I am losing my sense of smell. Please help!

[sanufi]

Hi,

I am 30 years old but feel like an 80 year old. I can hardly smell anything. I can't smell flowers, fresh spring grasses, **** (including my own), etc. I can only smell strong odors like perfume and smoke. This has been going on for years and I'm afraid of losing my smell completely.

Many times over the past few years, I have strong smoky smells or odors that only I can smell. They come and go but annoy me terribly. I have a constant stuffy nose and I have thick white nasal mucous.

Ever since a sinus infection in January, I have had thick white nasal discharge and mucous down the back of my throat. My ears have felt very uncomfortable with pressure/fullness feeling. Sometimes my ears ring. My nasal congestion is constant with one nostril or the other blocked fully. I have aches around my eyes and forehead but I can deal with this.

What is wrong with me? Do I have sinus disease or something? Is there something that can help with my condition? I really want my smell back and I want to feel normal again.

Thanks

[National Jewish]

There are a few possible reasons for this to occur.  Usually the loss of smell is when there is swelling that compromises the function of the nerve.  Rarely is this a nerve disease, but that is also possible.

The chief causes for the swelling are:  
· an allergic reaction called allergic rhinitis;
· nonallergic swelling of the blood vessels called vasomotor rhinitis; and
· chronic sinus infection and/or inflammation.
All of these can produce exactly what you are describing.  This is obviously a significant problem for you.  It will require some further evaluation to determine the nature of the problem.  I would suggest working with your doctor to coordinate the effort.  A test to start the process would be a CT scan of the sinuses to see if they are involved or not.  From those results, you can make decisions if further tests are required, therapy indicated or consultations needed.

[Sammeh]

Try breathing in coffee bean smell, I've heard from an expert that this revitalises your smelling.

[sanufi]

Thanks for your help.

I have consulted with an ENT and an allergist. The allergist believes that I should start with allergy desensitisation because I have dust mite allergies. He believes this will allow my turbinates to come down over time. The ENT wants to perform surgery saying my turbinates are too large and unlikely to come down. I have tried nasal steroid sprays for 4 months already with only slight improvement in my nasal congestion and ear problems. I do not notice improvement in my smelling.

I do not know what to do. Should I commence the allergy program and hope that it works? I heard that this is a 3-5 year commitment. My constant nasal congestion only started since around February after a bad frontal sinus infection. This then started affecting my ears and ever since then I have been having constant nasal congestion and post nasal drip. I also had a viral infection in May which further irritated my nasal passages. Of course my turbinates have probably been chronically swollen for years already but I never thought much of it as I didn't have sleeping problems or signficant trouble breathing.

I guess my question is whether my constant congestion and nasal inflammation since February will likely improve over time with regular nasal steroid use and allergen avoidance (which I have been extremely diligent with)? Can my turbinates be so swollen that nothing can shrink them with surgery being the only option? I am inclined to believed the latter because this has been going on for more than 8 months.

I do not feel normal with the constant nasal/ear congestion and aches. I do not want any more sinus infections and I wish to smell things again. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.