Can't Taste or Smell Anymore

[Tasteless]

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

[Tasteless]

I did want to add, I do smell a faint smell of oranges of anything I eat or try to smell, even my own cologne. They have been giving me Cipro for bacterial problems, I was wondering if they might be missing a viral without a culture?

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Actually loss of smell is one of the complaints regarding cipro...  check into leviquin, which is cipro

[Tasteless]

I loss my taste and smell way before cipro. I wasn't taking anything for sinus at the time except astelin and nasalnex once a day and an occasional sinus rinse.

Is there another forum that has more activity. This is not what I expected respectfully.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Nose sprays have been linked to that too. My father is a fan of RhinoCort...  he can't smell anything either.

The other thing that comes to mind is a tumor.

I think I would pick the ladder of the two.

[Tasteless]

Tumor sounds exciting. How does one find out if you have one?

Today just turned out to be a bad day for me. Blurred vision, fatigue, neck aches, weakness you name it. I'm sitting behind a computer for a living, but not living to my best health. I don't know where to turn. I can't figure where to start and keep a job. I have two in college and at 51 in a professional job I can't retire and don't have enough vacation to keep taking off. I guess I was hoping to find the magic solution on a forum. So far it looks like too many variables of why. So if I get the surgery to help take the frequent infections down will I still not be able to taste or smell. Doctors I see can't tell me this and this is the Medical Center Downtown Houston. The Best. I wish "HOUSE" was real. This crew finds the cause, studies the symptoms and finds a remedy. Fiction is inspiring sometimes.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

I not sure if you have consulted with a neurologist yet, but a MRI would be a handy way to find a tumor.

[Tasteless]

Thanks for your comments your obviously not a doctor, but good intentions. I never got an answer of the post though, not being able to taste or smell. I'm going to another forum with a few more menbers. Thanks for the common sence.

[map1101]

Have you any other symptoms?  Reddened tongue?  Coughing up strings of mucous-like material?  Itching? Swollen glands?

[Tasteless]

I'm breathing better than ever, not coughing at all, no red tongue, no swollen glands, maybe a small sinus infection, but I use sinus rinse, nasalnex and astelin occasionally. I am a smoker of 30 years and get winded trying to what I did 15 years ago these days. I'm down to about 5 cigerettes a day. I'm going through a series of steriod shots in my neck and lower back. I lost my taste and smell before that though.

My daily meds or Prinniville 20mg, Crestor 20mg, Nexium 20mg, Xanax when I need one and Anacin for headaches. That's about it besides diet cokes and normal food. I only pray this will go away. I canceled my second sinus surgery because of how bad the first one was along with missing working. Chicken, no. Just looking for a miricle.

[friggy]

Steven:  I had a sinus infection for years, treated by one of the best allergists in Texas, to no avail.  After I lost my taste and smell for 3 weeks, I was trying a last ditch effort with saline solution.  It wasn't working, so I did something completely idiotic (what did I have to lose?) and it worked miraculously.  

Eureka! I have invented the cure for sinusitis.  It's risky, because it involves bending over in a hot shower to get saline solution into ALL of your sinuses, to wash out the infection (that was my idiotic/genius discovery)  The manual I wrote is called the Flip-Turn Sinus Flush, and it's on My Journal (friggy)  It cured the 5-year-long sinus infection, 3 subsequent cases of acute sinusitis, and dramatically shortened 7 out of 10 colds.  It conforms with an unexpected discovery about the true cause of sinusitis by the Mayo Clinic.

It took 2 months to come back to full smell, but nowadays I smell stuff I haven't smelled in 20 years.
Be extra careful if you try it, because the possibility of getting dizzy when you bend over goes up with age.  Practice before you get into the shower, or do it outside in the yard.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Friggy, I am a doctor, not a physician. This forum is not monitored or conducted by physicians.

You offer tid-bits of information regarding your case history and then you are surprised by peoples comments, to the point that you insult or question their knowledge.

For example, a person says over the net they have no feelings in their legs, over the past 8 years, and has been on x meds for the past umpteen years.

But fails to mention they are a double amputee.

You have been a smoker for 30 years, that would have been nice to know in the begining.  Or a list of your meds, meds such as Xanax which are neurologically altering drugs and are known to screw up senses such as taste & smell.  http://prozactruth.com/alprazolam.htm  I have no more further comment regarding your case.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

Sorry Friggy, that should have been directed to Tasteless.

[Tasteless]

I don't see why the advice and testimonies of Friggy should be blasted. I don't care if he wrote a book up side down, if it helped I would like to know more about it. You mentioned the Xanax. I have a short story to tell you. I was a lab rat after being admitted to the emergency room 3 times for heart attacks. Well they were all panic anxiety attacks. After a few years of testing every anti depressant made I was unresponsive to any of them. The top psychiatrist of the Houston area put me on Xanax. That was close to 10 years ago. I hold down a good 6 figure income and family.

I am interested in Xanax side affect of loosing taste and smell. I didn't see it on your link.

