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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Bad taste and smell
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
Bad taste and smell
by mindyc, Sep 03, 2004 12:00AM
Hey i am so desperate!!! I have been getting this terrible taste and smell off and on for about two years now and i have no idea where it comes from. I get it almost every day and it will last all day or even a week. It seems to happen alot if i sneeze, laugh out loud, yell or scream, and even sometimes if i blow my nose. My sister gets is too and her doctor told her it sounded like acid reflux. I dont bvelieve it is . Neither one of us has any other symptoms of acid reflux ( no heartburn or anything) It will ruin my day. There are alot of foods i love that icant ejoy when i get this taste. Sweet things especially for whatever reason. My family doctor prescribed nasal spray and allergy medicine but neither work and i have never suffered from allergies before. Brain tumors are in my family. Could this be a possibility? I am so desperate!! Please help me!!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 10, 2004 12:00AM
, Sep 10, 2004 12:00AM
You will need to check with your doctor to know for sure the cause of getting this terrible taste and smell off and on for about 2 years. The odds are against this being due to a brain tumor. However brain tumors can result in a variety of odors. Acid reflux and sinusitis are the 2 most likely causes of your problem. Another possible cause is atrophic rhinitis. Over the years this condition has decreased, so it is less likely to be the cause of your problem.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube. This is most commonly called acid reflux or heartburn. This reflux can come all the way up into the mouth and nose. When this happens the material can be aspirated, dribbling into the windpipe and lungs. This could explain your symptoms.
GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down;
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep; and
· Even no symptoms at all. This is called “silent reflux” and it is common.
You will need to check with your doctor to know for sure what is causing your symptoms. A pH probe is the best test to find out if you truly have GERD. This test measures the acid in your esophagus to see if digestive juices are coming up from your stomach. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information about things to do to lessen GERD. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know if further testing is needed to identify GERD and the best treatment.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and sore throat.
The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative. A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked. If your symptoms are due to sinusitis, they will last as long as the inflammation continues. Here are some ways to clear up the inflammation. Please check with your doctor to see which of these would work best for you. Usually sinus surgery is considered when these techniques have not been helpful. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sin.html for more information.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus may “sit” there, especially when it is thick, and really smell bad. It may not move with coughing or snorting. As the sinus infection clears, this mucus drains from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip that can be irritating to the throat. This mucus can fester sinusitis.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and relieve your blocked sinuses by decreasing the swelling so they drain better. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see if either of these would help you more. Often a prescription antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take them on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If your symptoms continue, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease mucus production and improve sinus drainage by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and openings that drain the sinuses. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus pressure and improves sinus drainage. This may eliminate the terrible taste and smell. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the terrible taste and smell from bothering you.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube. This is most commonly called acid reflux or heartburn. This reflux can come all the way up into the mouth and nose. When this happens the material can be aspirated, dribbling into the windpipe and lungs. This could explain your symptoms.
GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down;
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep; and
· Even no symptoms at all. This is called “silent reflux” and it is common.
You will need to check with your doctor to know for sure what is causing your symptoms. A pH probe is the best test to find out if you truly have GERD. This test measures the acid in your esophagus to see if digestive juices are coming up from your stomach. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information about things to do to lessen GERD. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know if further testing is needed to identify GERD and the best treatment.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage. This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus can drain from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip and sore throat.
The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative. A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked. If your symptoms are due to sinusitis, they will last as long as the inflammation continues. Here are some ways to clear up the inflammation. Please check with your doctor to see which of these would work best for you. Usually sinus surgery is considered when these techniques have not been helpful. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sin.html for more information.
This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. The mucus may “sit” there, especially when it is thick, and really smell bad. It may not move with coughing or snorting. As the sinus infection clears, this mucus drains from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip that can be irritating to the throat. This mucus can fester sinusitis.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.
An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and relieve your blocked sinuses by decreasing the swelling so they drain better. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see if either of these would help you more. Often a prescription antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad. It may be more helpful to take them on a regular basis.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If your symptoms continue, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray. This can decrease mucus production and improve sinus drainage by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and openings that drain the sinuses. This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus pressure and improves sinus drainage. This may eliminate the terrible taste and smell. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective. Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the terrible taste and smell from bothering you.
Do you think that the congestion is causing the ache on the area just mention?
Does nose congestion cause respiratory problems?
Do you think that if there is drainage infection, it is capable of traveling thru the respiratory system?
thank you