Covid-related loss of smell tied to changes in the brain(cidrap.umn.edu)
cidrap.umn.edu
Covid-related loss of smell tied to changes in the brain
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/covid-related-loss-smell-tied-changes-brain
47 comments
I caught COVID during the first wave and a second time in 2021.
The first time, the hardest, I lost my sense of smell, everything had a smoky or oily nauseating odor. About a month later, gradually, my sense of smell returned.
I had an excellent sense of smell, perceiving odors from quite a distance, in a varied and precise way, to the point of sometimes having a headache when they were strong. This level of olfactory performance, which I never made use of, never returned. On a vague comparative basis, I'd say it's returned to standard. In fact, that's the only positive point I can take from all this, as strong odors no longer seem to bother me.
At the time of my first infection, I was experiencing, like many, a real series of rather difficult life problems as well as major events. I'd say that could be partly to blame, but the COVID definitely diminished my cognitive abilities as well as my memory. I had what is commonly known as mental fog. Here I am, having studied all my life, doing art, design, programming and build many great stuff with passion, speed of execution and a mastery that I'd describe as fairly good, unable to learn anything new and in a permanent state of anxiety. I haven't coded anything good for 3 years now, and my physical health is deteriorating despite my continuous physical and mental efforts.
I forced myself to take a job well below my capabilities which, even so, sometimes poses certain difficulties for me. Telling myself that it would pass and I'd soon be back into it in no time, but it's quite the opposite that's happening. I'm getting dumbed down and sinking around juniors who are now far superior to me in terms of how. Where I live, COVID seems to have been relegated to an old story that no one wants to talk about anymore. The doctors are burnt out and none of the ones I've consulted seem to be able to diagnose long COVID or that sort of thing. I'm beginning to harbor a deep resentment towards this illness, seeing it as the major trigger that screwed up my career. A career that was so difficult to build because I put my know-how ahead of my network.
I've overcome so many hardships in the past. Since 2020, I've been unable to bounce back. I'm simply disgusted.
If you recognize yourself in this profile and impostor syndrome no longer seems so theoretical, I'd really appreciate not feeling lonely.
At the time of my first infection, I was experiencing, like many, a real series of rather difficult life problems as well as major events. I'd say that could be partly to blame, but the COVID definitely diminished my cognitive abilities as well as my memory. I had what is commonly known as mental fog. Here I am, having studied all my life, doing art, design, programming and build many great stuff with passion, speed of execution and a mastery that I'd describe as fairly good, unable to learn anything new and in a permanent state of anxiety. I haven't coded anything good for 3 years now, and my physical health is deteriorating despite my continuous physical and mental efforts.
I forced myself to take a job well below my capabilities which, even so, sometimes poses certain difficulties for me. Telling myself that it would pass and I'd soon be back into it in no time, but it's quite the opposite that's happening. I'm getting dumbed down and sinking around juniors who are now far superior to me in terms of how. Where I live, COVID seems to have been relegated to an old story that no one wants to talk about anymore. The doctors are burnt out and none of the ones I've consulted seem to be able to diagnose long COVID or that sort of thing. I'm beginning to harbor a deep resentment towards this illness, seeing it as the major trigger that screwed up my career. A career that was so difficult to build because I put my know-how ahead of my network.
I've overcome so many hardships in the past. Since 2020, I've been unable to bounce back. I'm simply disgusted.
If you recognize yourself in this profile and impostor syndrome no longer seems so theoretical, I'd really appreciate not feeling lonely.
You might want to look into books by Alan Gordon and those he has worked with (they get recommended from time to time round here for chronic pain). Whilst they do primarily talk about pain, there’s some evidence to suggest that some of the neurological problems caused by post-viral conditions are to do with the brain getting stuck in a heightened state of “fight or flight”, which is also one of the causes of chronic neurological pain. This would also tally with what you are saying about your anxiety.
I've had a lot of similar experiences the last few years. I've had moments where I thought it was over and all better but it slips back away again.
You're not alone. And health care sucks.
You're not alone. And health care sucks.
A reminder that you should still be masking in public. Better than permanent sensory loss and brain damage.
I still do as does my household. I don't care what others think - they are not the bosses of me and I'm responsible and paying for my own health, so, they (you!) have no say. People used to wander butt-naked, now everybody wears underwear. Masks are similar. Plus, we all know who laughs best, right? So, enough you laugh while it lasts!
Maybe just don't even go out in public!
Comparing a reasonable safety measure to complete self-isolation seems intellectually dishonest...
“Reasonable” is subjective to the wearer
It's not particularly invasive or expensive, is it?
1. That doesn't make it "reasonable".
2. Yes, it's invasive. I like breathing freely. That's a really basic thing that I don't want hindered.
2. Yes, it's invasive. I like breathing freely. That's a really basic thing that I don't want hindered.
Then you should probably be taking measures to protect yourself from severe respiratory infections. You can remove a mask, but you can't remove pulmonary scarring.
If you think it’s invasive to wear a mask in public, then don’t.
If you think it’s invasive to wear a seatbelt while driving, then don’t.
I’m not concerned about making you do anything. I’m concerned about harm reduction for myself.
If you think it’s invasive to wear a seatbelt while driving, then don’t.
I’m not concerned about making you do anything. I’m concerned about harm reduction for myself.
AnthonBerg(2)
For some immunocompromised people, this is their only real option – because the rest of us aren't wearing masks.
One of the worst aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is how it turned some otherwise rational people into crazy germophobes.
Downvote is not a strong enough disagree. Comment required.
Mask in public if you are not feeling well.
Healthy people masking in public for extended portions of their life is untested and could cause new and unforseen issues.
