topic Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation in Community Chat

suzyQ3’s Motivation

Bridgegal — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:43:11 GMT

After reading suzyQ3's candid post, I decided to do the same and see if anyone here has a suggestion that I haven't yet pursued.

Almost 2 years ago I started thinking that the house we had just moved in to had a foul odor. I then noticed that I smelled that other places too and then that I had very little sense of taste left.

I've seen an ENT doctor and everything looked fine. I had a CT brain scan and all was great. I went off of statins because I read somewhere that a side effect could be loss of smell and taste but there was no difference (side + is that I haven't gone back on them), I talked to my PCP, endocrinologist and cardiologist about it, and the pharmacist said to try zinc but no change there. My last resort will be to see an allergist. I'm wondering since this appeared within months of moving across country , that it could be some allergy to something here.

Anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions that I've overlooked? Thanks!!

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

queendiva — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:48:13 GMT

Loss of taste & smell is a symptom of covid-19.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

alicedee — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:50:25 GMT

When you say you smell it other places ... do you mean places away from your home?

If it is just in your home, I would get someone to come in and check for mold.....I guess google to find someone who does that? Also have an exterminator check for little openings where mice could get in. I had a dead mouse in the studs behind a drywalled closet wall once....the smell was horrid, and took a long time to dissipate.

But if you smell it when you are away from home also, it could be some kind of chronic sinus thing. I would definitely mention it to your doctor and get his/her input.

Good luck with this...hope you can find a resolution.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Desertdi — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:53:05 GMT

There could be some AROMA on the breeze......if you live near a stable, a city dump, an orchard, the beach, or even a smokestack. Loss of taste can be from a sinus infection, or just plain aging...............

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Venezia — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 21:53:33 GMT

@queendiva wrote:
Loss of taste & smell is a symptom of covid-19.

COVID-19 wasn't around two years ago.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

happycat — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:10:32 GMT

Do you remember if you took zicam shortly before this happened @Bridgegal? I think that can cause something like that although I'm not sure what the fix is.

Also my dh says mold toxins destroy some olefactory nerves in mice. I'd made sure that there is no mold in the house. You might have your house checked for mold. We had some underneath our house and never would have known, had we not had someone under there doing something else.

I hope someone can help you get it figured out.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Still Raining — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:17:29 GMT

I had a stroke, then a clot which caused both another stroke and an aneurysm. Right over Christmas weekend no less.

Yes indeed, they left me smelling a chemical type smell at times, which no one else can smell. Not foul, or like gas, just a new type of smell.

My taste also sort of went away too. I have been doing cancer treatments and did lose a lot of weight, which I am trying to regain. With no taste I just sort of don't like to eat.

I am on a lot of drugs, but they claim they are not cause. But who knows.

It can be a real thing, never doubt that. Perhaps there was some cause? Just for me, the doctors can't help. Hope you get an answer.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Porcelain — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:19:45 GMT

@Bridgegal wrote:
After reading suzyQ3's candid post, I decided to do the same and see if anyone here has a suggestion that I haven't yet pursued.

Almost 2 years ago I started thinking that the house we had just moved in to had a foul odor. I then noticed that I smelled that other places too and then that I had very little sense of taste left.

I've seen an ENT doctor and everything looked fine. I had a CT brain scan and all was great. I went off of statins because I read somewhere that a side effect could be loss of smell and taste but there was no difference (side + is that I haven't gone back on them), I talked to my PCP, endocrinologist and cardiologist about it, and the pharmacist said to try zinc but no change there. My last resort will be to see an allergist. I'm wondering since this appeared within months of moving across country , that it could be some allergy to something here.

Anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions that I've overlooked? Thanks!!

I don't mean this to sound insulting. Have you asked your dentist about it? Some sort of hidden chronic dental or gum or mouth or throat nodule infection? Sinus or nose physiology problem? Though one would assume an ear nose and throat doc would have noticed a sinus issue.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

suzyQ3 — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:24:50 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
I had a stroke, then a clot which caused both another stroke and an aneurysm. Right over Christmas weekend no less.

