I lost my sense of smell after head injury | My anosmia story

[@alanspence1716]

A lovely video, a story well told. I lost my smell completely 25 years ago after a fall from my bicycle caused by black ice. I have never recovered it. However, I have not found it too bad at all. I can still remember smells and recall them when I see things or in places like the seaside as you describe. So, for people on here who are hoping to recover their smell, please know that not all sufferers have found the effect too profound. In the early days, I did have my wife shout at me for not turning off the grill when the toast was burning when I had no idea, so I understand it's an important sense, but it's not been life changing for me.

[@CookingandCalm]

That's a really great message as we're all so different - thank you for sharing

[@MrVapi23]

I lost my sense of smelling 2 November 2022

[@jrunell]

I lost my sense of smell from a head injury about 7 years ago. I never regained it. However, my sense of taste adapted pretty quickly. I went from feeling like I couldn't taste at all to tasting my food just fine in a matter of weeks. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami - those flavors intensified to make up for the lack of smell-based flavor processing. This is similar to how a blind person may find that their sense of touch and hearing become more sensitive to make up for their loss of sight . The human body is an amazing organism. I don't taste food like a used to though. For example, when I eat fish, it tastes more like very tender chicken. No more fishy flavor. That's a good thing. However, when I eat bread, it is usually extremely bland because all the wonderful sent-based flavors are completely absent. I used to love eating the crust at the end of a slice of pizza. Not anymore. It's like chewing on cardboard now. But I'll take the good with the bad. I also don't smell horrible things anymore. I still find myself avoiding breathing though my nose when I'm changing cat litter or using a porta-potty though. It's hard to break that habit. I can't even smell someone smoking a cigarette right next to me. On the other hand, I don't smell all the wonderful things in life either. That was kind of depressing at first, but I'm used it to it now. I hardly ever think about it. My friends and family certainly don't. They always seem to forget that I can't smell. It's just not a huge part of life fortunately. Out of all the senses to lose, smell has got to be the best one. I am very fortunate to have all of my other faculties. I have a great family, career, friendships. I have a lot of fulfilling hobbies and favorite activities. I'm in great health. We should all be grateful for what we have, rather than dwelling on what we don't. No one is perfect.

[@CookingandCalm]

Thank you for sharing. Very helpful

[@karasummers7286]

What a remarkable story. As a member of the TBI tribe myself (also from a bike accident, but very different symptoms) I applaud your fight! Keep it up! You are an inspiration.

[@CookingandCalm]

ah thank you Kara - and you take good care of you too 👍

[@mcasariego]

I lost it two years and a half ago while skateboarding. It only started coming back a year ago, but just in the ability to detect "something". It is like now I have to rewrite my olfactory dictionary. Nothing is really pleasing or disgusting: I can sort of decide that because all smels are distorted. I believe this is called parosmia. Smell is an incredibly present topic in human interactions. The feeling of disconnection is huge. I feel nobody really gets it, but I'm tired of explaining. I had a rare capacity: I was very good at telling which ingredients were there, and so on. I was a natural cook. Now eating is mostly a functional thing. I do enjoy, but because I have to, kinda... I really feel like my personality has changed eversince. I used to enjoy simple things. Now it feels I'm fighting anhedonia. Thanks for the beautiful video. I'm sincerely happy for you. Cheers from Portugal

[@CookingandCalm]

I’m so sorry to hear that. Yes it’s so very hard and people often find it difficult to truly understand. I recently lost mine again after a very bad covid episode and am just finding my way back so know exactly what you mean. Wishing you well in your journey and sending all the best wishes across the sea to you

[@madelinewhitney832]

hi . i just lost mine... also from skateboarding! ha... it has reallllly gotten me down... I'm tearing up just writing that. some of my favorite things in life are connected to smell .... it's summer and not being able to smell the growing tomato plants.... the lavender... fresh mowed grass.. cucumber juice... mint...fresh air....campfires...my own body odor even, ffs ... not going to even start about food-- is completely different experience. i have very little appetite. it has disappeared 100 freaking percent. its killing me.. i truly hope i can regain it over time.... even minimally. this video gives me hope. i also hope you continue to regain your smell sense, fellow skateboarding, head trauma having, youtube watching stranger. ❤

[@fauxtaux]

❤️ Susan- thank you for sharing your struggle. This was beautifully done. (And your new puppy is gorgeous!)

