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Shingrix and peripheral neuropathy

Neuropathy | Last Active: Nov 3 12:52pm | Replies (538)
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@dlloyd64

Starting sometime in late September, I noticed my sense of smell and taste is altered if not altogether missing. Mint flavored toothpaste and most fruits taste like fish. I cant smell or taste the flavors of coffee or bacon but can sense their bitterness and saltiness. I have been double vaccinated for COVID (Moderna) since 4/27/2021. I did get the Flu and Shingrix vaccines in late September 2021 (at the same time via CVS pharmacy) and had a pretty strong pain post-shot in the arm that received the Shingrix vaccine

I went to an ENT in early December and he tested for Covid antigens and for prior Covid infection. My antigen number was "7.48" which indicates I have a high number of antigens and my SARS CoV 2 AB (IgG) NUCLEOCAPSID test was "Negative". I also had a PCR test performed prior to Thanksgiving which was also Negative. My ENT ordered a Brain MRI with contrast which showed nothing unusual.

My current working theories of why I suddenly lost taste and smell are:

1. caused by Shingrix vaccine?
2. delayed reaction to Moderna vaccine?
3. Possible exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas from local beach I bike at every morning caused by rotting seaweed? It's around the same time that my wife and family kept saying "I smell sewage outside" (the beach is very near our house) when I couldn't smell it at all.

My ENT says that there are no other tests to perform to determine root cause. It's been 3 months and getting to be very frustrating and emotionally taxing.

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Replies to "Starting sometime in late September, I noticed my sense of smell and taste is altered if..."
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 22, 2021

Hello @dlloyd64, Welcome to Connect. I can't imagine how frustrating it is to lose your sense of smell and taste. Especially if you don't know why and your ENT is not able to determine the cause. There are a couple of related discussions you might want to read to learn what others with similar symptoms have shared.

-- Sudden loss of taste or smell. What could this mean?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loss-of-smell-and-taste-1/
-- Loss of smell and taste: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/loss-of-smell-and-taste-1/

I wonder if these articles might help you figure out the cause or what questions you could ask your doctor.
– Impaired Taste https://www.healthline.com/health/taste-impaired
– Why Might My Sense of Taste Change? https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/oral-sense-taste-change#1

Have you recently changed any medications or been ill? Do you have an underlying condition that may affect your sense of taste?

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