‘It’s Garbage, Sewage And Gasoline’: People Who Have Parosmia After Covid Share How Badly It’s Affecting Their Lives
Natalia Cano told BuzzFeed that she got COVID from working at her local grocery store in January. “I felt really sick, but it was nothing extreme,” she said. “It didn’t feel like I was going to have any serious complications.”
But a few weeks after Natalia recovered from COVID, her sense of smell and taste started sending her strange signals.
The symptoms that Natalia now has to live with are due to a condition called parosmia. “If you have [it], you may experience a loss of scent intensity, meaning you can’t detect the full range of the scents around you,” Healthline explains. “People who have it can detect an odor that’s present — but the scent smells ‘wrong’ to them. For example, the pleasant odor of freshly baked bread might smell overpowering and rotten instead of subtle and sweet.”
Eventually, Natalia decided to share what she was going through on TikTok. “I don’t think anyone understands how much this affects your daily life. It’s not just that foods taste rotten, it’s that it tastes like garbage. It tastes like sewage. Gasoline, even,” she says in the clip. “It was affecting me so much that I developed gastritis, where every single meal, I was throwing up bile.”
Meet Natalia Cano, a 20-year-old who tested positive for COVID ten months ago
Image credits: nataliabcano
After more than 13 million people have viewed the, as many as 70,000 have flooded its comment section with a wide variety of advice, supportive comments, and (unfortunately) accusations that she’s just being overly dramatic, Cano told Mashable. “There’s just been a ton of unsolicited health advice… To me, it kind of goes to show how little information there is about this, and how people are just doing and saying and trying whatever to see what sticks,” she said.
Now she reports having a completely warped sense of taste and smell
Image credits: hannahbaked
Parosmia is a known and studied subject in the medical world. It can be caused by many different things like traumatic brain injuries, viral infections, or even cancer treatments. The scary part is that it can’t always be fully cured.
When it comes to parosmia in COVID cases, scientists are still trying to figure out what exactly causes it and how long it lasts, which usually varies from a few weeks to months.
Image credits: hannahbaked
According to data published just a couple of weeks ago in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), at least 170,000 people are living with COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction (also known as COD), which is a general term for lost or distorted smell after a COVID-19 infection.
And that’s just the lowest end of the estimate. As many as 1.6 million people could be living with a damaged sense of smell and taste. As we reach the two-year mark of the pandemic, medical institutions and researchers are devoting more research time to the long-term effects of COVID-19, a variety of conditions arising after COVID infection often referred to as long COVID or long hauler COVID.
Image credits: hannahbaked
How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everyone.
Some people feel better in a few days or weeks and most will make a full recovery within 12 weeks. But for others, symptoms can last even longer.
The chances of having long-term symptoms do not seem to be linked to how ill you are when you first get COVID-19. That means people who had mild symptoms at first can still have long-term problems.
Natalia’s honest confession went viral on multiple platforms
Image credits: sleepisocialist
There are many more symptoms you can have after a COVID-19 infection. The common ones include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue);
- shortness of breath;
- chest pain or tightness;
- problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”);
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia);
- heart palpitations;
- dizziness;
- pins and needles;
- joint pain;
- depression and anxiety;
- tinnitus, earaches;
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite;
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
rashes.
Here’s the video. Long COVID is no joke that terrifies me just as much as dying. pic.twitter.com/b3P5kOi4St
— Savvy☭ (@sleepisocialist) November 16, 2021
Natalia said she and her family were, for the most part, extremely careful about COVID health protocols, but unfortunately that didn’t stop her from contracting it. She quarantined for two weeks and recovered soon after. The woman didn’t experience parosmia until a few months later, though, which seems to be common among the other people she’s spoken to. The symptoms emerged randomly, and she started noticing it as she drank the water from her college dorm room tap. Now, Cano can barely maintain a healthy weight. Her condition made her lose 30 pounds and has even passed out.
