Can someone please please help me
 

I got a concussion on the first Of january(4 months ago). I went to the ER two days later. They gave me a CT scan and found out that I had bruising and bleeding in the brain.they prescribed me some form of steroid, they said for me to come back in a month after I was done taking the medication. I came back the next month and got another ct scan, the bleeding had stopped which was great. Okay now here's the problems. Weeks after my 2nd Ct scan(a month and a half after the accident) I loose my sence of smell. I didn't think much of it at first but now in getting really worried. It's been 4 months since the Accident ( a month and a half without smell). Please don't tell me it is lost forever. I can't cope with that, I plan on going back to the doctor, can anyone give me some advice please. Could it have been the medication? Is this temporary and part of post concussive syndrome? Why was my loss of smell delayed two months? Why didn't I loose it the day I fell? Please please tell me what I can do to get it back.

Jason,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Your injury sounds troubling.

Are you under the care of a neurologist?

What have the doctors said about your loss of smell?

What other symptoms are you experiencing?

How did you get injured?

btw, I have a TBI friend who has not had his sense of smell since his injury in 1994. It does not appear to be a big problem. His wife is pregnant and he commented how doing diaper duty will be much easier. He just will not smell the need to change a diaper.

We are here to support you in any way we can.

My best to you.

The only time I've seen a neurologist is three days after I fell, and about a month later to take another CT scan to see of the bleeding had stopped( which is did).

The last time I saw the doctor was when he took the second ct scan on my head to ensure the bleeding had stopped. That was a month after the incident and my smell was still intact at that time so I didn't ask him about it at that time. I did however call him a couple of days ago and ask about my smell. He said that's it common after a head trauma, that as to when or if my smell will come back he can't tell, if may come back or it may not...

Other symptoms I am experiencing are little pains in my head, It feels as though my head is broken and delicate. I don't know if that's good explaining. I do get these minor little headaches I guess you could call them. My head just bothering me.

I got the injury from going down a really massive hill on my skateboard. I was intoxicated and wasn't thinking, I regret it so much. I gained a lot of speed and then I blanked. I woke up back at the house vomiting.

Should I go see an ear nose and throat specialist? *

I really can't cope with this, my taste is also effected my my loss of smell. Toothpaste taste horrible like some kind of salmon. I dont want my smell to be one forever. *

I hope I answered all of your question good

Jason,
I had a injury with bleeding on the brain about 3 years ago and they found out only 3 days later by my PCP. I don't want to dwell in the past how a big hospital ER in D.C. area misdiagnosed and sent me home when i was bleeding on the brain.

Coming to your loss of smell and I can completely understand since I lost my sense of smell and taste which I noticed only few days later since I was so confused with what was going on. Ofcourse I was bleeding on the brain.

Probably they gave you the steroid (prednisone) but my Neurosurgeon who I saw few days later didn't suggest any. Steroids can be a tricky thing I think. Anyways without any medical intervention my bleeding stopped and my brain didn't want to quit and even I was recovering fast. For any TBI (later I learnt) the main concern is swelling. After 5 weeks I was hit with Post Concussion Syndrome which made my life terrible. That was when I really felt the TBI effect.

My sense of smell and taste was not completely lost but every smelled and tasted nasty and very depressing. I even wished it was completely gone. I lost lot of weight because I hated most of the food which didn't help my recovery.

After 2 months I tried non-volitional Neurofeedback and immediately after my session my sense of smell and taste improved where I was able to enjoy some food. It also helped other symptoms to come down. Dizziness, headaches, fatigue etc., But didn't last long. My Psychologist mentioned some of her patients who lost the sense got it back after the therapy. Anyways when it comes to tasting flavor smell plays a significant role.

Then I tried HBOT for about dozen session after a year but didn't see any change immediately.

Has taken B12, B6 consistently for about 2 and a half years. Latest test showed I am very close to maximum range with B12 so my neurologist wants to stop it for a while so I don't get toxic.

After about 2 and half year my smell and taste started to improve and still improving. About 2 months ago I started a new anti-seizure medicine called Trileptal and also went for Cranio Sacral Therapy. my smell and taste improved further and now it is about 80% during the day and close to 100% during night. Don't ask me why :) Overall my symptoms goes down after 9 pm. No one has a clue.


Meanwhile I also get in touch with the doctor office who is a specialist in this area. He doesn't accept any Insurance except Medicare and tests and treatments are intensive. Like he put you in an fMRI and ask you to smell and look at the brain. :) Tons of blood tests.

Website : http://www.tasteandsmell.com/

Treatment wise it can be anything from Transcranial magnetic stimulation, asthma drug (yes, that is right) seems to help if there is a problem with biochemicals.

Inspite of all this no one can guarantee. Only way to know whether it works or not is to try.

Some people can take it positive like Mark mentioned. I know a guy who lost it but now he says he doesn't has to buy expensive wine and get buzzed with cheap wine :)

I know this won't solve the problem and I sympathize for your condition. I stop here since I can keep going on............

Keep up your spirit!

Olfactory stem cells
 

Hi Jason,

Curiously enough, the olfactory bulb, where your brain detects smells is one of the few places in the brain that have stem cells, cells that can replace other cells. Most of the neurons in the brain can't be replaced, sadly for those of us with some form of brain damage, but there could be hope for the sense of smell because of those olfactory stem cells. Of course if the stem cells have been killed off as well then they won't be able to replenish the other lost cells. You will just have to wait and see if your sense of smell comes back. It could take a while but I wouldn't give us hope yet; those stem cells might be dividing unnoticed.
Let us know what happens.
Good luck,
CS