DEAR DR. GOTT: Three years ago I lost my senses of smell and taste. Most doctors don’t even know what this is, but I have found that over 2 million people in the US suffer from this horrific disorder of the olfactory bulb or nerve. I wasn’t diagnosed by my primary care physician (he didn’t even know what to call it) but research on the internet finally gave me information and a name, anosmia. I had numerous chronic sinus infections prior to my loss of smell and taste and was treated with several different antibiotics.
I finally asked my primary care physician to refer me to an ENT. After an examination by the specialist, he said I had a deviated septum and polyps and suggested that I have surgery to correct this and that I would probably get my sense of smell and taste back.
I was hospitalized for one night and the next morning, the ENT said my surgery was successful but he didn’t think I would ever get my sense of smell and taste back and I would just have to live with it. I became very depressed and had to start taking anti-depression medication. I have read many reports from clinics, ENTs, and sufferers of this disorder and I don’t think the medical research has been widespread enough to find effective treatments for anosmia.
Have you any information on treatment for this? I noticed on your search area that this disorder is not listed. I think more of the medical profession should at least try us on different medical treatments that might work instead of just brushing us off. This is a very serious problems as it hinders us in so many ways. You can’t smell gas leaks, burning food or buildings, spoiled foods, and more. You can’t taste anything either. Salt, sugar, bitter sour are the only things identifiable and as a result I have high blood pressure from eating too much salt, only because it makes me feel as if I am eating something.
I have heard lipoic acid may be something that might restore some smell and taste so I tried it for 30 days and it did not help. Some people have had fairly good results with prednisone but I have heard of too many bad side effects. I would like to get off the anti-depression meds but every time I go to the kitchen to start preparing food, I start crying because I cannot smell or taste. My poor husband is hoping I will recover from this so he can get a decent meal. Thanks for any help you can give me.
DEAR READER: I have, in fact, written about the loss of the senses of smell and taste. Both were discussed last year and can be reviewed by clicking here and here. I didn’t tag these columns with the phrase anosmia because most people have never heard the term and wouldn’t know enough to look for it if they wanted to read about a lost sense of smell and/or taste. I try to keep my writings as “user-friendly” as possible so that most, if not all, of my readers can understand and learn.
Now to your concerns. I am not aware of any specific treatments that are available to help with the loss of smell and taste. Based on your writing, I believe that you don’t have a total loss of taste, as you can still taste bitter/sour, salt and sugar. However, as you have found, this can lead to certain health problems. High salt intake can increase blood pressure and may lead to other vascular and cardiac problems, especially if the salted foods ingested are also high in fat (as is most commonly the case). Excessively sugary foods also often contain high levels of fats, and may lead to similar problems, as well as diabetes. Bitter/sour foods aren’t all that pleasant in most instances and typically won’t cause problems.
Humans are sensory beings and we often forget how much we uses our senses until one or more is gone. Smell and taste are not only used for food but as a warning system to prevent us from eating spoiled foods, for detecting possible dangerous situations, and so much more. When one or more of our senses is suddenly gone, depression is a definite possibility. For some, the loss may be temporary; for others it may be permanent. You have been affected for three years, leading me to believe that you will likely not recover these senses. This isn’t the answer you wanted, but it is the answer I feel is truthful.
You may benefit from counseling or seeking out a support group. While you may not be able to taste all your foods, making your food as appetizing/appealing/attractive as possible may help. You eat as much with your eyes as with your mouth and if the food is visually appealing, it may help you enjoy food again. Also, considering using salt-substitutes, but be sure to use them in moderation.
As for you desire for physicians to attempt treatment, I can only say that until more research is done and the disorder is better understood, physicians won’t know what medications and remedies may help. Any home remedy you attempt should only be initiated under the supervision of your primary care physician or your otolaryngologist (ear-nose-and-throat specialist) so that you can be properly monitored. In this way, you will be able to help your physician learn more about what may or may not work and he or she can then pass on your successes to other sufferers.
Readers who would like related information on the salt/hypertension issue can order my Health Report “Hypertension” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.