“It is literally torture every single time I eat something, and I’m so terrified of food. I’ve never been a picky eater in my entire life,” Cano said. “I have zero food security, because it’s not even that I can’t find anything that tastes good to me. It’s that the taste itself also changes on a month to month basis.” At one point, Natalia was throwing up bile every day and had excruciating stomach pains. Her mom now sends her care packages of Cliff bars, something high in protein that she can get down, and she can eat a few, ever-changing safe foods. At the time, those include pulled pork and pineapple.
So she released a follow-up video to further explain her situation
@hannahbakedReply to @legitwhatisgoingon thanksgiving parosmia rant #DealGuesser #parosmia #parosmiapostcovid♬ original sound – Natalia ☭
Natalia battled chronic illnesses all her life, and parosmia is just as bad as those past experiences. And it’s not just eating — she can’t tolerate the smell of her favorite beauty products or even brush her teeth without feeling overwhelmed, often having to wear a mask to stifle scents in her own bedroom. Her favorite childhood smells, like tree leaves in the fall and fresh snow, have changed, too. “A lot of people take their masks off as they’re walking to class, because they don’t really need it, and I’ll have one or two masks on because the smell of fall air is garbage now — like even air smells bad.”
Her symptoms are yet another reminder why we need to fight COVID-19 not just in ICUs but on the streets as well. From social distancing and personal hygiene to getting vaccinated, we all need to do our part to get rid of this virus once and for all.
Which brought together a lot of people suffering from the same condition
Image credits: LazyWusky
Image credits: babypapichulo
Image credits: steepsandstims
Image credits: caytibinba
Image credits: salimaarmani
This is sad and scary. These are the things about Covid that we don't read about in the news, medical journals, and social media. I do hope that people take the effects of this virus to heart and help keep each other, as we all ourselves, safe.
And you can get this side effect even if you didn't have a severe case of Covid.
Load More Replies...The scariest part of all of this is, this is a brain issue rather than a physiological one. In other words, there is nothing wrong with her nose or her tongue. It's how her brain is interpreting the information. That is absolutely terrifying to me.
I had covid back in January of 2020 and I still can’t taste stuff the way I used too. Sweet things taste sickly sweet (they used to taste so bad I couldn’t eat them) but it’s gradually getting better. But there was a phase where everything tasted like rancid smoked bacon—that’s the only way I can describe it—and I had to literally drink spicy salsa to keep from throwing up
I am a 53-year-old woman and I have COVID December 2020. In September, I started smelling exhaust fumes all of the time and in different places. It has not gone away, but some days it's worse. I also have had changes in tastes. Some things, like bread, some soups, dairy, etc. taste overly sweet and other things taste metallic. Mine is manageable for now so I really feel for those who are having such a bad time.
I get epileptic seizures, all mild accept one grand mal (Fortunately in A&E, took 3 people to restrain me. Only lasted for less than a minute, but was frightening). One of the symptoms is the onset of a seizure is smelling something that isn't there, for me it’s usually a strong smell of pepperoni. But now, because my sense of smell is all over the place, I worry when I smell something that isn’t there, for fear of a seizure.
Load More Replies...And still there are people out there denying that Covid-19 exists or pretending that it is just some flu.
I got covid 5 weeks ago, first 4 weeks were a nightmare, but getting better last week. During the first month I lost 2 stone, because I had no appetite nor felt hungry. Finally managing to eat one meal a day, but it’s still difficult. I think I have some sense of taste, but it could just be my mind filling in the gaps. However, my sense of smell is still mostly gone, it’s about 5%. It’s an odd sensation, my nose feels like it’s numb, cold just simply no longer working properly.
I've head this before and that must be SO horrible. Hope she gets back her normal sense of smell and taste soon!
I think symptoms like this really need to be talked about more. So many people seem to think that if you get covid-19 that it's a case of either dying or recovering. They need to know about these awful symptoms that you can be left with. Like Cori said, this is a neurological disorder, one that is presently untreatable. Not to mention the physical damage it can leave you with. I know an 18 year old guy, who will tell you himself that he was "one of those idiots" that thought "I'm young and healthy so I'll be fine". He now has permanent lung damage. Maybe if more people knew these things we'd have fewer anti-vaxxers and complacency about masks and handwashing.
