Covid-related loss of smell tied to changes in the brain

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/covid-related-loss-smell-tied-changes-brain

by amichail • 2 years ago

29 30 2 years ago

cidrap.umn.edu

wumeow2• 2 years ago

A reminder that you should still be masking in public. Better than permanent sensory loss and brain damage.

CacheRules• 2 years ago

Maybe just don't even go out in public!

skyyler3• 2 years ago

Comparing a reasonable safety measure to complete self-isolation seems intellectually dishonest...

amichail• 2 years ago

What about always wearing a mask indoors and only wearing it outdoors when you are near people for more than a few seconds?

wizzwizz43• 2 years ago

For some immunocompromised people, this is their only real option – because the rest of us aren't wearing masks.

GenerocUsername3• 2 years ago

Downvote is not a strong enough disagree. Comment required.

Mask in public if you are not feeling well.

Healthy people masking in public for extended portions of their life is untested and could cause new and unforseen issues.

Exposure to regular levels of background bacteria and virus keeps our immune system tuned. See War of the Worlds for pop culture level introduction. While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face.

wumeow2• 2 years ago

I had covid in 2021. I lost my sense of smell completely for a month, and I'm still not sure it's back to 100% pre-covid level. Now it looks like covid is going to be around for the rest of my life, but I don't want to have to go through that again every one or two years, losing more and more of my olfactory function after each infection. Until we get totally sterilizing nasal vaccines, I'm masking.

simondw• 2 years ago

Exposure to regular levels of background bacteria and virus keeps our immune system tuned
While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria

If you believe the second statement, why does the first matter?

it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face

Have you seen any studies on how quickly harmful growth can build up? I'd guess this to be pretty harmless if you change the mask regularly.

nradov• 2 years ago

One of the worst aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is how it turned some otherwise rational people into crazy germophobes.

nikolay• 2 years ago

I still do as does my household. I don't care what others think - they are not the bosses of me and I'm responsible and paying for my own health, so, they (you!) have no say. People used to wander butt-naked, now everybody wears underwear. Masks are similar. Plus, we all know who laughs best, right? So, enough you laugh while it lasts!

Short-sign• 2 years ago

I caught COVID during the first wave and a second time in 2021. The first time, the hardest, I lost my sense of smell, everything had a smoky or oily nauseating odor. About a month later, gradually, my sense of smell returned. I had an excellent sense of smell, perceiving odors from quite a distance, in a varied and precise way, to the point of sometimes having a headache when they were strong. This level of olfactory performance, which I never made use of, never returned. On a vague comparative basis, I'd say it's returned to standard. In fact, that's the only positive point I can take from all this, as strong odors no longer seem to bother me.

At the time of my first infection, I was experiencing, like many, a real series of rather difficult life problems as well as major events. I'd say that could be partly to blame, but the COVID definitely diminished my cognitive abilities as well as my memory. I had what is commonly known as mental fog. Here I am, having studied all my life, doing art, design, programming and build many great stuff with passion, speed of execution and a mastery that I'd describe as fairly good, unable to learn anything new and in a permanent state of anxiety. I haven't coded anything good for 3 years now, and my physical health is deteriorating despite my continuous physical and mental efforts.

I forced myself to take a job well below my capabilities which, even so, sometimes poses certain difficulties for me. Telling myself that it would pass and I'd soon be back into it in no time, but it's quite the opposite that's happening. I'm getting dumbed down and sinking around juniors who are now far superior to me in terms of how. Where I live, COVID seems to have been relegated to an old story that no one wants to talk about anymore. The doctors are burnt out and none of the ones I've consulted seem to be able to diagnose long COVID or that sort of thing. I'm beginning to harbor a deep resentment towards this illness, seeing it as the major trigger that screwed up my career. A career that was so difficult to build because I put my know-how ahead of my network.

I've overcome so many hardships in the past. Since 2020, I've been unable to bounce back. I'm simply disgusted.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and impostor syndrome no longer seems so theoretical, I'd really appreciate not feeling lonely.

thejazzman• 2 years ago

I've had a lot of similar experiences the last few years. I've had moments where I thought it was over and all better but it slips back away again.

You're not alone. And health care sucks.

sengis• 2 years ago

You might want to look into books by Alan Gordon and those he has worked with (they get recommended from time to time round here for chronic pain). Whilst they do primarily talk about pain, there’s some evidence to suggest that some of the neurological problems caused by post-viral conditions are to do with the brain getting stuck in a heightened state of “fight or flight”, which is also one of the causes of chronic neurological pain. This would also tally with what you are saying about your anxiety.

elintknower• 2 years ago

Ironically, I've never had symptomatic covid even with roomates who had both the original covid variant and more recent strains.

Other than a few weeks of feeling tired one time, I've never actually managed to test positive. This is after living in new york for the past four years.

Anyone else had this experience? The only palpable side-effect or long-lasting effect has been increased noise sensitivity, tinitus in one ear seemingly out of nowhere and now I have mild exima which never was an issue in years past.

Covid-related loss of smell tied to changes in the brain

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