Yes indeed, they left me smelling a chemical type smell at times, which no one else can smell. Not foul, or like gas, just a new type of smell.

My taste also sort of went away too. I have been doing cancer treatments and did lose a lot of weight, which I am trying to regain. With no taste I just sort of don't like to eat.

I am on a lot of drugs, but they claim they are not cause. But who knows.

It can be a real thing, never doubt that. Perhaps there was some cause? Just for me, the doctors can't help. Hope you get an answer.

You've been through too much, @Still Raining. :-(

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

elated — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:27:23 GMT

@Still Raining wrote:
I had a stroke, then a clot which caused both another stroke and an aneurysm. Right over Christmas weekend no less.

Yes indeed, they left me smelling a chemical type smell at times, which no one else can smell. Not foul, or like gas, just a new type of smell.

My taste also sort of went away too. I have been doing cancer treatments and did lose a lot of weight, which I am trying to regain. With no taste I just sort of don't like to eat.

I am on a lot of drugs, but they claim they are not cause. But who knows.

It can be a real thing, never doubt that. Perhaps there was some cause? Just for me, the doctors can't help. Hope you get an answer.

I wish you well and hope you are on the mend.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:28:17 GMT

@Bridgegal There are so many things that can cause you to smell a foul odor for seemingly no reason. It would be a good idea to check with your MD, and your dentist as suggested by @Porcelain . I have been smelling phantom odors for a few years now, but they are either perfume or cigars. I don't like perfume, but I love a cigar smell. II didn't occur to me to tell my doctor, but I think I will. Thanks for posting! I hope you get some solid answers.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

shoesnbags — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 22:32:11 GMT

@queendiva wrote:
Loss of taste & smell is a symptom of covid-19.

Read the OP again - her symptoms started two years ago.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Bridgegal — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:18:39 GMT

@queendiva wrote:
Loss of taste & smell is a symptom of covid-19.

It started 2 years ago.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Bridgegal — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:20:45 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
@Bridgegal wrote:
After reading suzyQ3's candid post, I decided to do the same and see if anyone here has a suggestion that I haven't yet pursued.

Almost 2 years ago I started thinking that the house we had just moved in to had a foul odor. I then noticed that I smelled that other places too and then that I had very little sense of taste left.

I've seen an ENT doctor and everything looked fine. I had a CT brain scan and all was great. I went off of statins because I read somewhere that a side effect could be loss of smell and taste but there was no difference (side + is that I haven't gone back on them), I talked to my PCP, endocrinologist and cardiologist about it, and the pharmacist said to try zinc but no change there. My last resort will be to see an allergist. I'm wondering since this appeared within months of moving across country , that it could be some allergy to something here.

Anyone have any experience with this or any suggestions that I've overlooked? Thanks!!

I don't mean this to sound insulting. Have you asked your dentist about it? Some sort of hidden chronic dental or gum or mouth or throat nodule infection? Sinus or nose physiology problem? Though one would assume an ear nose and throat doc would have noticed a sinus issue.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that. I did ask both the hygienist and dentist. No cause there.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Bridgegal — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:25:08 GMT

@alicedee wrote:
When you say you smell it other places ... do you mean places away from your home?

If it is just in your home, I would get someone to come in and check for mold.....I guess google to find someone who does that? Also have an exterminator check for little openings where mice could get in. I had a dead mouse in the studs behind a drywalled closet wall once....the smell was horrid, and took a long time to dissipate.

But if you smell it when you are away from home also, it could be some kind of chronic sinus thing. I would definitely mention it to your doctor and get his/her input.

Good luck with this...hope you can find a resolution.

Yes, lots of other places. Even out of town. And no one smells anything unusual in our house.

And Happy Cat: no Zicam. But thanks for trying!

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

Marp — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:39:04 GMT

@Bridgegal, the linked article will not give you answers but perhaps can help understand what may be happening and guide you to the proper medical professional.

