Alas, I lost my sense of smell and taste fifteen months ago when I was infected with Covid 19.
Not once in all this time have I been able to smell toast or roses or rain or anything. I have left the gas on and almost fainted, set the toaster oven on fire and the fire alarm did not go off, overcooked and burned food, had no idea the litter box needed to be cleaned. Boiled liquid down where it scorched the pot. I now triple check my apartment to make sure everything is off.
I wonder what I smell like or does my cat smell dusty and dirty. Eating out is no longer enjoyable. Deliciously smelly brick cheese has the texture of paper when I chew it so I stopped eating it. Lentils have the texture of sandy dirt, love lentil soup, another thing I can’t eat. Chili with beans and meat is reminiscent of soap.
Lacking a sense of smell and taste has not stopped me from eating. I eat differently now, I eat from memory and I pay attention to my body signals like craving caffeine or protein or water. Many times I can crave something and eat it and my brain has a disconnect. My brain expects a certain smell or taste and there is nothing. Disappointing to me and my brain.
If I do cook for someone I rely on them telling me how the food tastes, not to mention if I have spoiled food in the fridge.
Living like this is a very strange. Over the next few months I have appointments with specialists again to see if there is anything new I can try. I did try a Neti Pot which did not work. I doubt there is anything new because Covid 19 caused nerve damage to my sense of smell and taste. The brain does repair from this kind of nerve damage by itself but it takes years.
I am trying a new approach also, I am trying acupuncture next month on the advice of an acquaintance who had Covid and lost her sense of smell and was cured with acupuncture. I hope it works.
In the meantime I will continue to eat and use my memory to replace my lack of smell and taste.
Georgia
6.2020
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