h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

ANOSMIA...I hate it. Anosmia has had profound effects on my life. I'm 40, I think I lost the sense of smell approximately 5 years ago, but it's hard to pinpoint in the memory.

My mother lost hers immediately following a head injury and concussion in a horse riding accident at age 15. I had a head injury at age 16 that resulted in concussion, but could smell till I was in my thirties. These facts dont seem to have a scientific connection, just coincidental to a point.

I used to experience smells in the normal way, some not so nice arent missed, I'm a nurse and there are a few occassions it's beneficial. Smelly wounds are easier to dres and body fluids are easily missed unless I can see them But...the good smells, how I miss them.

I miss Angel, my perfume, I still wear it every day, to influence other peoples perception of me. I miss the smell of my son's hair, the smell of my garden, the smell of roses and lavendar and mint and fresh air, and the sea and even snow. Vanilla foods, sweets, chocolate. Leather, clean skin, grass, not even 'cut' grass...laying on the lawn under the heat of a summer sun, just grass...sticking my nose in a lawn. My fire...burning logs, peat...anyone ever thrown pine cones in a fire, the smell is beautiful. Yew trees, was it the bark, the leafs, or was it the berries? I dont know now, I just remember being young and smelling yew.

I remember smells, but only as a memory, not as a sensation, I remember the way they made me feel, my reactions and happiness. These memories make me very sad, so I tend to catch it and stop it.

A lot of times people compliment me on my perfume and ask me what it is. I appreciate those comments, but they depress me too...other's are enjoying what used to be my pleasure.

The paranoia I understand totally. I worry about my personal hygiene in an overboard manner, intellectually I know...because I shower twice a day, apply deoderant (the one I trusted when I could still smell), spray my Angel...I can't smell bad, but it still results in a very deep concern because I can't receive the reassurance for myself.

I hope this isnt too much information, but as a woman I worry about my periods, what if my personal hygiene lets me down one time and people smell menstrual blood from me. I have a very strong memory of dirty old musty menstrual blood from some woman in a video shop years ago, it was so strong, repulsive. Anosmia increases paranoia definately. I feel a lot more anal-retentive these days. I mean, since I'm being honest here, what anosmiac hasnt been concerned about passing wind when you just couldnt help it??? OK you got away with it noise wise, but can anyone smell it? Did you hit the double and make a silent smell-free one or was it detectable and obviously you??? Hell, I am SO very anal-retentive now...and that causes digestive problems too.

I worry badly about dying in a house fire. In a two bedroom single storey house I have five smoke alarms, we have windows that open out fully, I leave keys in doors for easy escape action, we have a fire-plan that my son can repeat word perfect.

My son has what seems to me an extra specialy sensitive sense of smell, especially for bad smells. He reacts very strongly to stinky smells, physically gagging and having to get away from something he doesnt like. I look at him in wonder, thinking, did I ever hate bad smells that much?

And what of romantic relationships? I've tried to discover research based information of the link between the sense of smell and pheromones, I need to know if pheromones still work without the ability to smell. Does the chemical reaction occur above and beyond and regardless of the loss of the ability to smell? Or do you have to subconsciously 'smell' them? Does anyone have any links to that information? I've read a lot about what pheromones are and that they 'trigger' a reaction, but I cant find information on them specifically in conection with anosmia. I want to know because I can't seem to fall in love like before. Is it the anosmia or is it a natural age-related cynicism?

My questions and fears raise serious issues, for me anyway. I'm kinda out on a limb with this anosmia. Some days I can't even remember the proper name for it, and have to run the single word anagrams through my head before coming up with the right term...ansomia, asomnia, asomnia...that kind of stuff.

Seems most people dont even try to start to understand what it means for people experiencing it. And so often I find myself, when someone says.....oh, smell that...I have to respond...'I'm sorry I have no sense of smell', or 'I'm sorry I lost my sense of smell'. I'm always apologising for something I didnt do. It wasnt me, I didnt do it, it just happened, and I dont know why. The moment I see someone stopping and thinking a bit deeper bout it I grasp to that person waiting to hear what they think it would be like. Most often I dont connect with them, even when they say 'that must be awful, imagine not being able to smell'. They roll their eyes or look off into the near distance for a few moments, then they usually change the subject.

Don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself, when I start to think deeply bout my anosmia I remind myself...would you rather be blind, or deaf? Think yourself lucky girl! If this is life now, with no sense of smell, then get on with it and stop moaning. Tonight I found this site while researching, and I just let it all out. I'll go and stop moaning now.

I'm away to appreciate the sight of grass, the sea and roses, and to check the smoke alarm batteries...Maz

Nothing wrong with letting it all out once in a while though - and this site is a better place than most for that.
One of my old childhood friends had no sense of smell from birth. It had many disadvantages for him but it certainly didn't stop him from falling in love! I'd say romantic entanglements are complicated matters for any of us and you can safely put your recent experiences down to age-related cynicism.

And by the way, welcome to H2G2.

hiya

and thanks for the welcome. I did kind of 'get it all out' in my post. It's just this is the first place I've found I can, and it felt good too

Maz

hi, it is nice to know that there is somebody in uk had the same symtoms with my son who has just lost sense of smell recently, he is at the university and taking masters in chemistry.He is being treated with steroids by ent in scotland.
could you please let me know if any psycologically effected on him and will he loose his sense of taste later on. I am very worried about him. thank you for your help. furious frank

Hi,

I'm glad my little entry on Anosmia was appreciated. I'm ashamed to say that since I posted that entry I've done very little with this site. I had a couple of years running a support group but work pressure and the growing number of visitors (culminating in a TV slot on Scottish Television) meant sadly it had to fold and the Anosmia UK support group is no more.

However, I'm in the process of digging out some old content and dusting off the cobwebs so to speak. I hope to have a new Anosmia Support website up and running within the next month (it's now August '05)

Unfortunately the original www.anosmia.co.uk domain has been taken over by one of these confounded wed search directory affairs. I should really have been more forward thinking and maintained ownership of the domain and not let it lapse. However I have purchased a new domain and will be uploading content shortly. I would be more than pleased.. nay Ecstatic to see you all there when it opens.

I'll post more info here when I have made progress