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I'm making a thread for those who have lost their sense of smell and taste due to #COVID19 with all the things I've found helpful. It's an unnerving, miserable symptom and I know I've spent the last two weeks frantically googling it. Hope this is useful to you. Please add to it
Firstly, if you've lost your sense of smell or taste, SELF-ISOLATE immediately. For at least seven days. I don't understand why the UK isn't telling people to do this when so many other countries are, but DO IT. My GP was very strict on this.
How long will this last? I know I was desperate for a nice answer to this. Unfortunately, it's usually at least 10 days. You're in for a long haul. I'm sorry! But here are some things you can do to speed things up....
Start 'scent-training' immediately. It's like taking your nose to the gym. Find two strong smells (I used essential oils) - dab them onto your wrist, close your eyes, and inhale for 20 seconds, focusing on what the smell WOULD be like. Alternate smell/wrist. Do 3x daily
If you're able to source it, start taking lipoic acid supplements, which have shown in clinical trials to speed up nostril recovery (that's not the official medical term obvs)
WHAT CAN I TASTE? For a while, utterly completely nothing. It's insane. My tip is to order in some Huel. They delivered next day, and meant I could get all my nutrients, quickly and cheaply, without the pain of cooking a dinner I couldn't taste. Works out less than £1.50 a meal
Other foods! Fresh oranges and apples make your face feel alive, even if can't taste. Kettle chips (and other crisps) bring some texture variety to your day. Hot sauce on everything. I've got through a giant bottle.
The first foods to break through my defences... Thick marmite on toast. Super hot thai red curries. Peas (!) randomly. Mushrooms. Truffle oil was a god-send. Red wine! (Yes please!). Very ripe bananas. And apples and oranges.
Do food challenges. Try to have fun with it. Cinnamon challenge. Chew on raw chillies and ginger. Spoonfuls of mayo. Think of the stories you can tell when this passes. This will pass!
Your sense of smell will come back painfully slowly, not an overnight eureka moment. I started getting whiffs of things on Day 5. On Day 12, and can taste maybe at 70% capacity. Still can't smell myself, partner, or things like cleaning spray. Wash regularly :)
And drink absolutely LOADS of water. Something my GP said which isn't in the general advice is that Covid can mess with your kidney function. So drinks at least seven glasses of water a day. May as well be water, all other drinks taste like water :(
Reach out to other people experiencing it. Yes, we are 'lucky' to only have mild symptoms, for sure. But it's a chilling, discombobulating, & surreal thing to go through (usually with other un-nice symptoms alongside) so find people who get that and can grieve chocolate with you
And buy yourself a favourite food as a treat to celebrate it returning. I've got a giant easter egg that I'm using as a vision board to basically manifest my tastebuds back. Not scientific, but fun. I cannot wait for the day I get to crack into that beast.
Anyway, that's all I have. Mix of anecdotal, and what I researched online. I hope it helps. Stay safe. Stay hydrated. Stay rested. And please please please add to this thread with anything you've found out. WE WILL SMELL OUR OWN FARTS AGAIN. That magical day WILL come. xx
This is getting a lot of love since CNN piece. I'm sorry so many of you are struggling. I'm afraid I'm not a doctor, so won't know when/if your smell will return. But I recommend reading through all the replies. Lots of hope, advice and support on here. Sorry can't respond to all
