Psoriasis and loss of smell

[Fred]

My sense of smell story.

This is a slightly odd tail. It manifested itself in Egypt on holiday 2009, they were fumigating one evening and Mrs John was commenting on how much it stank but I couldn't smell a thing. Up until this point I hadn't actually realised my sense of smell was to be found wanting. I haven’t had a bang to the head and my last serious illness prior to realising I couldn’t smell anything was way back in the late 90’s when I was hospitalised with Flu. By this time I had been diagnosed with Ps although it was only on my shins and not that bad. A good bit of sun would see it off for a month or so.

I think it was around the same time I was being investigated for a swallowing problem and the Consultant had a camera up my nose to view my throat and he had an interest in my lack of smell. There were no polyps so that was ruled out. He put it down to being 'just one of those things' ( I hate it when Doctors say that. Why can't they just say I'm sorry I don't know), possibly nerve damage or even my brain deciding to ignore any signals from my nose. Not a lot of help. It may or may not return but it wasn’t flagging any underlying crisis so I was discharged.

As time has gone by I do get some flashes of smell – but – more often than not it raises more questions. Some smells can come across as quite powerful but Mrs John informs me that it is actually quite subtle. Others come across as one smell when they are actually something else.

Heavy solvents and warm protein based products are starting to come through so maybe there is some hope. To be honest I don’t really miss it.
What is weird though is it hasn't affected my sense of taste apart from rendering Merlot like vinegar which is a shame as I used to like Merlot but most other reds are still eminently  quaffable .

Is it linked to Ps? Viral damage? Or just 'one of those things' I don't think we will ever know, but it is strange how several people that have Ps and its associates have suffered a loss of smell.

Thank you for that John. I've still not met anyone else that has lost their smell, there still doesn't seem to be an association with psoriasis and it's reassuring in some ways to know that you have it. This helps with the elimination of it being anything to do with the Bio's and give me a bit of comfort.

I like you have had everything ruled out and it does seem to be one of those things. I'm learning to live with it, but still find it annoying. I sometimes feel there is something there but when I concentrate to find it it's gone. Mrs Fred sometimes tells me to close my yes and sniff something, but I have yet to get anything.

I'm lucky with the Merlot as it still goes down well, I can't smell it but it does the job.   ........................ Actually thinking about it I started drinking more since losing my smell, but have eased up a bit again now.

They have told me it probably will never come back, but getting information from others with psoriasis is helping as it doesn't seem related. Hopefully this thread will help others and if anyone else has lost their smell please do post.

In closing I find it effects me more when I think or talk about it. I'm learning to live with it, but as I have nothing I find it sometimes very debilitating and also think my taste is fading too.  

Time for more Merlot that doesn't taste like vinegar.

Thank you for the input John.