[Tasteless]

If you a not a solution your a problem. Why dog me for my past and posting my meds. I was hoping someone smart enough to point out just maybe which one may be the source of my loss of smell and taste. I'm on a quest for knowledge. I will deal with the Xanax later if it's the devil drug. I'm fine except for loosing my taste and smell. BTW, I quit smoking.

So if your a doctor???? You do have further comments regarding this case. Wake up, sick people are looking even on a talk forum for advice. Put up or shut up.

Steve

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

I never blasted Friggy. So you hold down 6 figs, I have been doing that since I was 30. I forgot it was a challenge.

You may need Xanax, and that may be your only option, but that does not reliquish you from the side effects. If that link did not have enough information regarding Xanax and loss of taste google the topic... and while you are at it, google your other meds. I think you will also find issues with the sinuses to be a cause of loss of taste too. In other words it could be a lot of things with a person of your case history.

Good to know you got of the cigarettes. Wonderful steps... I hope many others do the same.

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

BTY Tastless, I am a Cajun, so that may explain a lot of things.

[Tasteless]

I apologize Bobby Bushea I  couldn't tell you were a mentally challenged, I just thought you had a big chip on your shoulder and maybe won a few smart arse contest in your day. Your good.

I didn't mean to belittle with the 6 figure income, it was a point that I was able to do it with a unknown handicap to my co-workers. Submitting a challenge in a room full of CEO's is a little stressful if you have a panic attack problem. The fact is after having one your biggest fear in life is having another.

I'll go take a look at the side affects of the meds. It could be boudin balls.

[Doctor_Police]

Tasteless, there are a lot of ways to skin cats and not always a knife. Many patients with smaller nasal cavities known to swell during allergy or cold times have the same problem. Sinuses won't drain and then infection sets in. Most infections by doctors are always treated with antibiotics and steroid sprays and astelin. These sprays have been known as the most cause for loss of taste and smell. The way I would tell you to go is go by you local pharmacy and get some sinus rinse and use it everyday. The follow up when you feel a cold or infection coming on with a over the counter anti-biotic that kills YEAST the very infection in your sinuses. The product is called SILVER SPRAY. This can be bought in a GNC or related healthfood stores. Might get these a try.  Good Luck!

[Wear/a/Jimmy]

I have been on boudin balls for years, no side effect that I am aware of:) (Except for the double chin)

[Tasteless]

I've never seen a live boudin, but bet there's a lot of mad male boudins running around.

[concerned_mother]

I know what you mean. Have lived in Baytown for some time. The air quality stinks! My daughter (23) has horrilble on going sinus infections. She goes from antibiotic to antibiotic. She is not a smoker. She is a dental student, married and well established. I heard of an amazing natrapatic doctor here who is working miracles. We go to see her today. Her number is 979798-5717. She is in Brazoria but if she is as good as  I hear she is it will be worth the 1 hr plus drive!!!!! Her 1st visit is $150. and each visit after is $50. That is cheap for a good natrapathic doctor. I can't tell you all I have heard of her- really amazing stuff.

[Tasteless]

Keep us updated on that Doctor. I'll let you know what I did. I went and saw a Doctor is Pasadena supposed to be one of the best around. he has a chemical engineering degree along with being an ENT specialist. I went for a second opinion and was told I do not need surgery. Sure my loss of taste is due to sinusitis, the massive antibiotics are killing my friendly antibodies and I can't get well of multiple related illnesses.

Finally a man that knows our area and doesn't write a script for more antibiotics. Our Pharmacist these days just count pills and have limited knowledge. This doctor had a pharmacy in Montgomery, TX do the old fashion, but most effective way of healing. He had them mix, saline, steroid, fungus and bacteria antibiotic all in one pill. I just drop in in a sinus rinse bottle, let it dissolve and shot it up my nose twice a day. The plan is that the steroid opens the cavities and allows the antibiotic to reach a little further each time I rinse to kill the fungus or bacteria. he said I should have my taste and smell back as soon as we use this method for a short while.

I'm glad I canceled that surgery. This was the first doctor to take a culture, analyse and mix a cocktail just for me. The biggest benefit is that we don't have to take a pill and allow the bloodstream to hit the target. This is designed to hit the bullseye only. The compounding pharmacies should come back real strong. People do to much suffering while most doctors get a kick back for selling bloodstream pills for these occasions. I'm going to write a good article with a lot of back up on the pharmisutical parades. It's time to let the public no that people with our problems don't need surgery in most cases or pill to stomach antibiotics. Keep in touch. Fayle St, in Baytown

[concerned_mother]

Hi Tastless (no longer) =)  
The Nat. dr was amazing! money well spent!!! Would highly recommend her. The drive was VERY HARD! 97 miles one way. I got really lost =(  but still plan on going weekly. Could you please share the name of that Dr. that you saw. I also need a good Dr in this area for disgestive diseases if you know one. Hope you are feeling better soon!!! Hope to hear from you again-

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Very interested in the physician in PAsadena, who is it?  What did he have compounded for you, what was in that pill?

Concerned_mother, I'm concerned that your $150 and $50 are being spent without proof that the treatments have any scientiic backing to support their potential for benefit.