DOB 8.27.1973
Loc Virginia Beach, VA
Injury date: 3.31.2007
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No Smell No Taste
a desperate attempt for recovery from loss of smell
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June 29, 2007 at 7:28 am
Maggie Mae
If only there was a quick fix and some answers. I hit the back of my head on Easter Sunday (April ‘07). Initially I had just the loss of smell and taste.
Now it has developed into a bad/foul smell and my mouth has the same foul taste as what I am smelling. Sucks – everything smells and tastes foul.
Any help out there. I would give anything to go back to no taste rather than this bad taste.
June 29, 2007 at 11:41 am
Ipek
My bad smell and taste started about 3 weeks after my injury. Then it got a bit better (more bearable) after another 2-3 weeks. I still suffer from distorted smells and tastes but it’s not as horrifying as it was when it first started. I couldn’t even breathe back then. Smoke type smells made me choke. I still can’t enjoy eating though because I get no flavor, but the foul smell gets better in time. I guess I got used to living with it too.. I am still hoping for some recovery but no doctors could offer any treatments so far. Let me know if you start getting better or see any changes. Good luck!!
July 17, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Brett Cleaver
I was in a bike accident about 8 weeks ago, in which I landed on the back of my head after having done a front half flip in the air (no helmet/traveling at about 30mph). The impact caused brain contusions on my frontal lobe and I was hospitalized for 3 days. I lost my smell, aside from one odd chemical like smell, which has gone away somewhat, but now I have a constant soap like after-taste. Like Maggie, I would love to get rid of this awful taste in my mouth. It over-rides nearly everything that I eat!
July 22, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Margaret Nugnes
Hi Maggie May
Well I will not go into full details at this time but on May 19, 2007 I was on a trail ride on my horse. That to get into the complete story on the accident my horse rared up (I am a very strong rider) but she lost her footing and fell with me on her.
I must say in some way I believe she saved my life because horses don’t fall on their sides due to it can cause injury to them that may cause you to put them down. I do not remember any of the accident, but I did have to be air lifted by the flight of life. I was also put on life support for 12 hours, this is how my husband seen me and was not aware of the situation. I was also in a coma on a scale of 11. This happen on a Saturday night I did not regain consciousness until Monday morning around 4am.
What was said to me that I hit the back of my head. and had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. That I also had two acute fractor ribs and a grade two liver laceration which will heal by it self.
The last scan they took of my head was on May 21st and I was release from the hospital only knowing that I had a buise in the back of my head (meaning my brain) and I had pain meds and did have to take anti seizure meds.
But they never told me exactly what to expect how my mood swings would change and whole brunch of other things.
I me things just didn’t seem right and I also realized that I could not smell or taste. That happen the first day after I came home.
I could keep on going on what happen to me.
But one of the most important thing that you should know I am a Professional Chef for the pass 20 years and was in the process of opening my own business. We may speak about that at another time. But I have worked in some of the best restaurants and hotels here in Las Vegas where I live.
I did do all the follow up that the hospital told me to do. I did not fracture my scull but not all the information was told me to until I went down to the hospital to get all my records since none of my follow up doctors had any of the medical records.
Well, when I started reading the finding from my medical files I also found out that not only did I had a susrachniod hemorrhage but also had right temporal amd frontal contunions which was never told to me.
I was also but on seizure meds which I am not on amymore I have not any seizures. But about taking the streroid or if you are or were on anti seizure meds they have side effect alway go on line to check. My doctor put me on antibiotic while being on the steroids which I have only three more days.
I will also suggest that you get all your records and read them carefully you maybe surprise how much you don’t know what happen to you.
My last suggestion is go to your dentist with all the names of your meds you may have some gum problems due to the meds.
I entering my third month and I am getting alot more answers but that is because its my lively hood that I lose. P.S. taking streroids can cause infections and also some of the taste may also be a sign that you need to eat. Feel free to email maybe we can help each other. I wish and hope things gets better for you … Margaret
October 20, 2007 at 11:11 am
moth
Margaret, I have spent the last 6 weeks walking the Camino de Santiago, and beyond( to Fisterre) 900kms across Spain, and it has been the most wonderful experience of my life, and let me tell you I do have an extraordinarily eventful life!
On the last day before taking the train from A Corun to Bilbao before boating back to UK, and feeling utterly blessed by my good fortune with the people I met on the walk, the lack of blisters and pain, and the great FUN i had, and while in a supermarket choosing between peaches and nectarines to take to the beach for an afternoon sit and reflect..I suffered a full blown grand mal epileptic seizure, regaining consciousness quite some time later, strapped to a bed in an ambulance and scorching across town to the hospital. I had the headache from HELL and could feel a lump on the back of my head which filled the cupped palm of my hand. My jaws felt like I had done 9 rounds with Mike Tyson, and I felt mashed..mentally, emotionally, physically..and utterly bewildered, yet I could feel the sensation of being pulled out of the crown of my head( was this a kundilini experience I wonder?) and the rush when I was poured back in.
