Problems tasting and smelling anything

[Grinch]

I had bronchitis for a month, due to smoking most likely, first time I ever got it. It was enough to convince me to move over to the e-cig, and now I don't buy packs anymore. I'll have an analog if someone offers but I have none of my own supply, just vaping all the time!

Here's my question. About 2 weeks after getting over bronchitis, my cough is gone and my breathing is better. However, I was expecting a massive improvement in taste/smell because of what vapers say on this forum. My taste and smell is decreasing, seemingly even more than it was when I smoked.

I addition, my ears are clogged and my sinuses are pressured. Is this something to do with vaping? I'm just curious since I'm no longer sick anymore, but I still have a pressurized head like I would. When I was really sick, I would hear ringing sometimes, but now it's just muffled sound like water in my ear. I WAS sick for a whole month straight, so someone told me it could be leftover fluid build up that needs to be cleaned out, but I thought I'd ask here.

I've been vaping Kahlua and Cream e-liquid which was quite delicious at first, but now it seems to be bland again, with all my e-liquids. They still taste great to everyone else, though. Food tastes bland too. Thanks in advance!

 

[Israfil]

It sounds like you've got a headcold... This doesn't sound like it has anything to do with vaping. Eventually your senses of smell and taste will improve, but it tends to take a lot longer than a few weeks. Maybe a month in I already hated the scent of tobacco cigarettes, and could pick out scents of flowers from a decent distance.

As for the taste of liquids, if you only vape one thing the flavors get overdone and you won't taste em as well. Just switch to another flavor or two for a while, then switch back and it'll taste as good as it used to. Too much of a good thing.

 

[jj2]

Bronchitis can very easily turn into a head cold or infected sinus---believe me I know. Have you been to a doctor?

 

[Grinch]

I'm going to a doctor tomorrow, it's just my ear pressure is getting so bad on one side (the right) that sometimes I'm losing balance. It's really bothering me, feeling like my head is gonna explode. I haven't heard of a head cold before, I'll look it up. Any ex-smokers wanna comment if they've had similar symptoms? I know bronchitis isn't a stranger to anyone that's smoked cigarettes regularly.

 

[finalthought83]

Everyone is different on how their body reacts to processing out multiple chemicals from quiting smoking. Some report that their taste and smell take a vacation for 1 to 2 months then slowly come back. Being sick doesn't help the matter at all. I know that my taste got worse before it got better. Also you are still inhaling nicotine, this slows the recovery process down unlike just quiting cold turkey.

Increase your water intake by ALOT lol, brush more and use more mouth wash. This should help.

 

[DC2]

I recently had pressure behind one of my ear drums, and finally went to the doctor.
He suggested I use some Claritin for awhile and see if that helps.

Well, the pressure is completely gone, and I'm not using the Claritin anymore.
Who knows what any of that means, or what you should take from it.

 

[Israfil]

If it's bad enough that you're losing balance you'd want to get to a doctor sooner rather than later so you can get some antibiotics in you. There isn't anything in ecigs that is known to produce those effects. (to my knowledge anyhow, and I've saved a fair bit of medical and chemical knowledge over the years) Without knowing all your food and chemical allergies it'd be impossible for me to do any sort of medical diagnosis though...so yah, check with the doc.

Hope you feel better soon...

DC2, if claritin cleared up sinus pressure then that means it did one of its many jobs. ^_^

 

[DC2]

DC2, if claritin cleared up sinus pressure then that means it did one of its many jobs.

I didn't know I had sinuses behind my ears.
But hey, the more you live, the more you learn!

 

[finalthought83]

I didn't know I had sinuses behind my ears.
But hey, the more you live, the more you learn!

ear, nose and throat doctors. its all a huge sinus maze.

 

[Grinch]

Thanks. From what I've read it's actually a good sign that my ear, nose, and throat are all affected. If it was just the ears I'd be worried about deafness or something, but the fact that all three main components of my sinuses are clogged tells me that maybe it's a simple sinus problem.

 

[bestthingever]

Once you get past this, OP, check out the possibility of using a Neti pot. My ENT doc suggested I use mine every day if possible, since I suffer from chronic sinus problems, and I can tell an immediate difference in my sense of taste and smell after I use it.

 

[Israfil]

Heheh DC...I don't think you've got one behind your ears, but swelling or pressure in the Sphenoid sinus could make it seem like you do. ^_^ Hell, pressure anywhere in the system can have an effect on the ears because it's all connected.

 

[The Fool]

Sounds very much like a sinus infection to me. Do your back teeth hurt? Glad you're going to the doc.