Guest guest Posted February 15, 2003 Report Share Posted February 15, 2003 Hi, Just joined this group and find it most interesting. I had polyps removed one year ago to relieve congestion and restore sense of taste and smell. For me the only time I had those senses restored was with Prednisone. Since I am a diabetic I could not take it more often than twice a year. Went to an allergist to see if he could restore the senses via skin testing, etc. and he informed that I had asthma. I have wheezed for the past several years; however, I just thought it was part of getting older. Is there anyone in the "whole wide world" like me. Thanks for assembling this group. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 > From: " poston8 " <poston8@...> > Subject: Anosmia > > I just joined this group today because I am so depressed about my > not being able to smell. I had sinus surgery August 2003 to remove > nasal polyps and had my septum corrected, and my sinus cavities > cleaned out. I was able to smell about three months post surgery, > and now I can not smell ANYTHING once again. On my last visit to > the ENT he told me the Polyps were already growing back, and it was > all I could do to not cry right there in his office. I did not know > that the polyp disease would return so soon. I am seeing an > allergist now who has begun allergy testing for shots, and has > placed me on Singulair and Rhinocort...still no smell returning. Is > there any treatments or alternative treatments that anyone can tell > me about that restores ones' sense of smell. I read today that a > gentleman had good results from getting a Kenolog injection every > six months or so. I don't know if my allergist would agree to this > or not, but I am planning to ask her about it on my next visit. > I can't tell from what you are saying if you are actually suffering from Samters Triad; but it is a terrible truth that polyps grow back very quickly in Samterites, and yes, polyps are a major culprit in losing the sense of smell. You won't find a magic bullet here, but some things might work for you better than others. A first step is to browse through the FILES and LINKS section -- you'll probably learn more from doing that than from your allerigist. (You'll probably find things that you can show to her.) You can also search the archived postings for specific key words. Desensitization, medication, and diet are all legitimate options to investigate. I'm one of those who think that surgery should be considered only as a desperate, emergency last resort. Ken West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 I know all about this polyp regrowth stuff. The steroid nasal sprays do not really tend to help with sense of smell. It is because you have disease and polyps regrowth way up high in the cribiform plate area. Oral steroids will help a lot more. You might be able to get away with a burst and then maintain with every other day low dose steroids. If you have Samters then desensitization may be very helpful to you. In my case after all these years- the times that I get my sense of smell back - I don;t really like it much. I am okay with no sense of smell. Don't be sad- there are ways,,, to get better. Carol Anosmia I just joined this group today because I am so depressed about my not being able to smell. I had sinus surgery August 2003 to remove nasal polyps and had my septum corrected, and my sinus cavities cleaned out. I was able to smell about three months post surgery, and now I can not smell ANYTHING once again. On my last visit to the ENT he told me the Polyps were already growing back, and it was all I could do to not cry right there in his office. I did not know that the polyp disease would return so soon. I am seeing an allergist now who has begun allergy testing for shots, and has placed me on Singulair and Rhinocort...still no smell returning. Is there any treatments or alternative treatments that anyone can tell me about that restores ones' sense of smell. I read today that a gentleman had good results from getting a Kenolog injection every six months or so. I don't know if my allergist would agree to this or not, but I am planning to ask her about it on my next visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 I am sorry to hear about the polyps regrowth. I have to tell you, I always have the same reaction when told about the polyps growing back, and sometimes I have cried right there in the doctors' offices. I basically have come to a point now after 15 years with this illness of asking my doctors not to really talk too much about the polyps or describe them or even if possible not even tell me when they're back. Because it won't change anything I do anyway. As long as I can breathe through my nose and am able to irrigate so that I can cleanse out my sinuses, I am happy. I think there is something that feels really out of control about the polyps growing back that makes us want to cry. It is the one aspect of this I have never been able to control well enough no matter what I do. But they are a lot better than they used to be with the Singulair and Nasonex, and I'll keep looking for answers. I haven't been able to smell for a long time. I don't remember if I ever could after surgery, but now even after surgery I never can. Every once in a while I will be able to smell something strong, and it