I feel awful for everyone who experiences this...it sounds like such a nightmare. I hope to God that everyone gets their full health back to normal. I can't imagine not being able to enjoy food, or even tolerate it
Well if you think about it... what better way for something to hinder it's host than remove a sense that is used to help keep them safe? We use our nose and our taste to help keep us safe. The sense of smell lets us know when something wrong and our sense of taste lets us know that something isn't poisoned or has gone bad. The fact that this virus removes a sense of taste/smell is absolutely alarming. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it. These poor people, my heart breaks for them.
I lost my sense of smell about five years ago. Not due to covid (obviously). The world smells like cigars. It's nauseating. Poop smells sweet. Chocolate tastes like perfume. Nothing tastes right. I miss lavender. I miss vanilla. I miss smelling dinner cooking. When people say, "Oh it smells so gooood!" I want to cry. It's not fair that when one sense goes, you lose two.
My sister had her taste come back due after covid but here's the kicker (or kicked the bucket) as soon she had gotten the vaccine. (First shot) it reduced her sense of taste to total garbage. All her favorite foods are gone, and she lost so much weight because of it. (Some people asked her at work how did she lose it, what's the secret etc. she couldn't tell them and just burst out crying. It's not something she's proud of) Now and then, she's doing ok but still lacking all the needs for her body. Ice cream still good. Same goes for sour candies.
I totally sympathise. I mentioned in another comment, I've lost 2 stone in four weeks. During that time, I think I ate some sushi, maybe some chips, 1 or 2 bags and a bit of beef jerky.
Load More Replies...It has taken almost an entire year for coffee to not smell like sour acid to me. When it first happened I also could not stand how I smelled. I thought there was something really wrong because my body scent and urine had this absolute horrible smell to me. I kept asking my husband if he noticed and he said I smelled the same as always. In the meantime I switched the coffee I drink and the deodorant I use about 30 times. Coffee is my favorite thing, I have been drinking it since I was 4 and there is nothing I prefer more than coffee. Also, feeling like I smelt horrible really got to me and all my perfumes smelt so bad I almost threw them all out. I read were you can get oils and smell them and retain your brain by smelling something strong you are very familiar with and remembering that smell as you smell the oil or whatever you are using. Things still smell off to me, but after smelling my own deodorant and coffee for months, they are almost back to smelling how I remember.
I can relate to this stories. Only, I got lucky and got my taste back after a few months. The worse part was the constant smell: like I was working in a chemical plant where there's a constant smell off ammoniak. I had my share off astma crisis but COVID is hell in it's own way.
I had a very mild case of Covid in February 2021, but since then my taste and smell have been off. Bananas sometimes have a bleu cheese-like taste. Poop smells like something I can't quite describe, kind of a wet, rancid wheat or leaves - not that I know what either of those smells like. I also get whiffs of that smell throughout the day even if there's no poop around - maybe people's farts. My shampoo also smells terrible (it's sham poo now, LOL). Fortunately, it hasn't affected my appetite, but is very unpleasant.
Finally reading something about this and somebody who understands,wow ok thought I was going crazy,now I find out there's actually a word for it .I'm 5 months into this and it really does suck,but happy to be alive.i pray every single day for all the lives lost .So I guess we just have to take it one day at s time and hope it will get better.
I may have missed this in the article above, but I didn't see anywhere whether she was vaccinated prior to contracting COVID? If not, maybe that played a part in what happened to her.
This is awful. A while back my friend told me her uncle caught Covid and afterwards everything tasted and smelled like fish. Not sure if it got any better, that was all she’s ever said about the subject.
