Have you ever lost the ability to taste food ?

[Larry_OHF]

I can totally understand the Meals on Wheels program where people bring food to the elderly and sit and eat with them. Old people lose the ability to taste food and without the pleasure of tasting, people tend to not want to eat. I am suffering this now.
I'm one of many people who lose the ability to taste food when I have a cold because the sense of smell works closely with taste buds to produce flavor in food. If the nasal passage is congested, then taste is also lost.
This does not happen to everyone, I am told. In fact, my wife does not suffer this occurance.

My problem is that this is the worse it has ever been. I no longer have the cold but I cannot get my taste back because I still have conjestion, and I have tried a couple remedies for getting it cleared but they're not helping. Meanwhile I can tell that my emotions are getting more fragile. I am getting angry more often and depression is getting in the way of my chores. This is the 5th day of not tasting food. I cannot take it much longer.

[johnny]

That's called a midlife crisis Larry, it'll pass. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[PurpleXVI]

Damn, that sucks. It's surprising how we don't notice some things until they really get to us, isn't it?

I'd suggest trying some spicy food, that really does tend to be the best thing for me when I've got a lot of phlegm that needs clearing out, the spicier the better, you really want the kind that makes your nose behave like a firehose. Camomile tea, if you can get a hold of it, also tends to be very good for busting colds, mostly throat/stomach stuff, but it also helps with other kinds.

For the depression, we're still on one of the darker parts of the year, maybe it's a bit of SAD? Try some vitamin D supplements, or vitamin D-rich foods(They seem to be rather rare, though.).

It's the best advice I can give, hope you find some of it useful and that your situation is remedied swiftly whether you do or not.

[Felix The Assassin]

This is going to read odd, but I'm glad to hear it. That means I'm not alone in this.
Sounds like you need a trip to the beach!
If not, then 2 cups of steaming (not boiling) water with 2-3 Table-spoons of Epson salt stirred and mixed well. Slowly inhale through the nose, protect your lips with vaseline/petro jelly, eyes naturally closed (not squinted). Caution on steaming your sinus cavaties, not good.

[Bungleau]

I was going to suggest some fresh horseradish or a couple of teeny tiny pepper when I remembered seeing this...

Not that it will make you taste anything soon, but you could snort Wasabi to clear your sinuses out. Indeed, it should clear your entire nasal cavity...

** Language warning for the comments on the page...**

My wife doesn't lose her sense of taste, but she regularly irrigates her sinus cavity at this time of year. Warm up a bottle of stuff, squirt it into both nostrils (one at a time), and blow it back out. She keeps telling me it feels great... I'll let you give me feedback if you choose [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Felix The Assassin]

I'll forgo the wasabi! However, the "Sinus Rinse" works only if you can breath through your nose. If not, you may induce an overpressure phenomenon and force the rinse into other passages where it will/can create a whole new slew of issues. Thereby which the steam inhale works wonders when one cannot utilize the rinse regime.

[ 03-11-2007, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: Felix The Assassin ]

[Kakero]

I had this situation several times mostly when I was having a cold, And it's so terrible I tell you. I cannot taste any food at all. However, being a believer of natural remedy, ie let the sickness "die" by it's own, I just painfully waited for a week or two and it's gone.

God forbid I ever get this again, it's just too painful not be able to taste food.

[Iron Greasel]

Just eat something you normally use your tastebuds for tasting. Like sugar. Or salt. Or a lemon.

[ZFR]

have you tried seeing a physician?

[Callum]

While not at all related, I understand how you feel about the lack of taste. I did a 3-day fast, and by the end, I wasn't physically that hungry, just going crazy to taste stuff again. Good luck!