No smell or taste: What helps to recover them?

That's awful, I Hope you one day recover. I was in rehab for 3 weeks and there were 18 Covid patients on my floor of 42 patients, had to get tested every few days and it was stressful with my cancer and feeding tube making me susceptible to it and other infections. I survived went home and am never going back. Blessings to you.

Hi Rosy,
I am so sorry that you are going through this! How terrible for you! Have you researched your condition on the Mayo Clinic website? However, it sounds like you may have already tried some of what might be their suggestions but there may be one or two suggestions that you haven't tried. Also research it on The Cleveland Clinic and others that you may find on the web.

You also may try praying and I mean praying adamantly about this situation! God is always there for us and all he asks is that you ask. It states in the Bible; (I can't remember exactly where.) "Ask and it will be given to you." So ask for your taste and smell back! Tell God that he made you, now he could fix you! And, he can and will!

Some years ago on Easter weekend, my 60 year old mom was in the hospital with only 12% of her lungs functioning due to her emphysema and three bleeding ulcers! I was praying like crazy and couldn't be with her because I had the flu. On Easter Sunday Mom's breathing was good and her 3 bleeding ulcers stopped bleeding! The doctors were planning to send her home on Monday. My prayers worked!

Keep praying and doing research. I will remember you in my prayers also. You will get through this.
Best wishes,
PML

Have you improved since your post?

It’s been 3 1/2 years for me. I’ve stopped being “regular” with trying to smell the essential oils. Just finished with acupuncture that didn’t help, either.

I’m so sorry you’re suffering. I too lost my taste and smell with Covid in December of 2022. Needless to say, as you all too well understand, that it’s awful! I have had 5 Stellate Ganglion Block injections and they’ve only slightly helped, meaning that I have a stronger sense of salty, sweet and bitter sensation on my tongue, but that only seems to last for a few weeks. I have yet to taste a flavor of any kind since 2022. Were your plasma platelets injected into your neck? That is where the Ganglion Block injections are injected. I’m curious because I haven’t done that yet and may give it a go next time. I don’t do the smell training kit any longer, because it gives me a headache trying to smell something I just can’t. I’m looking forward to hearing about your plasma platelets. Thanks!

The plasma (part of a clinical trial at Jefferson in Philly) was taken from my blood and then (in a very painful procedure) inserted up both nostrils.

It did nothing….

I was curious about Stellate Ganglion blocks (which is being done by an ENT at Cleveland Hospital). My understanding is that those injections need to be done in the neck—a process I’ve been a bit fearful to try.

I don’t know what else to do….

You’re very kind to suggest prayer, but I have prayed every day my entire life and more so these last 2 years since I lost my taste/smell. It’s not working!

Hi!
I understand your frustration when God takes his time to answer your prayers! I had severe migraine headaches for two years and was on 2 strong pain medications. It got so bad that I was in the emergency room once a month for a stronger injection. I was losing weight and was down to 100 lbs. I looked like I was dying. My mom and I were praying constantly every single day and yet, no answer. But there was nothing else to do except continue to pray and have faith that God would answer our prayers. Then, a new doctor took over and said I couldn't have anymore pain medication because I was addicted to it! I knew I wasn't. I had 3 pain pills left. I went and bought a big bottle of wine and told God that I would become a wino to cope with the pain if I had to and could he please stop my migraines. I went home and never had another headache! Neither did I ever take the last 3 pain pills. I just threw them out. I started to gain weight again and life got back to normal. Not only did I never have another migraine headache, I've never even had a normal headache since! That was 40 years ago! I know it's frustrating when God takes so long, but keep praying and having faith! It will work. I will say a prayer for you too.
PML

Thank you!

Don’t be fearful of the Stellate Ganglion Block injections. They’re done using an ultrasound as a guide to where the injection needs to go. I’ve had 5 and was sedated by IV the last time because my blood pressure gets very high as I get nervous about the procedure. I have been awake for 4 of them and it really is pretty pain free. They give you a numbing agent first and then do the injection. The injections give me more of a salty, sweet and bitter taste on my tongue when I eat something, but I can’t taste any flavors yet. They say that will come. I don’t think that the Stellate Ganglion Block injections are as painful as the procedure you had done, which you say did nothing. This might help you. I would call the Cleveland Clinic and make an appointment. You have to try everything. An ENT that I saw here in the Chicago area is good friends with the ENT at Cleveland who does this procedure. It’s a woman, but I don’t remember her name. I wish you all the best!

I lost taste&smell 03/2020. Can detect salty , sweet, once in awhile tart like ketchup. I can always smell Vicks Vaporub. No changes with smell therapy kits. Makes me an unreliable cook so I miss being enthusiastic about cooking