{"id":86597,"date":"2021-09-30T06:30:20","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T06:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/?p=86597"},"modified":"2021-09-30T13:47:11","modified_gmt":"2021-09-30T13:47:11","slug":"what-it-feels-like-to-lose-your-taste-smell-after-covid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test10.co.za\/C\/what-it-feels-like-to-lose-your-taste-smell-after-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"What it Feels Like to Lose your Taste & Smell after COVID"},"content":{"rendered":"

*I am not a doctor or medical professional. This is a personal reflection and the remedies explained in this article are not to be taken as medical advice. Each person is different and responds to different treatments. If you\u2019re coming out of COVID, please call your medical practitioner to ask advice on how to regain your smell and taste.*<\/i><\/p>\n

One of the most peculiar side effects of COVID and now one of the most common too, is anosmia, or losing the ability to smell and therefore, taste. About 6 weeks ago, I tested positive for COVID and for the first few days into my diagnosis, I only experienced very mild symptoms \u2014 brain fog, fatigue and congestion. Being aware of the possibility of losing my\u00a0 taste and smell, I compulsively tasted and smelled everything I could get my hands on to make sure I still had those two senses. I thought I was largely in the clear.<\/p>\n

\"\"About five days into my isolation period, I took a nap after my morning coffee and rusk (I could still taste both) and woke up forty-five minutes later to the excitement of eating an almond croissant (a friend had dropped a box off on our doorstep). I took one bite and\u2026 nothing. It tasted like absolutely nothing and I became acutely aware of the hot sludgy, tasteless texture. Fearing the worst, I went and stuck my head into a bag of coffee \u2014 also nothing \u2014 which confirmed the worst.<\/p>\n

Hard Truths<\/h4>\n

Unless you\u2019ve experienced this yourself, you really won\u2019t be able to understand just how terrible and panic-inducing it is, but I will do my best to try and explain what it feels like. As humans, we have five points of contact with the natural world \u2014 sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. I, and many others, lost two of those entirely, which is incredibly disorienting and panic inducing. Our senses help us place ourselves in the world, so when you lose two of those, you struggle a bit to fully contextualise yourself. It\u2019s dreadful.<\/p>\n

About 10 days went by and nothing changed. My partner had to (very kindly) tell me it was time to shower and also assumed the role of taste-tester when I cooked dinner \u2014 a task that usually brings me immense joy but now made me want to burst into tears. I had no appetite but had to eat something, so I ate smaller meals, because chewing on nothing for longer periods of time was excruciating. Crunchier foods were also more appetising, so popcorn and toast became staples.<\/p>\n

What now?<\/h4>\n

\"\"After 2 weeks, I\u00a0 resigned to the hard truth that I was one of those unlucky souls that was stuck with this affliction for more than a week and started realising that this could go on for months\u2026 even years. Trying not to spiral into a deep depression, I did as much research as I could to find out what I could possibly do to get my smell and taste back. To no surprise, there was a wealth of knowledge (thanks Google), so I had to try and sift through the nonsense to find something meaningful to go on. I found some interesting information, the most useful being:<\/p>\n