I'm little bit more than a year after Covid and still some smells are weird. I had to change all artifical smells like soap, hand cream, parfum, laundry detergent, etc. For both me and my husband 🤷🏻♀️ It's wild but I'm thankfull that nothing worst happened. Just to let everybody know - if your Taste/smell feels weird go and find a specialist. I Went to ORL specialist like after 5 od 6 months and it was little bit too late for accurate treatment
Prob meant smells and had been to a zoo or something. Maybe just random imagination.
Load More Replies...I hope she get well soon. I don't know what's worse: this or losing your sense of taste and smell completely? My aunt completely lost sense of taste and smell. She couldn't eat much, because everything was without any taste and it made her nauseous. Fortunatelly her senses returned after 4 months. Also her neighbor has covid without any symptoms, but now he's dealing with post-covid extreme tiredness.
Google FLCCC and talk to your doctor about using their protocol for this. They are a group of Frontline doctors. 100% free 100% just wanting to help people. Amazing people.
This is sad and scary. These are the things about Covid that we don't read about in the news, medical journals, and social media. I do hope that people take the effects of this virus to heart and help keep each other, as we all ourselves, safe.
And you can get this side effect even if you didn't have a severe case of Covid.
Load More Replies...The scariest part of all of this is, this is a brain issue rather than a physiological one. In other words, there is nothing wrong with her nose or her tongue. It's how her brain is interpreting the information. That is absolutely terrifying to me.
I had covid back in January of 2020 and I still can’t taste stuff the way I used too. Sweet things taste sickly sweet (they used to taste so bad I couldn’t eat them) but it’s gradually getting better. But there was a phase where everything tasted like rancid smoked bacon—that’s the only way I can describe it—and I had to literally drink spicy salsa to keep from throwing up
I am a 53-year-old woman and I have COVID December 2020. In September, I started smelling exhaust fumes all of the time and in different places. It has not gone away, but some days it's worse. I also have had changes in tastes. Some things, like bread, some soups, dairy, etc. taste overly sweet and other things taste metallic. Mine is manageable for now so I really feel for those who are having such a bad time.
I get epileptic seizures, all mild accept one grand mal (Fortunately in A&E, took 3 people to restrain me. Only lasted for less than a minute, but was frightening). One of the symptoms is the onset of a seizure is smelling something that isn't there, for me it’s usually a strong smell of pepperoni. But now, because my sense of smell is all over the place, I worry when I smell something that isn’t there, for fear of a seizure.
Load More Replies...And still there are people out there denying that Covid-19 exists or pretending that it is just some flu.
I got covid 5 weeks ago, first 4 weeks were a nightmare, but getting better last week. During the first month I lost 2 stone, because I had no appetite nor felt hungry. Finally managing to eat one meal a day, but it’s still difficult. I think I have some sense of taste, but it could just be my mind filling in the gaps. However, my sense of smell is still mostly gone, it’s about 5%. It’s an odd sensation, my nose feels like it’s numb, cold just simply no longer working properly.
I've head this before and that must be SO horrible. Hope she gets back her normal sense of smell and taste soon!
I think symptoms like this really need to be talked about more. So many people seem to think that if you get covid-19 that it's a case of either dying or recovering. They need to know about these awful symptoms that you can be left with. Like Cori said, this is a neurological disorder, one that is presently untreatable. Not to mention the physical damage it can leave you with. I know an 18 year old guy, who will tell you himself that he was "one of those idiots" that thought "I'm young and healthy so I'll be fine". He now has permanent lung damage. Maybe if more people knew these things we'd have fewer anti-vaxxers and complacency about masks and handwashing.
I feel awful for everyone who experiences this...it sounds like such a nightmare. I hope to God that everyone gets their full health back to normal. I can't imagine not being able to enjoy food, or even tolerate it
Well if you think about it... what better way for something to hinder it's host than remove a sense that is used to help keep them safe? We use our nose and our taste to help keep us safe. The sense of smell lets us know when something wrong and our sense of taste lets us know that something isn't poisoned or has gone bad. The fact that this virus removes a sense of taste/smell is absolutely alarming. It gives me anxiety just thinking about it. These poor people, my heart breaks for them.