I was detained in hospital on the neaurological ward for 10 days, CAT and MRI scans have come back apparently symptom free, although when I first arrived and after some initial scan or something( I was seriously out of it , on and off all the time I was there) was told that there was a pathology on the frontal left lobe..said in very broken English and I never saw that Dr againI do remember preparing to die, though,and the wierdest thing was, it really didnt concern me that much.However, I didnt, and havent yet, but I still need to have tests done here, now I am back in uk.
The reason for this email is because I have completely lost my sense of smell too..my balance still isnt good, and althogh I am very tired, my brain just wont rest . But its the smell that bothers me..like you I am a professional cook and passionate about all aspects of food, and cant really taste much now.I was on Keppra while I was in hospital but I hate to take pharmacutical drugs and its a just in case anti seizure drug…and I find it hard to buy into the fear that I might have another seizure. I did have one 22 years ago, after a similarly emotionally exhausting episode, but a negative one, where my Camino was the BEST and most wondrous thing.I found within the 10 days that I took the drug that I was experiencing bad side effects and really dont want to take meds for something that might never happen. I wonder whether it was the bang on the head or the meds that have stolen my very sensitive sense of smell..I am about to embark on a real quest for the answer…
your story is interesting and thankyou for this opportunity for contact as I do feel very alone in this. I am banned from driving for a year which is a bore, but otherwise I do feel very detached from the situation I am in, and my high spirits remain high..and fortunately my sense of humour( and use of English spelling) has stayed in tact!
I am not on steroids…and will resist those too
I hope you continue to make progress in the right direction and wish you all the best..Moth
November 29, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Kris
all day today ive had this taste of doctor or hospital in my mouth. Its kind of like medicine or something. Its very familiar and disturbing but i’m not sure what it is. I bought some mints and they didnt do much i could still taste it and when i was walking in the hallway all i could do is smell the smell. I havn’t been in any accidents or hit my head at all. My lunch kind of tasted like the smell too. Anybody know why this is?
February 18, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Nan
I have been suffering from Vertigo, chemical smell and taste of certain foods , pain in by neck, hands and feet tingle when I turn my head, headaches.
All symptoms started after a tic bit. Doctors were late to treat me for lymes. After 22 days of antibionics my left ear started ringing. I have been to ENT doctors, Neuologist, and had a MRI. They found a cyst on they pitutiary gland. But said that was not the problem. They are treating me for fibromyalgia. I take elavil at night and Aleve for pain.
Can anyone tell me what I should be doing next? Email: wildrice4u2@aol.com
August 11, 2009 at 10:55 am
Anonymous
Hello, I just found this site. I lost my sense of smell one month ago, in a way similar to how you originally lost yours – from a temporal bone fracture by the left ear, among other things, after a car accident. Approx. two weeks ago I started to smell a really weird, alien, indescribable scent all day. It seems to be changing slightly day-to-day. Just now it seemed particularly distracting so I searched for information and found this page. I’m glad to see you recovered your sense of smell, since I hope to someday as well.
Thanks for writing this journal! It really does help me to read it.
October 18, 2009 at 12:05 am
carol
I just found your page after searching for reasons why everything smells soul and food tastes like wood/mushrooms. I haven’t had a brain injury and am waiting to see an ENT doc. I’ve been struggling with the loss of my smell and taste since I’ve always had such keen senses. I could always break down a dish and replicate it or distingush the notes in a perfume. Now perfumes smell sour and I can’t taste spices or herbs. How did you cope? It’s been 4 months and I’m afraid I won’t get back what I lost. Feel pretty hopeless and yet I know I will adapt to whatever I have to deal with. It just sucks. Thanks for writing about your experience at least I don’t feel so alone. I can’t really share what I’m feeling with anyone since most tell me to be grtiful for what I have. Ah well here’s to eating strawberries again!
October 18, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Kelly
I was so happy to find this and find I am not alone…I lost my smell almost two years ago and after reading all of your entries this could be me! Although I have no diagnosis as to why this happened to me, it has been the worst two years of my life. I never know from one day to the next what I may smell which is ALWAYS distorted. I can no longer enjoy anything sweet, chocolate, fresh fruit or veggies, meat…I guess you could say I can’t enjoy anything. A hot cup of tea tastes good sometimes but mostly I just drink water. Any carbonated beverages, koolaid, fruit juices, I cannot tolerate. Food was a big part of my life and I lived for watching cooking shows. Now I find myself breaking down to cry when I watch them and they say “oh that smell” or “mmmm tastes sooooo good.” I cry alot over this and wonder after almost two years if it will ever come back. It really does take enjoyment away from your life and causes a deep depression in some (me.) Thank you for your postings though and I hope you continue to improve and do well.
Kelly