Changes in Taste, Smell, and Hormones After Brain Injury

You are not alone- suicide just passes the pain to other people that will miss you when you’re gone. Never end the fight

I have just read your comments that's so sad I had brain surgery for a tumour 6 years ago and have no taste or smell. I imagine flavours and this helps keep living for yourself it does get better over time and you learn to live with it. Immerse yourself in something wonderful and you will have something to live for. I had incredible tiredness it does go away with time.

I can't relate to the pain you are going thru, but my husband is encountering the same hell since he had a concussion 2 months ago. The bad smell just started a few weeks ago and I think it's going to drive him insane. He tells me it is maddening. The only thing worse than being in your shoes is watching someone you love go thru the hell you're living and not being able to do a damn thing to make it better. I pray you will find relief and realize that killing yourself will only hurt the people who love you and rob you of the chance of getting better.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this and that you don't feel understood. You may think you will never get through this. You may think life will never be the same again. You may think no one has ever experienced what it is that you’re going through and that no one can help you.  I'm here to say that you can get through this.

Have you expressed what you’re struggling with to your family or a friend? If you’re not comfortable talking with them or feel they're unable to understand what it is that is making you feel there isn't hope, please reach out to one of these confidential resources:

National Suicide Crisis Line (24/7)
1-800-273-8255

When you call you will hear a message that you’ve reached the crisis line, there will be brief hold music while you’re connected. Then a skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center will answer the phone. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.

Crisis Text Line (NAMI)

Text HOME to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to talk via text message.

When you text HOME to 741-741 the first two responses are automated. They tell you that you're being connected with a Crisis Counselor, and invite you to share a bit more. It usually takes less than five minutes to connect you with a Crisis Counselor. When you’ve reached a Crisis Counselor, they’ll introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace. You’ll then text back and forth with the Crisis Counselor. You never have to share anything you don’t want to.

I fell and was told I hit my head. I was unconscious for several days. I was rushed to the ER that day I had a bleed in my brain. I don’t remember any of this. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I lost my sense of smell & short term memory. I don’t even remember being in the hospital. I was told I had to have a nurse in my room 24/7 because I was pulling my IN out and acting strange. Anyway I wish I could smell again but it has been 5 years now. I am grateful I did not suffer anymore things from my brain injury.

Oh my I have been searching all over the web. In Dec of 2017 I was in an auto accident where I was hit in the front. My blood pressure shot up to 197/159 right after the accident. I had a severe concussion. Then my blood pressure went up higher. A month later I experienced another bout of high blood pressure and balance issues and I went to the emergency room where they think I had a TIA. It was never diagnosed. But I had the symptoms. In April of 2017 I came down with a cold and my smell and taste completely went bye bye. In June I started to get distorted smells and taste. Some days I still get that. And I have not found anyone to help me with this. I have had horrible health care through this ordeal. If someone can direct me to get the proper tests done I would be forever grateful. I can taste Cilantro and Roasted garlic Hummus. That’s the extend of my taste. Go figure. I have to force myself to eat sometimes. Cooking is challenging. I don’t have the appetite and I can’t lose weight and believe me I am not tempted to eat sweets because why? I can’t accept that I will never be able to taste or smell again. I am not happy that everyone that is writing a comment on here has the same problem. I just want answers. I have seen two neurologist who told me this didn’t come from the auto accident. Hogwash.

Oh yes I have! Well with phantom smells and I COMPLETELY understand you comparing you taste to a swing! I’ve had a TBI almost 5 yrs ago and haven’t been able to smell or taste anything since. Well except for the phantom!!! When I try to explain my phantom smells to family, friends, I’ll say “it smells like rotten rust” or “skunk mixed with cigars and rotten food” I have no idea what that would actually smell like but that’s the only way to describe it! It’s very frustrating! Sometimes the phantom smells are so bad I feel like I can taste them! It’s definitely taken a toll on my quality of life! I am a hair stylist. I have clients asking me “which hair spray smells like watermelon” or every single day at least 20x/day I hear “omg that product (shampoo, gel, hairspray, etc) smells amazing!!! Instead of telling them I can’t smell I just agree with them and I really wish I could smell it!!! I know this may not help you. But you’re not alone!!! Good luck!

