I've lost my sense of smell! I've neverhad this with a cold before now!

[CTyankee]

It is the strangest feeling. I cannot sense the taste of food. I never had that before ever. It is very strange.

Anybody also lose their sense of smell and taste with a cold? How long does it last? I'm beside myself. I'm a real foodie!

[Horse with no Name]

1. Anosmia is what it is called

It might be due to some congestion or polyps. If you are so inclined...you could try Afrin OTC.
Good luck.

[CTyankee]

2. Can I take it if I have high blood pressure? n/t

[Horse with no Name]

3. Nope.

You might just try some saline drops. You can take those. Good luck.

[InternalDialogue]

4. Blessing in disguise.

If you were ever looking for a chance to empty the septic tank or wrestle a skunk, now's the time!

In an honest response to your questions, I've never lost my sense of taste, but I have lost my sense of smell to an extent. Enough so that I was unable to smell food aromas. I could still taste food, but I'm sure it was limited partially by the loss of smell. Never lasted longer than my colds, though.

[CTyankee]

5. But isn't one's loss of taste really just a loss of smell?

If you can't smell something cooking, you can't taste it, right?

Boy, does this suck. We had such a great meal tonight (so my spouse told me). I liked the texture of the food and the warmth and fullness it gave me, but that was it.

[InternalDialogue]

6. I'm guessing taste and smell are a matter of degree.

Perhaps my sense of smell was weaker to begin with -- whatever dulled that still left me with a sense of taste.

Or I didn't really taste what I thought I did, but my mind knew what I was eating and faked it for my sake.

Regardless, it sounds like you can't be having any fun. Hope it passes quickly -- not tasting or smelling food has got to be on the list of insidious afflictions. Good food is one of life's great pleasures.

[China_cat]

7. Are you using some of those 'homeopathic' remedies

with zinc in them? That'll kill your smeller...sometimes permanently.

[CTyankee]

8. I did take "Airborne". Could that be it?

I'll check to see if it has zinc in it. I only took 2 doses, many hours apart. I'll stop it immediately!

[Porcupine]

9. I lose my sense of direction.

Normally I can home in on places I'm familiar with like a pigeon.

A warm saline wash (neti wash) will clear up your sense of smell. Remember to add the tiniest pinch of baking soda to buffer the solution.