seems related to what it is rather than phantom smells, but not too often. It is depressing but I have learned to live with it. Lori > I just joined this group today because I am so depressed about my > not being able to smell. I had sinus surgery August 2003 to remove > nasal polyps and had my septum corrected, and my sinus cavities > cleaned out. I was able to smell about three months post surgery, > and now I can not smell ANYTHING once again. On my last visit to > the ENT he told me the Polyps were already growing back, and it was > all I could do to not cry right there in his office. I did not know > that the polyp disease would return so soon. I am seeing an > allergist now who has begun allergy testing for shots, and has > placed me on Singulair and Rhinocort...still no smell returning. Is > there any treatments or alternative treatments that anyone can tell > me about that restores ones' sense of smell. I read today that a > gentleman had good results from getting a Kenolog injection every > six months or so. I don't know if my allergist would agree to this > or not, but I am planning to ask her about it on my next visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 There are SOME benefits to being able not to smell, actually, which you reminded me of, Carol. I'm always the " Go To Gal " when anything smells really bad that needs to be cleaned up. And it's amazing the things that don't disgust you quite as much when you can't smell anything. Living in New York City you encounter many noxious smells all day long, and when you can't smell them, it makes it that much easier in some ways. I do think one difficulty is that there have been a lot of studies of mood and smell that suggest lack of smell may really contribute to depression, so it's important to take care of our emotional needs with this as well as the physical. This is bordering on really disgusting, so don't read if you don't want, but my last boyfriend and now my husband have both really appreciated the fact that I can't smell because they can, well, fart whenever they want and it doesn't bother me! Of course my last boyfriend learned to do it silently, I wish my husband would learn that as well!! Well, thought some might find this funny. But it's true Lori > I know all about this polyp regrowth stuff. The steroid nasal sprays do not really tend to help with sense of smell. It is because you have disease and polyps regrowth way up high in the cribiform plate area. Oral steroids will help a lot more. You might be able to get away with a burst and then maintain with every other day low dose steroids. If you have Samters then desensitization may be very helpful to you. In my case after all these years- the times that I get my sense of smell back - I don;t really like it much. I am okay with no sense of smell. Don't be sad- there are ways,,, to get better. Carol > Anosmia > > > I just joined this group today because I am so depressed about my > not being able to smell. I had sinus surgery August 2003 to remove > nasal polyps and had my septum corrected, and my sinus cavities > cleaned out. I was able to smell about three months post surgery, > and now I can not smell ANYTHING once again. On my last visit to > the ENT he told me the Polyps were already growing back, and it was > all I could do to not cry right there in his office. I did not know > that the polyp disease would return so soon. I am seeing an > allergist now who has begun allergy testing for shots, and has > placed me on Singulair and Rhinocort...still no smell returning. Is > there any treatments or alternative treatments that anyone can tell > me about that restores ones' sense of smell. I read today that a > gentleman had good results from getting a Kenolog injection every > six months or so. I don't know if my allergist would agree to this > or not, but I am planning to ask her about it on my next visit. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Dear Lori, I thought that was very funny, there are benefits to no smell! Re: Anosmia << File: ATT00001.html >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Hi! I understand being depressed about not smelling and about your pollyps coming back. I used to go to my Dr. and cry when he told me I needed tubes in my ears again! I wanted another solution and I HAVE FOUND it! There are actually two possibilities. I went on the Feingold diet and was cured of constant, instant asthma attacks and sinus pollyps. For you this diet may be all you need. In my case, I still had fluid in my ears, low energy, congestion in my throat, low lung function. Then I found NAET and my health has steadilly improved ever since! Before I could only hear well 20 % of the time, I was always exhausted and I felt ill pretty much every moment. Now I I hear very well every moment, feel great every day and I am smelling off and on, more often as time goes by. If the Feingold diet doesn't work for you you can try naet. Even if the feingold diet works you may want naet later so you can eat the foods you miss. You can find out more about each at www.feingold.org or www.naet.com. If you wish you can e-mail me direct for more information. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Anosmia << File: ATT00042.html >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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