[@CookingandCalm]

Thank you and good morning (evening... middle of night!) to you. Hope you're well.

[@cathys7087]

We take all of our senses for granted and don’t realize how important they are until we lose one… So glad your sense of smell did return, Susan, and thank you for sharing your story.

[@CookingandCalm]

Thank you Cathy - we really do. I'm one of the lucky ones for sure. Thank you and hope all is well your end

[@cathys7087]

@@CookingandCalm All good, thank you Susan! Just trying to make it through another Canadian winter ❄️

[@CookingandCalm]

Oh I can only imagine. Stay warm x

[@cardinalRG]

That’s a very good point. I would add that we also can’t truly feel the lack of that which we never had. As a congenital anosmic, I’ve had very few travails in life because of it, and I wouldn’t trade it for having once enjoyed the sense of smell and then lost it forever. There are even a few advantages for someone who’s grown up adapting to a scent-less world. I sympathize with, and support those who’ve suffered the loss of the sense, and I’m always happy to hear stories of recovery.

[@CookingandCalm]

Thank you for sharing your experiences - we humans are so adaptable, aren't we. It's amazing how other senses and systems can ramp up and help us keep going forward in all kinds of diverse ways. I hope you're well and thank you for connecting here

[@jakxcombat]

Bless you, and bless anyone that suffers from the same, or similar illness! Every human deserves the education of healthy eating and growing your own vegetables.

[@CookingandCalm]

Ah thank you - yes, I totally agree. I'm sure eating well helped me get better. Thanks for your support 😊

[@muddypawz57]

❤ I've had the same thing happen to me. I crashed a recreational vehicle into a building and I broke my back and ribs and lost my smell and taste. It happened 5 years ago this June. I haven't regained any smell or taste at all in these 5 years. I guess it's gone forever.

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm so sorry to hear that Bridget. It's hard to live with - I hope you are doing ok and wishing you well across the miles 💚

[@omenxr303]

I had the same thing happen to me too. 6 years ago I had a TBI, and lost my my olfactory sense completely, it slowly morphed into paranosmia but now it's stabilised. I lost about 90%-95% I reckon. It's has been such a challenge for me, and few people actually understand what it does to a person.

[@roberthewison9936]

Thanks for the video, I lost my smell after a fall 2 months. Had a concussion for a week, fine now except my smell is gone… hoping it comes back soon

[@CookingandCalm]

So sorry to hear that Robert- take care of you and keeping fingers crossed for you.

[@omenxr303]

I'm sorry to say this, I had the same thing happen to me and when I confronted my dad (he's a doctor) about it in the same timeframe as yours, he said 'don't get your hopes up.' It's been 6 years and it was really tough and I wish you the best, it's manageable but I felt lonely. Best wishes.

[@maryamu777]

Thanks 🙏 a lot for giving us hope. I got mild brain injury 3 months ago and I have parosmia and phantom smell. I am struggling but I do have hope

[@CookingandCalm]

You just never know. Take good care of yourself and sending all the well wishes Amal

[@annblachly8068]

My grandmother that lost her sense of smell after my grandfather died. She would have been only 57 years old. She died of a stroke seven years later while driving her car, just veered off into the ditch/bank off the road. I wonder if she had a mini-stroke to cause the loss of smell.

[@CookingandCalm]

Thanks for commenting. These things are so complicated and seems there’s so much still unknown in this area. So very sorry for your loss.

[@MrVapi23]

I lost my sense of smell on 2 November 2022 due to a bicycle accident in Belgium. 😢

[@CookingandCalm]

I’m so sorry to hear that - it can be so hard to deal with. Wishing you well

[@earFront]

Me tooo with the Anosmia, . . . . .still not back almost 10 years later. . . . .