Sorry I can't make this a live link because it goes to a news site:

nbcnews.com/health/health-news/phantom-smells-may-be-sign-trouble-n890271

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:56:23 GMT

Western medicine does not have all the answers to everything so I'd start calling alternative health practitioners and see if they've come across this before or can help/point you in the right direction.

~ accupuncturists - possible blocked meridian

~ someone who does biomeridian testing - can possibly pinpoint the issue

~ find a naturopath in your area - they can do some tests as well

The above options are painless and just a few options and end up being cheaper than the medical merry-go-round.

Hope you find a solution soon.

Oh - you can also google something like 'homeopathy loss of taste' etc.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

santorini — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 23:57:40 GMT

Have you had any kind of severe trauma to the head from an accident or a fall? That can cause loss of smell and taste.

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

EatWell — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 00:24:39 GMT

@Bridgegal

Could it be "Old Person Smell"? 🤔

Old person smell is the characteristic odor of elderly humans. Much like many animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the aging process.

"Old people smell" is a real phenomenon. The chemical composition of odor producing molecules changes as we age and there are other factors that affect how the elderly smell.

Body chemistry changes over time. The characteristic scent associated with the elderly is the same, regardless of a person's ethnicity or culture. Scientists have figured out what's happening: As people age, fatty acid production in the skin increases while antioxidant production decreases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are oxidizes, sometimes increasing the amount of a chemical called 2-nonenal. Nonenal is an unsaturated aldehyde known for its grassy, greasy scent. Some researchers did not detect 2-nonenal; however, they did find higher levels of the funky organics nonanal, dimethylsulfone, and benzothiazole in the body odor of older subjects.
Illness and medications change a person's odor. Older people are more likely to take a prescription than younger people. Both the underlying medical condition and the drug can affect body odor. For example, taking garlic as a supplement is known to affect odor. Body odor is a side effect of bupropion hydrochloride (Wellbutrin); leuprolide acetate (Lupron), used to limit hormone production; topiramate (Topamax), used to treat epilepsy and seizures; and omega-3-acid ethyl ester (Lovaza), used to reduce blood fat levels. Several drugs increase perspiration rate, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antidepressants, and codeine sulfate. Medical conditions that affect body odor include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, kidney disease, menopause, and schizophrenia.
Older people may bathe and change their clothing less often. An elderly person may need help bathing, fear falling on a slick bathroom floor, or may experience pain getting into and out of a tub.
The sense of smell, like other senses, declines with age. As a result, an older person may not self-identify an unpleasant smell or might apply excessive amounts of cologne or perfume.
Dental hygiene significantly affects a person's odor. As we age, the mouth produces less saliva, reducing the best natural defense against bad breath. Periodontal (gum) disease is more common in older people, also contributing to halitosis (bad breath). Dentures and bridges can retain bacteria and fungi, leading to infections and a musty smell.
Aging affects our ability to sense dehydration. As the pitutiary gland sends weaker signals for thirst, older people tend to drink less water. Dehydration leads to stronger-smelling perspiration and urine and can cause the skin to develop an odor from increased shedding of dry cells.
Older people tend to have older belongings, which means their possessions have had time to develop odors. If you're surrounded by old-smelling objects, you carry some of their aromas.

Hope you can get to the bottom of your problem. 👍

~Life is short. Enjoy everyday as if it is your last day on earth. You could die tomorrow.~

Re: suzyQ3’s Motivation

RedTop — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:05:54 GMT

One of my cousins developed severe allergy issues in her 20's while living in their first home, which was a new mobile home; she needed allergy shots for many years.

At some point, she lost her ability to smell; couldn't smell food good or bad, candles burning, nothing. Her doctor wasn't too alarmed and figured it was a temporary thing.

Then she started complaining about smelling a really nasty odor that she couldn't identify. Her husband couldn't smell it, no one else could smell it, and she smelled it everywhere she went, so she realized it had to be something with her.

My cousin was diagnosed with Allergic Fungal Sinusitis; she had mold growing in her sinus cavity. She had a surgical procedure to clean the sinus cavity, along with long term antibiotics and sinus rinses. Still deals with frequent allergy related sinusitis and her normal sense of smell comes and goes.