I need opinions

MaidMarion · 06-06-2008, 09:51 AM

I have been on this journey since March 5th. I finally have a surgery date of July 14th. Okay that is all well and good but now here is my question. I had a really horrible sinus infection the first two weeks in April and lost my ability to taste. I still have no sense of taste AT ALL! I have lost 35 lbs since this all started without dieting.......if you can't taste you start to lose all interest. Part of me wants to save myself all that money and not have the surgery. I fear though that my taste will come back at some point. I hate to anger my surgeon by postponing. Has anyone lost their sense of taste for over 2 months? I have lost it for about 5 days but never like this. If you were in my shoes and paying out of pocket for the entire surgery what would you do at this point? Hold off until July to make any decisions? Get it done in the hopes it will come back? Postpone and see how much comes off out of boredom that everything tastes like....nothing!? I keep thinking of how many times I wished and prayed to lose weight and get healthy.......oh be careful what you wish for. On the bright side I won't be able to taste protein shakes.

juliegeraci · 06-06-2008, 10:01 AM

Marion, are you still on antibitoics? Will a nose spray help? I would wait until early July to change your mind. How much more weight do you have to lose?

MaidMarion · 06-06-2008, 10:18 AM

Oh Julie I have lots more to lose! About 125 lbs. I have not been on antibiotics since April 14th. Nose spray both over the counter and steroid type script kind have brought no relief. I have been back to my doctor and he can find no reason for the loss of taste. I am just thinking of that big chunk of cash going out possibly.....gotta not do that and just assume it will come back. I probably wouldn't worry about it but I actually know someone who lost his sense of taste and smell about 5 years ago.

Oh you had a thigh lift? I hear those are painful! well not that any surgery is a piece of cake but I hear arms and legs are the worst. I won't need legs but man will I need arms done! Unless I want to save money on air flights.

juliegeraci · 06-06-2008, 10:21 AM

With 125 more to go I would definitely opt for the surgery. Hopefully your taste will come back. Do you smoke?

KayleighsMommy · 06-06-2008, 10:30 AM

I know you said you were taking an antibiotic, just wondering if you started any new meds in the last couple of months? I had an issue with metformin... a med used for diabetes, as well as given to women, by some doctors, when they are trying to get pregnant.

I had a terrible sense of taste and smell (and we are talking simply horrible) for ab t 8 months. It has been over 5 years and still bugs me occasionally.

What you have is called "anosmia" (I'm pretty sure on the spelling). There are bulliten boards for this.

I would say (in my opinion) go ahead with the surgery...the taste will most likely come back.

julie

MaidMarion · 06-06-2008, 01:43 PM

No don't smoke never have. Unfortunately or oddly or coincidently I did spray weeds in my yard the day before the sinus infection. My fear is the combination has ruined my nose forever.

MaidMarion · 06-06-2008, 01:47 PM

No I am not on any new medications. Thanks for the new word. I looked it up and found this......
Patients who actually have anosmia may complain wrongly of ageusia, although they retain the ability to distinguish salt, sweet, sour, and bitter—humans' only taste sensations.

I do have the ability to distinguish all of those! Hmmmm well it gives me a new thing to think about.

mickeymammoth · 06-06-2008, 02:03 PM

I would delay the surgery. If you're losing weight without really trying, I'd wait and see if your weight loss tapers off or you begin to gain again before scheduling the surgery. If your sense of smell comes back, then schedule it right away!

I've known a couple of people who have lost their sense of smell, and one told me that at first he gained weight because he was trying so hard to get food satisfaction. Then he lost it again. But he didn't wither away to nothing, either. It's possible that the enjoyment is now gone from eating for you, and therefore you're not eating for emotional/pleasurable reasons anymore. That might be enough.

I sincerely hope you get your sense of smell back. Like anything, you'll probably get used to it, but it seems like a bummer. I do think weed poison is bad news all around, and I never use it. I've also read that a lot of sinus "infections" are often caused by mold. Have you tried an anti-fungal spray? I don't know what's out there for that...

Good luck!