Loss of taste and smell after bronchitis (Page 1)

Are you congested at all? Are you bronchial tracts cleared up? Do you smoke?

I am fine now - the doctor took me off the meds, as the steriods were affecting my vision and the antibiotics were affecting everything else. I've been fine for a month now but I still can't taste or smell. My doctor is convinced this is related to the bronchitis I had and told me to hang tight.

Opening poster.......Has your sense of smell/taste returned? I am in a similar boat and very scared atm

Right --- please update us. This is very worrying that these senses have not returned as they are closely connected one to the other. I believe that smell is the dominant sense, which allows us to taste.

Yetserday I got all excited because I could kinda smell my lotion, and kinda taste a cookie I was eating. Again, I am slightly congested, mostly in my nose and just started using a saline nose spray, as it has been ridiculously dry here in Southern California and taking zinc. I wake up every morning praying that I will be able to taste my coffee and hoping that it won't have a weird burnt smell. I will keep you updated.
I have not gone to an ENT yet, because I can't get in to see my primary care Dr, as his office books him every 15 min. (Love my HMO!) Also, I am trusting my doctor, (she does not take my insurance so I pay out of pocket to see her because she has been with me for years.) I trust her and she said not to worry.

OK...seems like things are looking good and slowly returning. Lotion and cookie smell .. two very nice sensations. I'd also suggest perhaps a saline wash with something like a net pot 2-3 times daily...it's like a spray only i travels throughout your entire nasal sinuses...I love it!

What is net pot? Where can I find this wash? Remember I am desperate and will try anything that doesn't involve a drug of some kind. Have you ever heard of this happening to someone???

I came down with a cold 6 days ago, and for the past three days I can't smell, and I can't taste anything besides sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, sourness. I've been trying to look up this topic on the web, too. If you look up "Anosmia," the medical term for smell loss, or "parosmia," the medical term for distorted smelling, you will find a wealth of infomation.

Also, the nasal irrigation pot is called a Neti pot. It is from India, and it is basically a watering pot for your nose. You fill it up with salty water (like the same saltiness as tears), and you tilt you head, pour it into one nostril, and let it drain out the bottom nostril. You can order a plastic Neti pot online for $15.

About 5 years ago, a friend and I both had colds at the same time. We both lost our sense of smell and taste. Mine lasted about a month (coffee was the first thing I was able to smell). My friend's loss is permanent.

Lost my sense of smell and taste a long time ago. Was not sure if this was because of the anuerysm or some sinus related thing. I too am curious as to this net pot yogahoneybunny is talking about. I snort salt water with a pinch of baking soda...actually its 1/2 cup water with 1/4 tsp. salt and 1/tsp. soda. Pour a little into the cup of your hand, plug one nostril and snort the water through the open nostril. Then, do the other side. Opens you up, its natural, got this from my endo Dr. I also reagined my sense of smell and taste. Well to some degree. I can't smell things unless they are really strong, or putrid. Every now and then I can smell the honey suckles or a candle I am burning.

Had a cold about a month, loss of smell/taste remains. ENT put me on prednisone for 14 days...I'm on day 9. She seemed confident most of my taste would come back. Less of my smell, but it would improve. If I hold things very close to my nose I can smell them. But as someone mentioned above I miss the smell of coffee. That smell and taste seem to be gone completely. Occassionally in the early morning I can smell bacon very distinctly. I wonder if lying down/ position of the nose has something to do with it. Anyway, a few general questions:

1)Has prednisone helped anyone? How long before you experienced improvement?
2)Do olfactory nerve endings regenerate? Sounds like it may take months.
3) Was this a random virus (you only get it once)? I'm kind of paranoia about catching a common cold. Thanks all!

I lost my taste buds around 2 weeks ago after being told I have Bronchitis. Dr. prescribed Maria's Mouth Wash for score throat and ZPak.
He said that it may take up to 2 months for taste to come back. Dr. said that cause was from Maria's wash which is a compound.

I can taste lemons, limes, and menthol cough drops. It's very frustrating. Can only smell extremely strong odors. Did anyone else have this problem and if so, did your taste buds come back?

I had a bronchial infection that caused severe breathing problems in Feb.this year,and I was prescribed prednisone 14 days.I have had a loss of taste&smell with everything since.I have been depressed a lot too because I have also had other problems as well.Like my bodyhair grows much faster,have light white hair on face,very dry skin,
(have2shave2-3 times a day).Its also like all of my senses are dulled.Cant feel,have more impaired vision,and more hearing loss since.But I have had great luck with my asthma.No problems since,but I'd rather have breathing problems anyday than lose my taste buds and sense of smell and have these other problems.anyone out there seen specialist for these conditions?If so has anyone had any cures or tried anything on their own that has worked?I hear acidophilus and zinc supplements help?

I had a bronchial infection that caused severe breathing problems in Feb.this year,and I was prescribed prednisone 14 days.I have had a loss of taste&smell with everything since.I have been depressed a lot too because I have also had other problems as well.Like my bodyhair grows much faster,have light white hair on face,very dry skin,
(have2shave2-3 times a day).Its also like all of my senses are dulled.Cant feel,have more impaired vision,and more hearing loss since.But I have had great luck with my asthma.No problems since,but I'd rather have breathing problems anyday than lose my taste buds and sense of smell and have these other problems.anyone out there seen specialist for these conditions?If so has anyone had any cures or tried anything on their own that has worked?I hear acidophilus and zinc supplements help?

