Loss of senses???

[lisa1014]

Ok I seriously cannot smell anymore!! My kids say what's that smell and I can smell nothing!! I can walk past a poopy diaper and not smell it!

Is this MS or the years and year of nasal sprays for my allergies?

Also my hearing is going fast everyone complains how loud I have the TV, radio, or how loud I talk.

What do you think?

[MSer102]

It's possible for MS to affect senses. But remember that it takes a lesion in just the right place on BOTH sides of your body to cause sensory losses on both sides.

If you have lost smell on both sides it means that you would coincidentally have to have a lesion on both sides of your brain to affect both olfactory nerves, or a very large lesion affecting them both. It might be more likely that a loss of smell on both sides came from use of nasal sprays that were used on both sides.

Loss of hearing on one side can certainly be from MS. It just takes a lesion in the hearing system. Loss of hearing on both sides would require a lesion on both sides of your brain that are coincidentally just perfectly placed. It's possible but the odds of that are less than having a second lesion form somewhere besides the hearing system that would leave the hearing on the other side alone.

It's a little different with optic neuritis because of the chemical makeup of the optic nerves. It's not uncommon for MS to affect the optic nerves on both sides, but it rarely happens at the same time.

Just like some people hit the lottery, it's possible to have four perfectly placed lesions that take out hearing on both sides and smell on both sides. It just isn't very likely. It's more likely that loss of one sense on one side is from MS and other losses are from something else. Or even two senses, each on an arbitrary side. But not as much both on both sides. Your doctor is the only one who knows you and can tell what's going on.

[hunterd]

I have not lost all of them at one time. I have lost my hearing in one ear and feeling in my hands and feet. As I lose one, another will improve. Good luck to you.

[lisa1014]

I should have clarified that I had prior hearing loss in one ear. The smell thing is weird because I cannot smell certain things Such as they put knew carpet in our work and others were complaining of the smell, headaches, and feeling ill from the glue smell. I could not smell it. That was lucky I guess. I just wanted to know if it was possible, I am still leaning more towards sinus issues or due to the nasal sprays.

Thanks for your help.

[hunterd]

I am not quite sure, but I do know that MS works in strange ways.

[MSer102]

I should have clarified that I had prior hearing loss in one ear.

Well, that's different.

It's possible to have a large enough lesion in just the right place to take out both olfactory nerves. But that wouldn't affect the smell of just certain things.

The other thing that might give a clue about whether it's MS or not is that the loss of the sense of smell also affects the sense of taste. If you lost your smell from MS you would probably be noticing the loss of taste as well.

Has your taste been affected? That would come from the loss of smell and how smell is an inherent part of taste. It most likely wouldn't be because you also coincidentally had some kind of lesion affecting the delivery of taste. That's just how closely smell and taste are linked.

If you haven't had any change or loss of taste, it sounds more like you have something going on in your nasal linings which could have come from nasal sprays. Chemical toxicity can affect just certain things. Your doctor can check it out for you.

[Gsd mom]

After a bad cold, I lost sense of taste and smell....went to ENT who sent me for mri to look for sinus/nasal issues.

...instead, they found lesions on my brain! It's been about 7 months and my taste and smell finally are back. They still aren't what they were, but after not being able to taste or smell anything, this is great! Some days are better than others though....like I can taste a few bites of something then it goes away...same thing with smell! I am grateful this has been the only bothersome ms symptom I've experienced...I have been on copaxone for 3 1/2 months.

I hope your smell comes back soon!

[pennstater]

I have brain and brainstem lesions. I lost my sense of smell in high school. As for taste, I can tell spicy versus bland and it appears nothing is ever too sweet. I can't tell the difference between most seasonings. I have to laugh when others are dissecting a recipe as they eat something. My hearing is OK so far.

You do need to be careful without smell. Aside from food safety, gas, fire, etc... are risks. Make sure your smoke detectors are always working. I would definitely see an ENT - if you have a chance to get your smell back, I would take it.

[lisa1014]

I can still taste. That is what is so weird! I know smell and taste go together because my grandpa couldn't smell therefore he coated everything with more black pepper than I could put on a plate in a year just so he could taste something.

I am going to talk to my allergy dr about it!
Thanks for the input

[amyrising]

Almost 2 years ago, I had influenza. After that my smell and taste have never come back fully. I wonder if it could be the MS? I never thought about that.

[22cyclist]

amyrising: If it started after the flu, then it is probably not your MS, but may be from swollen membranes in your nose that are stuck in a loop of inflammation. You should talk with your PCP about this because it is curable.

Hope you feel better, and can taste and smell better soon!

Lisa

[Gsd mom]

Amyrising .... I lost my taste and smell after being sick too! My ENT is the one who sent me for an MRI to check my sinuses.... If it wasn't for that, I still would not know I have MS. Really, that was the only symptom....other than some dizziness in the past. That happened in April ....slowly my taste and smell have come back...my ms specialist said being sick with fever could have caused "flare".... I started copaxone in sept, as my spinal tap showed 5 o-bands...I am grateful I am doing so well! I wish the best for you!

[amy_dardis]

I too, have experienced "sensory" symptoms with my MS. There was a period of about 2 weeks not that long ago, that everything I tasted was Uber-enhanced. (Too salty, too sweet, too tart) I basically ate scrambled eggs or tomato soup because nothing else tasted "right". Tho that sensation is gone, I'm now experiencing throat tightness and hoarseness by the end of the day. This has been my biggest fear since being diagnosed.....really hoping it's only a temporary thing. (and scared!)