Yes I lost my sense of smell and taste a month ago from a bad car accident leading to a brain injury. I will get hints of smell and taste every once in awhile but very faint. The majority of it smells and tastes like some sort of dust. Very hard to explain but definitely unpleasant

I had Severe TBI in 1996 caused by a car accident. I have phantom smells of cigarette smoke. The Dr. always told me it was a sinus thing. More importantly, I do have frontal lobe lesions and my taste has never been the same. I don’t enjoy food and cooking is a struggle because of my lack of smells which diminishes my taste. Eating is a chore. Some would think that’s great, but getting the nutrients needed is a battle.

Yes, I have phantom smells all day long. It's enough to drive me mad. They are unlike anything I have ever "smelled" before, so I can't really describe them to those who can smell.

I feel very isolated because of this. It's been over two years for me now.

Tish, exactly this: A swing chain! Thank you
I was searching tbi and metalic taste and found your comment. Perfect

That is the attitude to work towards. At some point, have to move forward instead of destroying yourself by developing different thinking. Mind control.

I also have phantom smells, I think it smells like some kind of chemicals. Nobody around me understands. I had surgery for brain tumor and then radiation. Smells started shortly after. Now I have had horrible health effects diagnosis 10yrs. Later to much radiation.Nothing they can do, so living day to day. Horrible balance and mobility issues. So wish I had not had radiation. At that moment I thought dr knows best. I was traumatized after surgery I probably agreed to anything. People say I need get out more. I can't scared I fall all the time. This is not really living

With my concussion had all the symptoms that seems to be the norm vision ringing in the ears balance fatigue in tears for no reason couldn't stand noise movement tv cell phone loved a dark room laying in bed no movement with a damp towel covering eyes. One day came downstairs and my wife was cleaning the stainless steel sink. I asked her what she was doing she said cleaning the sink with bleach. I said no way I would smell it then grabbed the bottle on the counter smelled it and said to her this is water it's not bleach and she said its bleach and went to smell it again and she grabbed it from me and said your not suppose to smell bleach you'll do damage to yourself. Then I realized I had lost my sense of smell. Now my neck from my injury was tender but hoped the discomfort would go away and with a concussion and all the nastiness going on with it my neck was low on the list with me. Remembering what day it was or standing without being nauseous in physiotherapiy someone pulled a curtain in front of me with dots on it and I almost through up so a little discomfort in the neck no big deal. I was in the middle of living with dementia and alzheimers anyways woke up one day with neck in full blown spasms trigger points all over waves of pain going across forhead shooting from back of head. Had physiotherapy appointment every day so when I went told physiotherapist please my neck is bad gone from level two to eight please look at it. I lie down shirt off face down next thing I know she is inserting needles acupuncture as each trigger point releases it hurts like crazy but then helps six needles later I hear her say you have a bad whiplash a few more needles than she presses on a trigger point at the base of the skull in the centre where your spine joins your skull agony I arch up then blackout maybe a couple of minutes wake up headache gone neck pain gone feel wide awake amazing. Now I still have to get accuputure two years later cause neck is still not the best goes into spasm the sternalcledo mastoid anyways the acupuncture releases horrmones enpholyns endorphins anyways helped to restore my smell not perfect and my taste buds are perfect but have some. Now I recently looked up acupuncture for regaining sense of smell and they have lots of documentation about it and you know it's not some dam chemical with side effects that hurt you so give it a try what do you have to lose. Pharmaceutical companies and medical doctors dont like it because medication is an endless gravy train with side effects . Acupuncture they say even causes the body's immune system to function better cortisone is released into joints it's a natural pain killer so what restores better rhythm in your system interconnects to the brain to maybe help restore hormone and chemical balance which maybe what triggers senses like smell taste eyes oh yea I have a dropping eyelid that droops less for a day or two after and your eyes are wide open anyways look it up nothing to loose to try it. Just get a good acupuncturist. I have one that says no pain no gain it hurts when it releases but feels amazing afterwards. You also feel more clear headed for a couple of days at least.

I am not a doctor. But look into your pituitary gland its behind your sinuses. It secretes hormones if damaged or under pressure might be doing this also if pressing on optic chiasm effects vision suprachiasmatic nucleus effects your body's circadian rhythm clock by communicating to your pineal gland to release melatonin to get you to sleep. Basically informs your body when its day and night. I have had a concussion my problem is same symptoms as most but now I also absorbed information and my head puts puzzles of information together. The pituitary gland is pea sized but if it's not working right can effect a lot of your symptoms. Look up the words for yourself. They will treat symptoms not look for causes. Have blurry vision in one eye fatigue nauseous maybe a drooping eye lid light bothering you noise how is the smell and taste buds. Unbalanced hormones coming from pituitary gland can leave you feeling cold at times also.