[@CookingandCalm]

Thanks for connecting and sorry to hear that. It can be very tough to live with

[@earFront]

@@CookingandCalm Please don't feel bad for me, I am beyond blessed that I am able to be me after a truck Vs face incident. . . . I am deeply interested in Anosmia and the such related to cooking, taste, and all the food chemistry around the subject . ... Also how once being a super taster to a now vegan with only basic primary colours as a taste analogy, I am interested in others coping strategies and all that.🤕😶😀

[@CookingandCalm]

Good to hear you bringing all that curiosity to it and yes the science is really developing now isn’t it. I’m so glad there is more ‘out there’ and people can connect more and share experiences. We humans are pretty resilient in the end 👍 👍👍

[@batman7401]

How long do you think it was until you made a full recovery of your smell? You were pretty lucky to have made a recovery from the head trauma you described. Based on the research I’ve done, very few people recover from head injury induced smell loss so its good to hear that you recovered from such a thing. Smell is such an important part of life and people only realize it when its missing. Its very upsetting to hear doctors tell people “well its only smell”

[@CookingandCalm]

Hi Ned, I wish I had a better memory of this but I think it started coming back after about 6 months to a year. It was only a few things at first (rose shower gel of all things) but then it continued slowly. Yes I was very, very lucky. My reading of the more recent research (there's a good paper by Howell, 2018) is that only a small percentage of us recover and it's a lot to do with the severity and nature of the head trauma, and which part of the brain and olfactory system was affected so I guess mine was 'the right kind of head injury'. It's very tough to live with and I'm sorry if you are affected. Yes, we need more people to understand how very hard it is to live with. Take care of you and thank you for connecting.

[@batman7401]

@@CookingandCalm Wow so it took you a year or more to recovery, thats a while but it beats not recovering at all. It is tough to live with, the small joys in life that you don’t realize how valuable they are until its gone. I unfortunately am also dealing with this except from covid. I think covid has and will continue to spread some more awareness of these issues people face and hopefully more research is done on this to possibly find a cure/treatment. Thanks and stay safe out there.

[@serenareyes7435]

Yes an ENT told me something similar lol and if I stopped consuming cannabis it might help ok my smell was gone before cannabis consumption and it helps my seizures you should of saw the front office when I turned and said " you mean my Medical cannabis for my seizures ill have to ask my neurologist" so ENT is out f the question I've been doing smell therapy even if I can't smell it everyday I try some things are slowly coming back it's nice pssst doctors lol

[@maryamu777]

@@CookingandCalm thanks 🙏 a lot, you helping us all with your hope thanks, 🙏❤️ I got mild brain injury like 3.months ago. I suffer from parosmia and phantom smell. And I am doing smell training and vitamin supplements. I have hope

[@CookingandCalm]

You too

[@FirstnameLastname-rf8bf]

I suffered an aneurysm about a year ago. I have also had covid but I don't think my anosmia is from that. I remember not smelling things in the hospital, and wondered if the nurses were just spraying the medical febreez just as a courtesy. It took me a while to figure out why everything smells exactly the same or has no smell at all (I also thought it was my diet) I have spoken with the surgeons and my primary care physician, but I didn't really get any kind of answer. I've tried smelling cloves and other things... but I can't tell if I'm just imagining it. The other day I thought I smelled some bad smells and got excited. 🙃 I have no idea what to do, and I'm realizing now it could be permanent...

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I know those feelings of no-one being able to answer questions and it can be a lonely place - so know that you're not alone and so many of us have had this 'was that a smell?' experience . It seems to me many of these things are just so under researched that no-one really knows - for me that meant trying to not get too caught in the catastrophe thoughts my mind was bringing and just do what I could do look after myself, eat well and rest as best, I could. I hope you can find some space to take care of yourself too and get the support you need through this tough time.

[@zenster1097]

Sorry about that. That sucks. I can't related except during Covid I didn't lose my sense of smell but certain things smelled horribly for a couple of days. Not that I think it is comparable but I get it can suck not smelling certain things. So I can relate.

[@CookingandCalm]

thank you so much and sorry to hear you had that phantom smell thing. Must have been awful. Yes I was also one of the lucky ones and got my smell back eventually, but wanted to share as it's so badly misunderstood in the world.

[@nilakshigoonasekara4845]

I lost my smelling sense 4 days ago after a fall. Everyday i mell hoping im getting it. Nothing 😢

[@CookingandCalm]

Sorry to hear that. Wishing you all the luck to get better and make sure to rest well.

