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I’m going to talk to you all about COVID and the loss of taste/smell that often comes with it. I don’t see anyone else sharing on this and it’s been fascinating so far about having this virus...
Hang with me.
Hang with me.
When I first had COVID symptoms, it was a fever, a cough, a headache, and hot/cold flashes. My husband and daughter both had slightly different symptoms, one with stomach issues. We could all taste & smell at first. I expected those of taste/smell to be a first symptom... /2
But within a few days, I suddenly couldn’t smell even the strongest things in my house, including peppermint, eucalyptus, vanilla, citrus, etc. My candles were now unscented & the loss of smell hit me pretty hard. I didn’t realize how much I use smell for comfort & relaxation. /3
I could feel my brain trying really hard to catch a scent, but it just couldn’t get there. Not anything.
I remember reading about Michael Hutchence from INXS losing taste & smell, and they say it contributed to his depression. I can see why.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/the-eerie-relationship-between-smell-and-death/381057/ /4
I remember reading about Michael Hutchence from INXS losing taste & smell, and they say it contributed to his depression. I can see why.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/the-eerie-relationship-between-smell-and-death/381057/ /4
Smell is such an wonderful and under-appreciated sense. We us it to eat, to relax, to decide when something has gone bad, in love-making, and in so many other situations.
This loss of smell isn’t like a stuffy nose where you can kinda smell. Nose is clear. Smell is GONE. /5
This loss of smell isn’t like a stuffy nose where you can kinda smell. Nose is clear. Smell is GONE. /5
But THEN, a couple days later, taste is gone. You don’t realize it at first, don’t even notice much when it is fading. All of a sudden, it disappears.
Soda or tea without flavor is water, sugar water.
Mac & cheese without flavor is wet noodles.
OJ sans orange is milk. /6
Soda or tea without flavor is water, sugar water.
Mac & cheese without flavor is wet noodles.
OJ sans orange is milk. /6
What is the point of eating with no taste or smell? Almost all of the triggers for hunger are gone, save growling stomach or visuals that don’t connect to flavors and smells.
I can’t express enough to you how weird this is.
Textures take center stage. /7
I can’t express enough to you how weird this is.
Textures take center stage. /7
This isn’t like when you have a cold or stuffy nose and can’t smell as much or taste.
This is the nearly complete loss of two senses.
I can detect sweetness and a bit of sourness at the back of my tongue but that’s it. /8
This is the nearly complete loss of two senses.
I can detect sweetness and a bit of sourness at the back of my tongue but that’s it. /8
I’m a sensuous person. I love involving all 5 senses in my life, whether it is lighting candles while I work or cooking foods that awaken all the senses...so this is a kind of torture. It will hit some folks harder than others, like chefs who have lost their jobs b/c of this./8
In fact, recent studies have shown that loss of smell is linked to higher depression & anxiety in COVID patients, perhaps more so than breathing difficulties. My own anxiety has gone through the roof at times with this. /9 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-linking-loss-of-smell-depression-and-anxiety
So beyond our concern for our friends when they have #COVID with breathing difficulties, we need to keep an eye on them also for a depression & anxiety component that others may miss.
There is no pill to take to deal with loss of sensation. It’s just gone. And it matters. /end
There is no pill to take to deal with loss of sensation. It’s just gone. And it matters. /end
P.S. My family and I have all tested positive. We are ALL having trouble with aphasia—remembering and enunciating words. (I couldn’t think of the word for forgetting words just now!) Even after the cough passes, other symptoms like this persist. This is no flu.
