You'll thank me later.
Throat clearing is rough. Happens to me at times and when I have thick mucus that won't clear it can be horrible. I use my voice all day for work.
Have you considered that the throat clearing could be causing you to need to clear your throat? If I have an itch that keeps itching and I scratch it when it itches, it may itch more. Then I keep scratching and it keeps being irritated and I'm in this vicious cycle.
When you clear your throat, you irritate the vocal production system and larynx. That leads to it releasing more mucus in an attempt to protect itself. Which leads to a feeling like you have to clear it more. If you can work to change the habit and drink or gargle some water, maybe salt water, it may help. I've also found vocal steaming to really help. Try to not clear your throat for a week and see if it's better or worse.
Visit an ENT and they might want to scope you to see what's going on with your larynx.
I bought a diffuser on amazon for around $20 and use it frequently with perfume oils I like, but I don't like on my skin. It works great and a little oil goes a long way!
The diffuser I bought on Amazon is out of stock, but this one is very similar. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y2CQRZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cx0mBbDE6NXK1
As for essential oils that smell like home, I think that can be different for everyone. But, I really enjoy orange mixed with lavender for a calming yet uplifting scent, peppermint for energy, lavender alone for winding down, and eucalyptus in the shower to wake up!
Here's the one I got: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924XXLWB?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details
There isn't a "window of opportunity" per se, they said it could be pretty effective no matter when you start. but it may help it come back even faster earlier on
It's a little more maintenance than a candle and you have to buy a diffuser (got mine on Amazon for $15), but in the long run it costs less and feels less wasteful. You can also do as little or as many drops as you want, so it's easier to control the smell strength. I've had my first set of 4 for nearly a year now and they still haven't run out, but then again up until the quarantine started I only used them maybe once or twice a week. Distilled water is a must to keep the diffuser clean.
Drink ample water throughout the day to thin the mucus. Sipping small amounts throughout the day is better that drinking 8+ ounces quickly.
Vocal steamers are another big help. This one works great: https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Inhaler-Vaporizer-Aromatherapy-Diffuser/dp/B000AYYK5M
InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser, Upgraded Diffusers for Essential Oils Aromatherapy Diffuser Cool Mist Humidifier with 7 Colors Lights 2 Mist Mode Waterless Auto Off for Home Office Room, Basic White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V9JP8EE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ljrcGb6W6B0DH
Just so you know what I’m talking about. They have ones very cheap at Walmart
If you are worried about smoke, another way to enjoy incense is with an electric heater like the Golden Lotus sold at Mermade and similar. When you can adjust the heat level, you can figure out what setting works best. Once you have this, you can take incense sticks, even ones that have toxic chemicals, and enjoy them a bit more safely.
Additionally, you can start to explore the world of incense resins, things like myrrh, benzoin, storax, frankincense are all wonderful and non-toxic smells, especially when they aren't combusting.
Lastly, essential oils are another scenting option. There are cheap diffusers you can get on amazon that will take a few drops of oil and scent a room for you with infused water vapor.
I use this one from Amazon. The blue is just the light (which you can turn on and off). I bought some essential oils to go with it, though they are not necessary. Although if you're going to go for some, I'd make sure you get some eucalyptus because it helps clear out your sinuses, hehe.
Edit:
I forgot to mention that using a cortizone cream works really well for me. My doctor told me to only use it for three days at a time because I believe it can cause your skin to thin out, but when it gets extra bad I use it and it clears it up almost over night for a little bit. You should check with your doctor!
A nebulizer disperses pure essential oil. The scent will be much stronger than a diffuser (or an ultrasonic diffuser) which is what you described.
I have one that is like this. It works pretty well but is a pain in the ass to clean. It will throw a scent as deep as an average candle -- depending on the specific oil you put in it.
When I use EOs I actually don't like the scent to be too strong, so my nebulizer doesn't get a lot of use. My favorite device is a simple travel ultrasonic diffuser that I always take to hotels with me. The air in hotel rooms is always dry so I like the cool mist in the air, and I make my own soothing and rejuvenating scent. It holds enough water to run for 4 hours on high or 8 on low and shuts itself off when it's dry. I fill it with water and add these essential oils: 2 drops Greenland moss, 1 drop balsam fir, 1 drop black spruce. I keep it next to the bed because I want maximum moisture near my face and hair. The scent is not overwhelming when you're right next to it, but you can still smell it as soon as you walk into the door.
Including day 0 (11/26) since my symptoms technically started that night. I like the Halls Vitamin C Drops, it’s a Citrus Variety pack.
Also, I found a humidifier with peppermint essential oil helped with my dry throat/cough and was just comforting in general when you feel like crap lol.
You’re welcome!
I've been "over" COVID for 3 weeks now (testing negative) and I'm still waiting for my sense of smell/taste to return to full power. They've come back quite a bit, but sweet things are only a fraction as sweet as they used to be, smells aren't nearly as strong, I can't register the taste of coffee, and "tangy" flavors are still gone. (Including like, sour-tangy, sharp cheese tangy, and even saltiness).
