While recovering from nasal surgery, apart from feeling like I’ve had the worst head cold known to man for 2 weeks, I’ve had no sense of taste.
It’s really because I’ve lost my sense of smell that I’ve lost my sense of taste. I have to say, it’s very weird to eat and not taste anything except salt, or a mild, general sweetness.
According to the experts:
Smell and taste are closely linked. The taste buds of the tongue identify taste, and the nerves in the nose identify smell. Both sensations are communicated to the brain, which integrates the information so that flavors can be recognized and appreciated. Some tastes—such as salty, bitter, sweet, and sour—can be recognized without the sense of smell. However, more complex flavors (such as raspberry) require both taste and smell sensations to be recognized.
https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-au/home/ear,-nose,-and-throat-disorders/symptoms-of-nose-and-throat-disorders/overview-of-smell-and-taste-disorders
I knew there was a link between smell and taste, but I hadn’t realised how close the link was. Experiencing it has been quite weird. I’m looking forward to getting those senses back. Hopefully they’ll start to return next week.
Have you ever lost your sense of smell/taste?
November 16, 2019 at 12:12 am
When I was in high school, a fellow classmate fell face-first off her skateboard and permanently lost her ability to smell and taste. Thereafter she lost a LOT of weight because eating wasn’t the same. Not fun.
Also, how are you doing with all those fires I keep reading about? Are you okay? Looks nasty, and this comment is coming from a SoCal person who has lived through several fire evacuations altho thankfully I’ve never personally lost my house [so far]. Stay safe!
November 16, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Oh, that’s a horrid accident. I have to agree, eating isn’t fun. I guess you’d get used to it eventually, but I’m not (and luckily won’t have to).
Thanks, Dena xx.
Where we live has been okay *touchwood*, but later this week wisn’t looking so good. The city (and area) we live in has been decimated by bushfires before (in 2003), with hundreds of houses lost and many lives. We’ve all been urged to make sure our bushfire management plans are up-to-date etc. We’re looking at a scorcher (around the 100’F mark) with strong winds. And we’ve hardly had rain in 2 years (in drought conditions) so not a good combination.
November 16, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Did you know they don’t know how smell works? I was reading an article on this not too long back. I hope you get your full sense of smell back soon. My father hasn’t been able to smell for a while. It’s strange.
November 16, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Really? I didn’t know that. I have a small follow-up procedure on Tuesday and after that things should finally start to improve. Yay!
November 17, 2019 at 9:28 am
Yes, I realize how closely they’re linked every time I get a head cold. I hope you get all your senses back soon, AJ!
November 17, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Oh, dear! No I never have lost any of my senses, but a friend of mine has no sense of smell, poor girl, and another had no sense of smell, but got one after having her first baby. It must be a relief, because it’s dangerous if you can’t smell, say, gas or burning.