite of chocolate pie. I know it’s sweet, but I don’t know it’s chocolate if I can’t see it. Wish I was more helpful.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi,
I’m sorry you are experiencing a loss of taste and smell and wish I had an answer for you.
I have Sinusitis and have had it for about 5 years. I had nose surgery for a deviated septum and then ended up with Sinusitis shortly thereafter. About 1 1/2 years ago I started having issues and started losing my sense of taste/smell. I’ve had cat scans, stopped medications, stopped eating certain foods and still have a problem. Some days are better than others but all I want is to taste and smell the food I eat.
Would like to hear more from you and what other things you have tried.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@mjemjm I just had the same surgery yesterday for the same thing. I very good sense of smell and could taste food even yesterday when I woke up.
I started the rinses this am and now I can’t taste or smell anything. I am worried because why eat
@mjemjm I just had the same surgery yesterday and could taste and smell before it. I could even taste and smell yesterday but today I can’t taste anything after starting the rinses.
I am worried now and why eat
I’m still the same. Eating is boring and I miss using my perfumes. I’m scared I’ll put too much on and run everyone off. My ENT said I need to retrain my smell receptors so they connect with my brain again. Easier said than done. If you google sinus surgery and no smell it explains it better then I can. I never realized smell is so important when it comes to eating. Good luck. Please keep me up to date.