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Avatar universal

Can't Taste or Smell Anymore

Hello,

My name is Steve and I live in Baytown, Texas a small costal town full of Industry and pollution. I had troubles with allergies and went to see an ENT which got some X-Rays and put me through repairing a deviated septum and sinus surgery all in one. That was in 1998. I have been through the ringer with my sinuses and infections for quite a while. Seems just when I go to see a new doctor, they get a cat scan and immediately want to do surgery. I have had my MRI’s & Cat scans looked over by internist at Baylor. They can’t see why I would need surgery again other than me and my insurance card and a little co pay. I have to agree with them. I’m not going through that again.

Is there such thing as a doctor that will take a culture to find out why I can’t taste or smell. I can deal with taking antibiotics for months at a time if needed, but would rather loose a finger or toe than my taste and smell. It has been 6 months since I’ve been able to taste or smell. I’m getting depressed and hard to get along with around the house. Are there medical people that will find a source rather than chase a treatment or hit you up for the most expensive procedure they offer?

Thanks, Steve
84 Responses
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Avatar universal
I'm 25 and while all the times I've ever been sick which is about twice a year. I've never lost my since of taste and smell until recently when I became sick and it was like no other. I was waking up every morning with a splitting headache and couldn't taste or smell anything. The headaches felt like there was an excessive amount of pressure in my head and it was squeezing my brain and pushing outward on my skull. After a week I had had enough and decided to call my mom about this cause shes pretty knowledgeable about sickness and remedies. For the splitting headache and she told me to take 800mg of Ibuprofen which was 4 pills and I asked are you serious? and she said that was a prescription dosage. So I did and YES! no more ridiculous headaches. But my since of taste and smell were still at large. so after about 2 more weeks of that I decided to go to the minute clinic at CVS Pharmacy and the doctor there concluded I had a sinus infection and prescribed me 20 pills of Amoxicillin 875MG to take twice daily and within a couple days I got my since of smell and taste back. And no more headaches either so no more ibuprofen. Yay.
Helpful - 0
1061534 tn?1276702061
It's impossible to be too specific.  This can be a problem with the sinuses -- if the sense of smell is impaired, the sense of taste will follow suit.  Otherwise, the taste nerve itself or the tissues in the mouth can be at fault.  A full exam and history would be required...
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1362725 tn?1277743231
i was in Venezuela for two years, then came back to IL in april 2009, then moved to Albuquerque, NM for 8 months.  When i was in NM, suddenly i couldn't taste food and food tasted wierd....I am now in Atlanta, GA and still can't tasted...it'ts weird....but have always had sinus troubles and ear problems so am scared if this could be like a serious thing or is it ????/ I never ever had this problem to taste...i'm scared and it's worrying me....any help??? please.
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Avatar universal
Hi.I've only just tapped into this stuff. Can anyon help e? I 've read all yur posts, but i still can't understand_ will I ever be able to taste or smell again? I'm so depressed, feel so isolated and down at mealtimes with my family.It's pathetic, whoich makes me feel worse.

Have been getting asthma and hay fever for 6 months. Seretide and becanase every few days, once, controlled it. Taste came on and off until one week ago both went, entirely. It's like eating dirt, all t time. Can't smell my baby, or taste anything at all.

Doctor says don't worry, it will come back. Reading all this stuff, back and forth, and the problem remains. Have treied the saline thing, clearly nothing works.
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242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Parosmia is the larger class for this problem which includes:
— Abhorrent odor perception either
1. without an odorant stimulus (phantosmia) or
2. with an odorant stimulus (distortion or troposmia)

Phantosmia is what most people are describing here.

Parosmia is more frequently seen with:
Obstructive phenomena (rhinosinusitis, rhinitis (allergic and nonallergic), nasal polyps, cancer)
Upper respiratory infection
Head trauma
Facial trauma
Central olfactory damage (edema, brain compression, and hemorrhage)
alzheimer's & parkinson's
Sjögren's syndrome
Kallmann syndrome
Turner's syndrome,
hypothyroidism
diabetes mellitus.
Nutritional abnormalities (malnutrition, pellagra, pernicious anemia, and vitamin deficiency)
toxic agents, tobacco, and drugs (methacrylate vapors, ammonia, benzene, cadmium dust, chromate, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, nickel dust, solvents, and sulfuric acid)
Medications (beta blockers, antithyroid drugs, dihydropyridine (calcium channel blocker), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors)
Intranasal zinc, used as an over-the-counter remedy for the common cold, has been associated with anosmia
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Avatar universal
Can anyone help me with my issue of smelling smoke.  My firest expeerience was about 7 months ago, I put my nose down to smell a burning Lampe Berger lamp (has wick with no flame of toxic stuff ) and anyway starting smelling smoke after that, went to dr., she sent me to ENT, he did an endoscopy and just thought I had traumatized my olfactory nerves...well here it is 7 mopnths later, oh he gave me Medrol dose Pak (steroids and a nasal rinse) well anyway here it is back after 7 month.  I went on a walk the other day and it was cold and alot of chimneys with smoke and bam, here it is again.  I live in North Houston and need help.  This is driving me crazy!
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242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
how'd the transfusion go on the 7th?

