I know it's been a while since I last posted here. I thought I didn't need to. I thought I was kinda getting over the whole anosmia thing. If anyone cares to read my previous entries, you'll know that I used to have such big plans; I wanted to create an actual website, I wanted to create a safe space for young people to be able to share their experiences and provide support for each other. To raise awareness an to educate themselves and others in an environment that was completely theirs. But it became exhausting, there was so much negativity to creating a space with a targeted age group (mostly from the sort of people that proved my point as to why younger people needed specialised support) and so I took a break.
But then this day comes around again, and I find that I'm no longer upset by not having a sense of smell, I'm just angry.
I'm so angry that it gets overlooked on a daily basis. I'm so angry that when I try to tell people how it affects my relationships, I get messages questioning if anything was ever genuine. I'm angry that I'm working at a job where I get asked to taste food in front of people for their own amusement and curiosity, like some sort of freak show.
So today is anosmia awareness day. You're supposed to wear red to show your support of it (I don't know why). But it's a small gesture and even if it's by complete accident, if I see anyone wearing red today I'll feel a little better. Maybe that's the idea? It's like some secret code, letting anosmics know that they're not alone. That they don't have to be angry. That it's getting better.
But then this day comes around again, and I find that I'm no longer upset by not having a sense of smell, I'm just angry.
I'm so angry that it gets overlooked on a daily basis. I'm so angry that when I try to tell people how it affects my relationships, I get messages questioning if anything was ever genuine. I'm angry that I'm working at a job where I get asked to taste food in front of people for their own amusement and curiosity, like some sort of freak show.
So today is anosmia awareness day. You're supposed to wear red to show your support of it (I don't know why). But it's a small gesture and even if it's by complete accident, if I see anyone wearing red today I'll feel a little better. Maybe that's the idea? It's like some secret code, letting anosmics know that they're not alone. That they don't have to be angry. That it's getting better.
I was extremely fortunate to have regained most of my sense of smell and taste. I took a completely unrelated medication and my sense came back within 48 hours. This may or may not work for you but if I were still anosmic I'd sure jump at the chance. I'm hoping it will help.
ReplyDeleteLost my sense of smell and taste using Zicam cold spray many years ago. Of course the company denies that this is possible although the FDA in 2009 LOUDLY told the public to stop using Zicam Cold Remedy (with zinc).
My 2 senses were gone almost completely for 8 or 9 years. I don't remember because I thought it was gone forever. I could smell coffee beans, cinnamon and I say Tequila but probably not and not really taste any of these. Everything else was like nothing. Natural gas, car exhaust, cut grass, rotten food or cookies baking in the oven were undetectable. It was like being blind lacking two senses. Nose blind is no joke to those with anosmia.
In 2010 I started taking something for sleep deprivation. I'd fallen asleep at the wheel 30 some years earlier and almost died in the accident. Didn't care to do that again. Within a day or 2 of taking the medication my smell and taste were back. There was no doubt that this medication had done this.
The medication..., Ritalin. There are a couple of stories online of people using Ritalin for sleep deprivation and this is why I requested it. If you can get your doctor to write you a prescription, it's totally worth a try. The med is cheap and has a very safe history of use for most. What have you got to lose?
I even had a National Health Institute doctor interested in 2010, head of clinical studies no less. He wanted to speak with the ENT surgeon at U.T. San Antonio that I'd gotten interested in doing a clinical study. He flaked out and never called the NHI doctor. Dumbass.
Just recently got the idea rejected from a doctor heading a newer group supposedly working on a solution to anosmia. She just figured it must have been a coincidence. NOT! After 8+ years of no smell or taste and it comes back at the same time I use a central nervous system stimulant? Duh! It doesn't take a Lassie to figure this one out. Sometimes professional can be so stupid. Too smart for their own good and yours.
One more thing. My doctor left to another state and no one else would prescribe it. I thought I'd go back to senseless again. Somehow the meds got my system to reconnect some of my senses over the 2 years I got to use it. I have retained approximately 80 to 85% of my original sense of smell and taste. WAY better than none.
Since the medical community won't help you, I'll just try to get the word out by myself. So, try it if you have hope. If it does work, awesome! If it doesn't, it can't hurt and it was worth a try. I hope you can find a doctor willing to work with you.
Good luck.
Hello Jesselyn,
ReplyDeletemy name is Sooyoun Yu, I'm a graduate student in UC Riverside. My lab mates and I are doing research on developing some sensor device to potentially help those with anosmia. I was wondering if you could help us understand better by sharing some of your stories, preferably over live chat or video chat.. We're not selling anything, we're just trying to get information from as many people as possible to get more knowledge and insight into what it's like to live with anosmia and how we can tailor our research to better help those with anosmia.
Please let me know if you could spare 10-15 minutes of your time to talk with us. Thank you very much! -Sooyoun