Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Louis VI]

I was quite sick two weeks ago and took nasal decongestant and antihistamines as prescribed by a doctor here in Korea. When I recovered from days of blowing my nose, I realized that nothing tastes or smells. I thought it a transient effect of being sick and thought nothing of it. More than 10 days later I still have no sense of taste or smell. Orange juice just has the acidic aftertaste, strawberries are just wet and a bit chewy, my Szechuan spices are no longer floral, just that sting afterwards, soda pop tastes like sugarless bland club soda, chocolate like wax, only bread is still enjoyable, and that's due to the texture, not the taste. 10 days of no taste or smell. Even my friggin' Listerine mint mouthwash has no mint taste, just the tingly sensation. 10 days of being otherwise healthy and no taste or smell. I had heard of such things before but dismissed it as I couldn't fathom what it would be like. Now I can. I feel like I can only see black and white, as food has lost its colour, so to speak. I might as well eat brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and other healthy foods I used to avoid because of the smell and taste. I checked on the Internet, and one of the causes of losing one's sense of taste is antihistamines, so I think that's probably how it happened. Will the senses of taste and smell return? I was the last guy to eat bland food and now, and now, I could be an honorary Brit! Everything is bland, tasteless, smellless. It is the oddest feeling, but the wonder of it passed days ago and I am in a bit of despair at the moment.

Can anyone relate?

[Riker]

I'm almost certain it will return. How long ago did you take your last medication?

[Louis VI]

[young_clinton]

Go to a doctor, it could be serious. I would try Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

[madoka]

I would seriously hit the panic button and do whatever it takes to get that checked out ASAP.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

There was a Zicam recall a while back because of the same thing. The active ingredient may be the same. I was once prescribed a medication here and looked it up on google before having it filled, and realized that it had been recalled in Europe. I went back to the doctor and told her, asking for something gentler, and she was surprised, as she hadn't known.

http://www.fda.gov/Newsevents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm167065.htm

[rumdiary]

What a great incentive to eat healthy! Garlic, raw fish, and bran will taste no different than egg yolks, mayonaise and bacon! Take advantage while it lasts!

[RMNC]

[rumdiary]

[Louis VI]

I love the taste of garlic. Half the dishes I cook have onions, garlic and peppers and I'm a garlic popper at Korean galbi restaurants. So I miss that dreadfully.

I've always hated the idea and taste of mayonnaise. What blah rotten yuck! And now my peach yoghurt tastes just like bland mayo. Ugh.

I don't know which flavour I miss more, sugary or salty.

[pangaea]

I guess I'm stating the obvious. GO TO THE DOCTOR! I can understand posting here to share your problem, but the Dave's community is no substitute for medical help. I feel for you because losing your sense of smell and taste must be pretty miserable, not to mention it sounds like it could be a serious problem. Going to the doctor is the next logical step. Did I mention you should go to the doctor?

[blade]

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/anosmia_loss_of_smell?open

Loss of the sense of smell is called anosmia, while hyposmia means reduced smell sensitivity. Smell sensitivity decreases with age but many drugs, chemicals and diseases can also damage the sense of smell, sometimes permanently. The sense of taste may also be affected.

[hack]

I lost my sense of smell about 25 years ago and while I still have my sense of taste, it is probably no more than 1/3 of what it used to be. I lost it flying from UK to Korea with a massive head cold. Don't ask me how-I don't know nor do the 15 or so doctors/quacks I saw in the 10 or so years after that. I've tried everything including acupuncture, very expensive specialists and even a couple of hypnotists. I finally accepted that I was never going to get it back and unfortunately my taste has deteriorated since.

OK now for the good news, I have lost a lot of weight and am very lean because any kind of fat food is now repulsive to me-another side effect? I dunno but that's what happened. I'm in great shape, have great BP and my Doc tells me I have the fitness level of a 35 year old and I'm almost 60. So it's a good news bad news thing but remember-there are more bad smells than good smells and that in of itself is a salvation when you can't smell. The downside is on the rare occasion the family toilet backs up, I gotta fix it and while I can't smell it, my sight is till OK.