Food is like, only half as satisfying as it used to be. I bought one of these 'smell therapy' kits just in case it helps. My senses have been slowly getting better, but I don't know if it's just the natural process or if the kit has made a difference.
yes to dry herb and incense, if he doesn't want incense one of those essential oil vaporizers(like this) work just as well, imo incense work best. I smoked hella weed in my mom's garage and burned incense and never was caught. But your pops might not like the smokeyish smell that incense can have.
This is the one I currently have on my desk, it’s simple and works great.
This is their best-seller, currently on sale for $16.
https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Aromatherapy-Essential-Ultrasonic-Humidifier/dp/B00V9JP8EE/
I lost my smell/taste for about a week and now they’re back 100%. A few things that helped me:
1- I bought this olfactory training kit from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0924XXLWB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share). It comes with instructions on how to use them too. I do feel that it helped me recover my smell faster. Some swear by them, some don’t, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. You can also do this with perfume/cologne.
2- As for food, it’s super tricky because you absolutely CANNOT bring yourself to taste anything correctly or even at all. High sodium/spice/acidic foods were easier to sense. I ate really spicy ramen, oranges, and pickles. Lots of lemon and honey too. It really depends on what you’ve lost though. One friend of mine couldn’t even sense acid. You really just need to experiment.
Good luck, I know it sucks
I posted this for someone else -
My husband's home health care nurse had covid and lost her sense of smell for over 6 months. She got this and after using it as directed, she started getting her smell back in 2 weeks and was back to 100% within a month.
Oh, no. My husband's home health care nurse had covid and lost her sense of smell for over 6 months. She got this and after using it as directed, she started getting her smell back in 2 weeks and was back to 100% within a month.
I have been also looking as well! I was almost tempted to get a nebulizer, but they eat up oil very quickly and are actually kinda noisy. They’re also fragile too compared to the ultrasonic counterparts. I also don’t wanna spend a fortune on it, which nebulizers tend to be more on the expensive end. Especially if you frequently have to keep buying oils.
I think I will most likely settle on this one from Amazon, but the one from Target that @twirleygirl posted is intriguing too.
Here is the one my husband's home health care nurse used.
tbh when i lived at home i used Bath and Bodyworks(or whatever off-brand of it) when I lived at home, but smell-proof bags would help you out some. I also used an oil diffuser vaporizer thing in my room like this one
My husband had cancer and his home health care nurse had had corona about 6 months earlier and lost her sense of smell/taste. She bought a kit like this oneand used it for 2 weeks and she was able to slowly start smelling things again. Read the reviews and see if this might help you. She was beside herself over not being able to smell anything - this worked for her. https://smile.amazon.com/Essential-Olfactory-Regeneration-Eucalyptus-Guidebook/dp/B0924XXLWB/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?crid=3HF5A56YPXMDV&keywords=covid+smell+training+kit&qid=1647251754&sprefix=covid+sm%2Caps%2C74&sr=8-1-fkmr1
We have a diffuser/cool mist humidifier in our toddlers room to help with the humidity. Pour a little water in there and it makes mist. Obviously, putting cinnamon in it isn't a good idea, but maybe a drop of cinnamon essential oil will do the trick? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V9JP8EE/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_HA2P75SKF75XKDBM75Y7
Another idea would be to buy/make a toddler friendly sensory bottle. Flip it over and watch the glitter/bubbles move and around as they "suck the bad dreams away". Theres all sorts of calm down sensory bottle ideas on Pinterest. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZY6JHU4/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_FPYD9WYE8QPZ5CCNYN5E
Some people have forced themselves to eat trigger foods and then claimed that the "training" helped their recovery. Others have said that they avoided trigger foods like the plague and have recovered just the same. It's really unclear.
Doctors do recommend smell training though. You get a kit like this and smell the smells for 30 seconds each, twice daily, while thinking about how they're supposed to smell and trying to to remember the correct smell: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Olfactory-Regeneration-Eucalyptus-Guidebook/dp/B0924XXLWB
The studies on smell training and olfactory recovery supposedly showed some evidence that it does help, but it wasn't definitive due to not having enough participants, or something like that.
I do the smell sticks daily though. They smell quite good for me, for some reason, and it's nice to just have something nice to smell.
Moxe has a solid kit on amazon. MOXĒ Smell Training Kit, 4 Essential Oils, Olfactory Regeneration, Helps Restore Sense of Smell, Natural Therapy for Smell Loss, Lemon, Rose, Clove, Eucalyptus, Guidebook, Personal Log https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0924XXLWB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_1VR2SEDD7K544K8QP3ZP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Just pimp your OG Mighty with an M Mask for a fresh look and added protection that also works as a stand. It'll spruce it up for you while you drive it till it's dead
The M MASK Silicone Protective Shell for Mighty Vaporizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P415HDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_XRDRAGAAYWQWJNNK7254?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Or like one of these just in "Case" The M MASK Silicone Protective Shell for Mighty Vaporizer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P415HDQ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_4JJHF5J8XXECWF7VNGS7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Too soon to say if it works, but I've been using a smell training kit. Food is super unappealing to me right now unless it's very sweet, salty, or sour
If you live in a place that gets colder and drier, pick up a cheap diffuser for that time of the year. I put about 5-10 sprays in mine and it lasts all day. I have something essentially the same as this one and it works so good. Even scents I don't like to wear at all are just fine to use as a room scent.