[@Manasvibhalla]

My dad lost his smell 3 years ago

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm sorry to hear that. It can be very tough to live with. Well wishes to him and thank you for connecting.

[@dailyamusing235]

Hello i have the exact same thing and im looking for help for it,,,i banged my head and snapped a nerve going to the olfactory 😢😢.,,so can you please explain how you got your sense of smell back😮?

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm sorry to hear that. To be honest , I'll never really know as there was no official treatment other than smelling the sticks to grade my anosmia in those days. I basically made sure I was eating well and also did a lot of meditation and relaxation to help my body be in a less stressed state and give it the best chance to heal. After that I think I was very lucky. Take care of yourself and thank you for connecting.

[@sanjurajarshi340]

After my head injury I lost my smell and test sence

[@CookingandCalm]

I’m so sorry to hear that . It can make life very tough. Take care of you.

[@Breakzoras]

i suffer from a TBI anosmia since August 2021, today is 16th of march 2022 and still i got completely no progress to it

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It's rough to live with. Take care of you

[@rechordchen2561]

hey，you get better now？ my mon got injury and lost smell，she is really despondent， I wonder if you got a way to conquer it. thanks in advance.

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm sorry to hear that. It's so very complicated and many people are unable to recover. For me, I just tried to eat as well as I could and find ways to relax like mindfulness etc. I feel it helped, but I'll never really know. Please send my well wishes to her.

[@rechordchen2561]

@@CookingandCalm thank you for your sweet reply. i let her try some vitamin b12 and alpha lipoic acid to help to repair nerve damage. hope this can work. and hope you be better as well.

[@CookingandCalm]

​@@rechordchen2561 thank you

[@yasinv3743]

I wanted to know how long or how did lost taste n smell ? I started some antidepressants n lost taste n smell can't enjoy anything only sweet things , so tell or share your others stories pls , just feeling lonely , I have 2 ear ringing all mri test normal bciz of that I started antidepressants n no taste m smell but don't know really bcoz of medicine bcoz rvrn before medicine I had low taste of smell

[@CookingandCalm]

So sorry to hear that. I lost my smell after a head injury and I know it is so very hard. Take care of you and I hope things get better for you.

[@serenareyes7435]

I lost my sense of smell in a head trauma incident as well hit the back of my head living with epilepsy. 14 years or so and for about 2 months I smell things on and off. I learned we can do smell training everyday I smell scented candles deodorant dish soap, lotion, perfume, food sometimes I can smell most of the time not but everyday I practice it's getting better. My neurologist wanted to do an eeg on me but they're not seizures foul odd odors I verify with others I recognize whay I'm smelling it's so amazing and fun when I am able to smell

[@CookingandCalm]

Hi Serena , I'm sorry to hear about that. Love your approach to it all and appreciation when you get something - it's these things that keep us resilient eh? Take care of you and well wishes x

[@serenareyes7435]

@@CookingandCalm thank you today I went with my neighbor to drop her daughter off @ work Ross I love the scented candles I go straight to that section I can't smell them all but today I smelled one called peppermint stick it smelled like a candy cane taste yummy 😊

[@CookingandCalm]

Nice!

[@The-BusyBear]

​@@serenareyes7435Wife lost her smell 3 years back after traumatic brain injury, taste is there but sense of smell is completely gone. I've consulted with many doctors did plenty of research but nothing has been fruitful. Any suggestion will be highly appreciated ?

[@serenareyes7435]

@samratguha4493 we're in the same boat. I can taste. Smell comes occasionally I love those Very rare moments for just a few seconds. Yesterday I smelled coffee breath although 😅 not pleasant from someone else mouth lol I matched the taste to the smell. I close my eyes and try to focus. When we go to stores I try to smell anything never give up. We may never smell again I saw an ENT and nothing. I had a head trauma incident that caused epilepsy

[@kafeelgujjar5819]

hy maam i got hit in my head before 1 month and 10 days still i cant smell anything😩

[@CookingandCalm]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Take care of you and wishing you well.

[@sanjurajarshi340]

What about now

[@livingstoneluhanga1028]

How did you get your smell back?

[@CookingandCalm]

Hi there , i tried to eat as well as I could, learned to meditate and keep stress levels down as for any big illness but I'll never really know for sure, and I was very lucky.