I lost my sense of smell about five years ago. Not due to covid (obviously). The world smells like cigars. It's nauseating. Poop smells sweet. Chocolate tastes like perfume. Nothing tastes right. I miss lavender. I miss vanilla. I miss smelling dinner cooking. When people say, "Oh it smells so gooood!" I want to cry. It's not fair that when one sense goes, you lose two.
My sister had her taste come back due after covid but here's the kicker (or kicked the bucket) as soon she had gotten the vaccine. (First shot) it reduced her sense of taste to total garbage. All her favorite foods are gone, and she lost so much weight because of it. (Some people asked her at work how did she lose it, what's the secret etc. she couldn't tell them and just burst out crying. It's not something she's proud of) Now and then, she's doing ok but still lacking all the needs for her body. Ice cream still good. Same goes for sour candies.
I totally sympathise. I mentioned in another comment, I've lost 2 stone in four weeks. During that time, I think I ate some sushi, maybe some chips, 1 or 2 bags and a bit of beef jerky.
Load More Replies...It has taken almost an entire year for coffee to not smell like sour acid to me. When it first happened I also could not stand how I smelled. I thought there was something really wrong because my body scent and urine had this absolute horrible smell to me. I kept asking my husband if he noticed and he said I smelled the same as always. In the meantime I switched the coffee I drink and the deodorant I use about 30 times. Coffee is my favorite thing, I have been drinking it since I was 4 and there is nothing I prefer more than coffee. Also, feeling like I smelt horrible really got to me and all my perfumes smelt so bad I almost threw them all out. I read were you can get oils and smell them and retain your brain by smelling something strong you are very familiar with and remembering that smell as you smell the oil or whatever you are using. Things still smell off to me, but after smelling my own deodorant and coffee for months, they are almost back to smelling how I remember.
I can relate to this stories. Only, I got lucky and got my taste back after a few months. The worse part was the constant smell: like I was working in a chemical plant where there's a constant smell off ammoniak. I had my share off astma crisis but COVID is hell in it's own way.
I had a very mild case of Covid in February 2021, but since then my taste and smell have been off. Bananas sometimes have a bleu cheese-like taste. Poop smells like something I can't quite describe, kind of a wet, rancid wheat or leaves - not that I know what either of those smells like. I also get whiffs of that smell throughout the day even if there's no poop around - maybe people's farts. My shampoo also smells terrible (it's sham poo now, LOL). Fortunately, it hasn't affected my appetite, but is very unpleasant.
Finally reading something about this and somebody who understands,wow ok thought I was going crazy,now I find out there's actually a word for it .I'm 5 months into this and it really does suck,but happy to be alive.i pray every single day for all the lives lost .So I guess we just have to take it one day at s time and hope it will get better.
I may have missed this in the article above, but I didn't see anywhere whether she was vaccinated prior to contracting COVID? If not, maybe that played a part in what happened to her.
This is awful. A while back my friend told me her uncle caught Covid and afterwards everything tasted and smelled like fish. Not sure if it got any better, that was all she’s ever said about the subject.
I'm little bit more than a year after Covid and still some smells are weird. I had to change all artifical smells like soap, hand cream, parfum, laundry detergent, etc. For both me and my husband 🤷🏻♀️ It's wild but I'm thankfull that nothing worst happened. Just to let everybody know - if your Taste/smell feels weird go and find a specialist. I Went to ORL specialist like after 5 od 6 months and it was little bit too late for accurate treatment
Prob meant smells and had been to a zoo or something. Maybe just random imagination.
Load More Replies...I hope she get well soon. I don't know what's worse: this or losing your sense of taste and smell completely? My aunt completely lost sense of taste and smell. She couldn't eat much, because everything was without any taste and it made her nauseous. Fortunatelly her senses returned after 4 months. Also her neighbor has covid without any symptoms, but now he's dealing with post-covid extreme tiredness.
Google FLCCC and talk to your doctor about using their protocol for this. They are a group of Frontline doctors. 100% free 100% just wanting to help people. Amazing people.
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