Exposure to regular levels of background bacteria and virus keeps our immune system tuned. See War of the Worlds for pop culture level introduction. While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face.
Mask in public if you are not feeling well.
Healthy people masking in public for extended portions of their life is untested and could cause new and unforseen issues.
Exposure to regular levels of background bacteria and virus keeps our immune system tuned. See War of the Worlds for pop culture level introduction. While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face.
I had covid in 2021. I lost my sense of smell completely for a month, and I'm still not sure it's back to 100% pre-covid level. Now it looks like covid is going to be around for the rest of my life, but I don't want to have to go through that again every one or two years, losing more and more of my olfactory function after each infection. Until we get totally sterilizing nasal vaccines, I'm masking.
I’m sorry to break the news for you, but masking will not stop you from getting sick. It’s the other way around, it helps to reduce spreading when you are infectious.
That’s only true for cloth or medical masks. Well-fitting electro-static respirators (N95, FFP2, or better) do prevent you from getting infected with airborne diseases like Covid.
Here’s a recent meta-study coming to that exact conclusion:
> “[…] the subgroup showed a significant protective effect of using N95 respirators, particularly for medical staff.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221133552...
Here’s a recent meta-study coming to that exact conclusion:
> “[…] the subgroup showed a significant protective effect of using N95 respirators, particularly for medical staff.”
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221133552...
Please, please allow me to ask you to interpret my words charitably and not as if I were calling you out or shaming you.
That masks only stop infectious spread is a commonly held view due to the documented and provable failure of public health organizations to ingest scientific knowledge, understand it, and act on it.
Masks in general—speaking of masks without any further specification of mask type or form—those do very little. What little they do is yes, mostly reducing spread I believe.
Masks that lie fully against the face without gaps and are made out of modern filtration materials, these stop the infectious aerosol no matter which way it’s going. In or out. Properly thought out masks fit for purpose basically stop COVID stone cold. These masks are known as “respirator masks” for some unfortunate reason.
The public health failure I mention is described here for instance: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.13070
Paper title: ”What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic?”
That masks only stop infectious spread is a commonly held view due to the documented and provable failure of public health organizations to ingest scientific knowledge, understand it, and act on it.
Masks in general—speaking of masks without any further specification of mask type or form—those do very little. What little they do is yes, mostly reducing spread I believe.
Masks that lie fully against the face without gaps and are made out of modern filtration materials, these stop the infectious aerosol no matter which way it’s going. In or out. Properly thought out masks fit for purpose basically stop COVID stone cold. These masks are known as “respirator masks” for some unfortunate reason.
The public health failure I mention is described here for instance: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.13070
Paper title: ”What were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic?”
Exactly.
These people are stuck adhering to the mask propaganda from 2020. The lies were 'justified' at the time because high adoption meant spreaders were covered.
Unless you have advanced medical grade masks and swap them regularly, surgical masks and other common covering do literally nothing to protect the wearer from COVID. Once spit particles are airborne, even N95s don't stop much. And yes I've seen the videos about static attraction. Which is maybe partially true for fresh masks, but the attic attraction fades quickly as your breath saturates the material with moisture
These people are stuck adhering to the mask propaganda from 2020. The lies were 'justified' at the time because high adoption meant spreaders were covered.
Unless you have advanced medical grade masks and swap them regularly, surgical masks and other common covering do literally nothing to protect the wearer from COVID. Once spit particles are airborne, even N95s don't stop much. And yes I've seen the videos about static attraction. Which is maybe partially true for fresh masks, but the attic attraction fades quickly as your breath saturates the material with moisture
These statements on the aerosol filtration physics are simply incorrect.
Not literally nothing. Some people will deliberately cough in your face, but most people will give you a little more personal space.
Rule of thumb: if you can smell what's around you – or what was around you 5 seconds ago – you're not protected from airborne biohazardous material. That said, there are masks that do protect you.
Rule of thumb: if you can smell what's around you – or what was around you 5 seconds ago – you're not protected from airborne biohazardous material. That said, there are masks that do protect you.
What are you even talking about? I've been masking with 3M Aura masks for years now and only got three vax shots so far (because I barely ever leave the house and I've developed a fainting problem and anxiety in relation to a lot of situations now, I would get more shots if I could but w/e) and I haven't gotten sick yet. My father and my stepmother have gotten all of the vaccinations but my dad who leaves the house more often stopped masking after a while and he got sick and then got my stepmom sick (they live in another house separate from me). As far as I can tell masks are the only thing along with limiting exposure that actually stop spread.
It's still unclear to me that we should expect continuous reinfection with additive impact (eg, continuously losing olfactory function after each infection, as you say). That sounds fairly speculative.
> Exposure to regular levels of background bacteria and virus keeps our immune system tuned
> While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria
If you believe the second statement, why does the first matter?
> it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face
Have you seen any studies on how quickly harmful growth can build up? I'd guess this to be pretty harmless if you change the mask regularly.
> While the mask likely does not protect you from background virus and bacteria
If you believe the second statement, why does the first matter?
> it can host all sorts of new growth right against your mouth and face
Have you seen any studies on how quickly harmful growth can build up? I'd guess this to be pretty harmless if you change the mask regularly.
It both doesn't work, and if it did it would be net negative. Masks protect others from your spit, they don't protect you. If you are not ill and generating airborne spit the mask is useless
AnthonBerg(1)
Other than a few weeks of feeling tired one time, I've never actually managed to test positive. This is after living in new york for the past four years.
Anyone else had this experience? The only palpable side-effect or long-lasting effect has been increased noise sensitivity, tinitus in one ear seemingly out of nowhere and now I have mild exima which never was an issue in years past.