Hi,
I'm overwhelmed by so many people that have experienced this. As I said in my first message, I lost my taste and smell after bronchitis in Feb. of this year. The steriods gave me awful side affects, (i.e. blurred vision, dizziness, etc.) I thought that was what was causing the loss of taste and smell, so when the doctor took me off everything, she assured me all would go back to normal.
It is now July, and I can taste quite a bit more, but coffee still smells like burnt, yuck, I can't explain it. And some things taste distorted, like chocolate, (and coffee - bummer, my two favorite things.)
The zinc did not work for me - I went to the doctor a few weeks ago, and she said at some point, I would regain everything back - It has been over five months now - I'm not holding my breath!

I read online that B12 helps restore loss of taste&smell.I dont know if this is really true b/c havent found any statements personally from anyone but if it works or I hear anything I will let u know.Has anyone been depressed since lost some taste&smell?

Yes, I have been depressed. Feeling like this will never get better and I am tired of breathing through my nose and smelling dust or whatever. Makes me not want to eat which makes me irritable and tired. Hope this doesn't last much longer. Been a month for me so far.

I lost my taste about four yrs ago. I was working with this man and I could smell him across the room. Other peop could too. He said he had been sick and he had went to diferent doctors and still could'nt find anything. One day he was working beside of me in the office and he breathed out and I had breathed in that smell that was coming from him. About two wks later I had a high fever and I could not hear,taste,nor could I smell. I went to the doctor and she gave me some antibiotics. A week later I wasn't much better so she gave me another round of antis. She told me I had fluid in my ears. My fever went away and after a few weeks I could hear again but I can smell that smell that same gunky smell of that infection. Whether anyone believes me or not I still have that same infection. The infection is not in my (tubes) like ear, nose, or throat. This in fection moves around in my body but does not really bother me until it gets in my head. Sometimes I feel it in my ears. That is the only time the doctors will prescribe me antis. I'm not crazy. I don't like to go to the doctor. My husband has even smell this smell from me. I call this a SUPERBUG. I'v had an MRI done-nothing, a cat scan-no results. If only they would do this when I know it has moved into my head. When it moves into my head it sometimes gets on my brain and it makes me slow of thinking and slow of speech. I lay down till it moves. The cat scan shows no sign of sinus problems and no I don't smoke neither does anyone in my home smoke. Recently I wanted to go see a specialist but since the cat scan did'nt show anything it will not refer me to one. SUGGESTION I would suggest that if anyone is having this problem to go see an Infection doctor. I even as one of the doctors (ask a doctor),he could'nt help me either.

that is terrifying, i've been without smell or taste for a little over a week now and its getting worrysome. my ears are constantly plugged and im congested and caughing, ive had a cold for a couple weeks because my kids keep bringing something new home, not to mension what my husband picks up in the yard. I'm sarting to get really concerned but i cant go to a doc cuz hes 3 miles away, its 2 feet of snow and my toddler is sick, i dont wanna make it worse for him.

My husband had lost his taste and smell for more than a year, Doctor provide him prednisone, and he was taking it for close to 6 months. When he stop taking it, he will catch a cold right away. After that, doctor had done sinus surgery on him since they said it is cost by allergy. Well he regain his taste and smell about 3% for about 3 months then he lost it again. Since I read your post and I went and got hims some b12. I let him tried yesterday and it seems help a little bit. I was really excited and really hoping it will help him in the long run. before I left home today, I asked him if he can smell my perform, and he said no...I only hope is temperiory, let see how it goes today...

I was depressed for a long time but also because whatever sickness that I had lasted for a long, long time. I did not feel completely back to normal for months. It took a while for the antibiotics and steroids to leave my system, and also, (surprise surprise) the anitbiotics gave me the WORST yeast infection I had ever had - that alone lasted a month! (I was so caught up in the bronchitis and getting better from that that I forgot that I should've been pounding yogurt everyday to counteract the affects of the medication.)
For anyone who is experiencing this, I would definitely see a doctor and try to be concise when explaining how certain things smell and taste. I wanted to be reffered to an ENT but my stupid HMO doesn't see "enough reason" to send me to one. Like I said earlier, I can taste a lot more than before, but I cannot smell my perfume the way I know it really smells, or just everyday smells. I am a chef, so this is especially difficult because I love to cook and eat. If you are experiencing depression, I urge you to see a doctor, especially if you have decent health insurance.

Hello there. I am here mainly in response to lashellie. I had my cough and cold seoond time in a month last week. I am extremely afraid of cold and cough ( No idea why. Panic attacks etc) but obviously I tried everything and nothing worked and I stuggled through my panic etc. 3rd fourth day into the second cold I had a fever (hooray!!Body is kicking in and getting better). but once after te fever I had numbness from scalp to toes. I lost sense of smell too. I went to a doc and she said its anxiety. My sense of touch and sensitivity are dulled and I feel like Im living in a bubble. On top of my worrying about my period prob (non sotp bleeding) and of course im a plain worrier I guess finally my body couldnt take it and goes into a self protective mode. Wht you can do is talk to a psychologist and take medicine or learn to relax and think of pretty rose etc. My friend had it and it took her 6 months of counselling and medication to sure. I am just in my second week but I am regaining smell (50%) and touch senses back in arms and legs (only chest and tummy numb). One thing good I get from this numbness is like you. I stop coughing and feeling ticklish asthmatic feeling. TOO numb to feel. I hope this help you. HOPE everyone here gets better nd feel better. God bless

How long can I expect to not hear in one ear, based on bronchitis? Can it also be a wax build up problem?

I had a runny nose cold and dr. gave me antibiotics...then on day 4 my hearing went bad in one ear and it felt blocked and was painful for a few days. Then a few days later, i got another col, this time in the throat, very sore and ridiculous coughing. I took Ciprofloxacin and Cheratussin and haven't been able to smell for 5 days. Fromt he research I have done on line, it looks like I am not going to get it back. I found one site where someone was also on antibiotics and cough syrup and had the same problem. Anyone else?