Lost Most of Sense of Smell

[Quest1967]

Hello, I am a 43-year old male, in average shape, with no history of known allergies, except for a penicillin, which was diagnosed when I was a baby.  Sometime over the last 3 years or so, I realized that my sense of smell was dissipating.  I can't smell much of anything, for the most part, other than faint whiffs of certain odors.  I can, however, taste my food just fine...at least I think I can.  For the most part, I can't smell anything foul (i.e. cat litterbox, propane, gasoline, rotting garbage) or particularly pleasant (cinnamon, flowers, perfume, coffee, etc).  I can, however, smell things like grilling meats, garlic, kitchen exhaust.  Every now and then, if I'm holding my head a certain way, I can catch a better whiff of what's in the air, but it's only fleeting.  Though I am not able to smell much of what's around me, I usually have some kind of predominant odor in my nose that I can smell.  It varies from time to time.  As I type this, the prevailing scent is that of bug spray.  I went to an ENT, who did nothing to investigate and charged me $250 to simply tell me that there was nothing that can be done.  Can anyone out there give me some advice on what to do, or at least point me in the right direction.  I can't help but feel there's something blocking my olfactory sensors, since I am occasionally able to smell the air, but was very discouraged by my visit with the ENT, who saw no reason to investigate into a possible cause and/or cure.

[Dianesinbox]

Recently I developed a sinus condition.It started a few months ago when I would lie down to go to sleep, my right nostril seemed 'closed'. I would have to sit up to breathe. Then, I noticed a blocke sensation on the same side. After a while I realized I had some type of infection as I started having a drip on the right side only. It finally turned to if I blew my nose and smelled the kleenex it had a horrible foul odor. My husband says my breath does not smell or from my nose. But, when I blow my nose and then smell the wetness on the kleenex it is awfully foul smelling. It is not yellow or green, just clear. I went on an anitbiotic and it did not clear up. About 20 years ago I had rhinoplasty (nose job) done. I am wondering if this is a common problem that develops from this type of surgey. If not, I am wondering why only one of my nostrils feels blocke and has this odor? What next to do?????

[Emmidactyl]

I would highly reccommend getting a second opinion and getting a CT scan. Good Luck =)

[Quest1967]

Thanks for the information.  I may just give the flip-turn a try.  What boggles my mind is the fact that I can still smell certain things very well (garlic, grilled meats, exhaust fumes).  Other things I get fleeting whiffs of from time to time (except the catbox).  It's like there's a loose wire in my nose that occasionally makes good contact.  

Anyway, thanks again.

[friggy]

You'd think the doc would at least give you a CT scan, to look for a blockage.  But maybe he or she is right.  The human body is more complicated than a car, so you can always get a second opinion.

There's lots of things that can cause your problem, like nerve damage, age, or a blockage, but the olfactories are high up in the sinuses, and if there is something up there it could be very risky to operate, which could be another reason for the doctor's decision.

My experience may have no bearing on yours, but maybe it does.  I also had a diminished sense of smell, couldn't smell cat litter box and a lot of things.  Then I moved to a humid climate, started teaching, and of course got sick a lot, then chronic sinusitis, then totally lost all smell.  In desperation, I developed the Flip-Turn Sinus Flush.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322

The Flip-Turn Sinus Flush is mildly risky, because you have to bend over to do it, preferably in a shower, but you can also do it outside on soft ground.

A side effect of curing the sinusitis was that now I can smell everything, very well, including the cat who pees in my garage.

As it turns out, you can get a chronic anaerobic infection in your upper sinuses, with few other obvious symptoms.  I suspect you may have possibly (not probably) have the problem because of the omnipresent bugspray smell.

If you do try the flip-turn, don't be alarmed by the burning sensation.  Even if your olfactories are messed up, saline won't cause any further harm.

Good luck, persistance rules