6 months is a long time.  3.5 hours is pretty long.  i can't imagine what medication takes that long?
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Avatar universal
Dear Dr. -Will find out more today. She starts her first of many transfusions for a "compromised immune system". They said 6 months of treatment with a oncologist. Not sure beyond that what they are. She does not have cancer. They take 3.5 hrs to transfuse each [weekly].  Dr. Clark put this together. HE IS WONDERFUL! He found all this with blood tests. She is getting another sinus infection- she gets them weekly and has for several months now. She had mold poisioning from the place she was living. They never saw mold but could smell it in the home near the end. And before we knew it she was to sick to react and just laid up in bed getting sicker. She is out of that home now, (moved in with me last month) After the transfusions she will need outpatient surgery to remove growths in the nose and straighten the septum. They suspect the mold may have been the cause. Not sure myself. Clark is very helpful and encouraging. We feel very excited about Tiff finally getting the relief she needs. Thanks for your prayers- Our God is an awesome God!
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242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'll be praying for healing as well...  

what kind of transfusions?
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Avatar universal
You know out of all these years I have never gone to the healing meetings. My wife took a woman friend one time and Dodie did just what she did when she had cancer, lay down every passage in the bible very boldly to let that illness know it was smaller than our God. Needless to say, that lady never had a sign of cancer again. She was a woman of great faith and with the help of a crowd of believers, mountains can be moved. Most people live in their own bubbles and don't realize that most of the people in a walmart, in a car, at a movie etc. are going through a really tough time. I really believe everything happens for a reason. I got to meet you guys, you got to meet Dr. Clark and some of the strongest believers got to pray over Tiff. All Tiff has to do is believe and things will happen in Gods time. He doesn't wear a watch so patience and faith is all we have. I hope all this illness goes away during the holidays. I will pray real hard for you both, but remember these doctors are special. They have been blessed and God works through their hands to help us with our earthly pains.

God Bless, Steve
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Avatar universal
We are going to  Joels tonight for the special healing meeting. Are you going???
Ronda
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Avatar universal
Will Do.

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Avatar universal
Hi friend-
Just to let you know. I think Dr. Clark is AMAZING! He kept running blood work on Tiff and came to the root of the problem. Something 3 other good doctors never thought to check. HE WAS AMAZED and kept saying "How could the other doctors miss this?" So anyway he is agressively pursuing a cure for the root cause and we believe she will be feeling much better soon. She is really sick and will need transfusions for several months. Please keep her in your prayers.

Take care-
Ronda
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Avatar universal
I went and saw the Doc and I'm doing better than ever. He did mention that he was working to get Tiff up to speed. keep me posted on her progress.

Thanks, Steve of Baytown
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242516 tn?1368223905
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
when you turn over, the side that's lower can fill those turbinates and swell them

allergy shots work differently for every person, you won't know until you try it out
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Avatar universal
That's common and sometimes polyps. Dr Clarks surgery is 5 day full recovery I hear. Tiff with an open drain will stop all infection problems. They will biopsy the growth to ease the worries. All looks good now. Keep me posted.

God Bless, Steve
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Avatar universal
Hi friend-
Saw Dr. clarke yesterday. Her CT scan came back with a growth in the sinus area that prevents drainage. Hence all the dozens of infections. Surgery in 3 weeks. But all looks promising.

Praising God for all His goodness!
Ronda
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Avatar universal
You both enjoy yourselves today and give thanks where thanks is due. I'm just a messenger.

My list of miracles may be small, but still overflows. Maybe I'll find you one day out an a bout. I'll know who you are and you will know me.

One day at a time and remember, don't look out your  dwellings window to see the outdoors, go outdoors and look at your dwelling. There something cool and blue today from a paint brush only one man could paint.

