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Lost Smell and Taste after COVID
So I had Covid in the beginning of March. Had all the symptoms and lost my taste and smell. I had 0 sense of smell or taste for a couple weeks. Ever since then everything I eat and smell does not smell or taste how I remember. Often times the food will taste rotten or sour. Has this happened to anyone else cause this has been going on for 6 months now and I would like to know if this is a permanent effect or not?
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Hello @seanc6437 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can imagine you have a lot of questions and, likely, some frustration around this. Unfortunately, no one knows at this point if this a permanent effect or not. Here is an article that may be helpful.
- COVID’s toll on smell and taste: what scientists do and don’t know:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00055-6
Here is another resource that may be of interest.
- How 'smell training' is helping COVID-19 patients recover their olfactory sense:
Members like @chinnk13 @kaswick2 and @user628267 have all shared that they, too, have experienced loss of taste and smell and may be able to share more with you.
Do you feel like one of the two senses are returning slightly more than the other?
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1 ReactionI wouldn’t say returning but my taste is better than my sense of smell.
Sean - I would say it is a good sign that you have some sense of taste, because the two are closely connected. Have you watched the video above and tried the "smell training" yet?
Sue
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1 ReactionI also lost my taste and smell to covid in March. Still haven't gotten it back, but, in the same way you can 'sense' sweet, salt, bitter and tart, I have developed a new one, that is like sour milk!!
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1 ReactionI still do not have my taste or smell back since having Covid-19 in Jan 2021. I've had numerous health problems. My hemoglobin is low and platelet count is low. Very tired and sometimes breathing is bad. Feel dizzy at times when standing up.
Hola no sé si será permanente pero ya yo tengo un año y cuatro meses, con la pérdida del gusto, el olfato y sensibilidad auditiva. Solo siento lo dulce, lo salado y todo sabe igual lo que yo e hecho es imaginar los sabores como los recuerdo. Y los olores me molestan cuando son muy fuerte pero no distingo un olor específico siempre es el mismo olor para todo.
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Hello, I see that you have just joined Mayo Connect. Have you had the opportunity yet to look at any of the other posts or information here about Post-Covid? Like: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/ - the newsfeed covering all the latest information and research regarding long-lasting Covid issues.
Since you know your hemoglobin is low, has you care provider suggested any treatment to help? The fatigue, breathing and dizziness can all be lingering Covid aftereffects, but can also be caused by anemia.
Maybe someone else with this symptom will let you know what has helped them.
Sue
Hi Sue. Thanks for responding so soon.. Yes I have read emails and Mayo information. I hope to get some feed back and possibly some advice.
I've had a horrible 1-1/2 year of health problems. See seeing Doctors. Nancy
It's officially been 11 months since I lost my smell and taste. Scent training hasn't helped. What other research is being done? You're right, it's very frustrating and, as the video describes, potentially dangerous.
@gmsouth,
I search for anosmia on the clinical trials database and found that there are 45 studies currently being conducted around the world related to COVID-19 and loss of taste and smell.
This research was published recently
- Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Anosmia 1 Year After COVID-19 Diagnosis https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781319
- COVID’s toll on smell and taste: what scientists do and don’t know https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00055-6
For others, can you describe what scent training entails? Are you still doing it?