Happy Thanksgiving to all including Richy???
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Avatar universal
Hi Steve- Saw Dr. Clark again today. He has wanted to see Tiff each day. Go today also. He is giving her shots of antibiotics. Next week we will go see the pain mgt dr you recommended in Baytown. I can't thank you enough. Isn't it a blessing when we are the one the Lord positions to use as a blessing for others. Have a great Thanksgiving friend and God Bless you richly! Hey did you get my email?  

Take Care- Ronda
PS: Steve I know this guy in CA who is a compounder of herbs. He has a tincture, salve ... etc, and cure for anything. If you are interested let me know. His company name is Tierra Tonics and can mail you what you need.
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Avatar universal
Your a good man and I respect you. I took the wrong judgement or even judgement in my own hands about the way I took your post and the way I replied. I wish you the best on your favor with hopes you do indeed have a gift for all the suffering to share. I making good money, but can't smell IT or anything.

A Church is a Church if all our worshiping our God. It's just a place I call home even with over 10,000 people sitting next to you every week.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Steve @ BP were I can't smell a thing. Sad
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Avatar universal
To point out interesting contrasts in a city is not to criticize them.  I would never belittle your church; in fact, I had dinner with a Lakewood member last night, and that person is wonderful. Nor was I belittling the liquor store.  

I work in the shadow of the refineries.  If one complains of the pollution, I tell them that's the smell of money.  I've never met so many people with chronic sinusitis.  IN CONTRAST, I've invented the best cure for chronic sinusitis.  Houston has mold, IN CONTRAST, I had the best allergist in Texas.

This area is built on the oil business, which you know is high risk.  IN CONTRAST, the Flip-Turn is mildly risky, and no publisher is willing to take the risk or liability.  This city has the biggest medical center in the world, and IN CONTRAST, it has some of the best medical liability lawyers in the US, and that is not a criticism of either.

Good day
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Avatar universal
Ronda, wow I'm so glad to see some positive feedback. I do know what I'm talking about most of the time. This doctor CARES more than anybody I've ever known. I wondered why he had all male nurses at first, but found out later that the rumor is that his wife didn't get along with the female nurses so he hired all male. Smart guy.

I'm a true believer that Christians piggy back off each other to reach higher levels in all areas. I'm glad to be here at the right time and the right place for you. Thank you Jesus.

You and Tiff smile a while and have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Steve of Baytown
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Avatar universal
If you dont mind one more question about allergies,  My left turbinate is the one that swells up but how come if i lay on my right side it will alievate the pressure off of the left side? If it was an allergy then i would need some sort of allergy medicine to unswell the turbinate but always staying on the right side when i sleep is impossible because i toss and turn and when i end up on my left side then they start swelling again and i remember also before all this started to happen i used to LOVE to sleep on my left side and i am definitely not a stomach sleeper at all and sometimes i might start out on my back which isnt great either because sometimes the left turbs are swelling being on my back doesnt help either i end up just turning on my side.  By the way, just out of curiositity how many and how long do allergy shots take effectiveness? Because after acupuncture ( i know you didnt think this was effective but i have tried a lot of other things i am going to try anyway) I just dont think if the allergy shots take months and months to become effective if i can wait that long i have really put up with this long enough. thanks for listening :)
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Avatar universal
Hi and THANK YOU For the referral. When I got up Monday I determined that I was going to keep taking her to dr's until I found someone who knew what was going on. Dr. Clarke agreed to see her immediately and squeezed her in yesterday afternoon. HE WAS AMAZING and just as you promised! He was able to treat her whole body not just the ENT field he was trained in. He took one look at her and began jumping on  shots and diff tests and proceedures. All with lengthy explaniations. I was so completely impressed. We will always return to him. Even though I had taken her to 2 other dr's before and they had NO answers Dr. Clarke was right on it! He gave her 3 shots and promised she would start to feel better by Thanksgiving. She was able to eat dinner last night also after the shots. I would recommend this guy to anyone. HE IS A MIRACLE WORKER. And what a sweet and humble bedside manner. He is like the old time dr. -so precious, -so gentle, -so patient and understanding. I love how he treats the whole body.

I had apts with her primary care, a pain management and a gastro all for today and tomorrow and cancelled them all because Dr. Clarke is completely on top of things. He said that he felt confident to treat all her needs. His number again is 713-943-2444  if anyone else needs to see him. He is in Pasadena, TX. AMAZING- that is all I can say. Tiff and I are very encouraged! Thank you so very much for the referral! You have been such a blessing Steve- Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I have a lot to be thankful for!!! Ronda
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