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The most popular Products mentioned in /r/Parosmia:
![Munai Miracle Berry Tablets - [12 Count] Flavor Changing Tablets That are Natural, Non-GMO Formula Specially-Designed to Enhance Wellness and Quality of Life, Fast Activating Miracle Fruit Tablets](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41pcy5lqcVL._SL500_.jpg)
The most popular Services mentioned in /r/Parosmia:
The most popular reviews in /r/Parosmia:
My husband uses this unflavored protein powder. He blends it with vanilla two good yogurt, frozen blueberries, vanilla almond milk, and sometimes cinnamon to change it up. The protein powder is tasteless and not grainy which is really nice.
If u are based in America if u look up unflavored toothpaste on Amazon you will find one under oranurse. That's the one I have been using since this whole shenanigans. https://www.amazon.com/Oranurse-3659273-50ml-Unflavoured-Toothpaste/dp/B0085AOSU0 Hopefully the link qnd the toothpaste itself works for u!
This absolutely works. It's also mentioned in the FAQ. I used these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T44JWN7 because you get like 14 sets of them for under $10
I use the nose plugs that go inside your nose so all anyone sees is what looks like a plastic nose ring. You could try those instead. But I wouldn't worry too much. If I saw someone wearing a nose plug (and didn't have parosmia), I would maybe think "weird" and not give it a second thought.
I've had much better luck with plant-based meat alternatives and veggie/vegan options. A lot of restaurants either offer veggie burgers or can substitute out a beef patty with an imitation vegan one (like Burger King's impossible whopper). No guarantees that there won't be cross-contamination from the grill or fryer though, and there might still be other common parosmia triggers like onion to consider.
Doesn't help much for ambient smells though. Wearing a good thick mask seems to help me. Nose plugs also work, but they can be uncomfortable and awkward to use in public. Nose filters are a decent compromise. They don't completely block smells, but they're more discreet and they're easier to eat with since you can still breath through your nostrils while wearing them.
I do well with Maui Moisture the coconut milk shampoo and conditioner. Smells fine to me.
Maui Moisture Vegan Shampoo for Dry Hair, Coconut & Aloe Vera, 385 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CTRPQSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9QJ2J3QD1SEC7VA2PKDP?psc=1
I use nose filters like these when I want to be more discreet about blocking smells. They don't kill the smell/taste as well as nose clips, but they're less obvious. They're easier to eat/drink with too since you can still breathe through your nose.
I have this in my fridge (garlic): Hellfire Blueberry Hell Hot Sauce with Carolina Reaper Peppers, Gourmet, Award-Winning Fruit-Based Hot Sauce, 5 oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YG53VJ2/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_3WC3RTA572HP7Y2Q1K7Q
Didn't know Bravado's was garlic free. I'll give that a shot. I have aka miso but haven't tried it post-parosmia.
$45 seems steep for spice powders. What foods do you put it in?
Nose filters like these might be a good middle ground. They don't completely block smells and you can still breath through your nose with them in, so they're more comfortable to eat with, the caveat being that you do still get some of the distorted taste compared to actual clips. I mostly use them for the rare occasion where I'm stuck eating out in restaurants or want to be more discreet about blocking smells when there's other people around.
As for meal replacements, I've been going with bottled Soylent. None of the flavors I've tried are distorted for me, but I also can't taste them so I can't vouch for their normal flavor. You can get a 12-pack at a pretty decent price on Amazon if you look at the other sellers, sometimes there'll be listings for cases that have a Best By date coming up within a month or two for around $20-25. Otherwise they're pricey.
I'm not going to lie or hide the truth, it burns like hell the first few times you use, but with daily use it doesn't bother me.
This one: Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol, All-Natural Saline Nasal Spray for Sinus Rinse & Sinus Relief 1.5 fl oz (4 Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PZMS5A0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_BZW33CZYAR66B83J4N7Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I dont know if you can find this brand near where you live but these have been a great alternative. No "covid taste" as I like to call it. Taste great to me. Give them a try :)
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https://www.amazon.com/Vitners-Flaming-Crunchy-Chicago-Original/dp/B07B8Q1DPT
Munai Miracle Berry Tablets - [12 Count] Flavor Changing Tablets That are Natural, Non-GMO Formula Specially-Designed to Enhance Wellness and Quality of Life, Fast Activating Miracle Fruit Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L1EP5VM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_MKGEHGPVFFM26ESQ453Y?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/OPTIMUM-NUTRITION-Serious-Protein-Vanilla/dp/B000GIPJ02
- Milk
- Almond Butter
- Oats
- That powder there
Parosmia is still shitty overall but I've kept up my workout routine and gained muscle weight, even.
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.
Oh no, your metaphor's a really good one! In a way I can kind of get it. I've noticed that since I mostly lost my sense of smell that even when I do smell something correctly/normally, it starts to get to me since everything else is so muted in comparison that it seems way stronger and it'll make me feel sick the longer it lingers. But it at least doesn't seep through pipes or walls and I can get away if I have to. There's always that threshold where enough of anything becomes... too much, and it's downright frustrating when your "threshold" differs from everyone else's. It's good to hear that food is alright for you, at least.
You've probably already tried a lot of this, but I wonder if some of the workarounds people have posted here for coping with parosmia might also overlap with lessening your hyperosmia. Like, with parosmia mint toothpaste is commonly distorted, but cinnamon flavored toothpaste seems to be okay for a lot of people, for instance. If I know I'm going to be out where I'll be exposed to something I can't tolerate (chicken is the absolute worst), like a restaurant, I use nose filters like these to help discreetly block some of the smell and make it more manageable. People here have also found a lot of temporary relief by wearing swimming nose clips to completely block the distorted smell/taste while eating. With how strong your sense of smell is I'm not sure that either of those options would make much of a difference especially at home (and even if they did, nose clips are so uncomfortable to wear and the filters would get expensive), but maybe combined with a good mask they might at least make it a bit easier to go out and about. I can't even imagine having to deal with smells at home from the neighbors though, or how to go about mitigating them. Maybe an air purifier with a good carbon filter would help control the spread?
I'm not sure how to link to another post so I'll just give the Amazon link here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082RYPFZS/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Q6X9NS1YYJ8NS0NF2478?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 the op on that post said they had used it once and they were already enjoying foods that had been bad for them previously. I'm slightly more hopeful because their parosmia has also been long term, around 9 months I believe.
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
I don't seem to have parosmia as bad as a lot of people around here, but I never really got my sense of smell/taste back post-covid so I'm guessing that's probably part of it. Meat (especially chicken) and eggs are my main problem smells/tastes, so I've mostly switched to plant-based alternatives which have generally been working well for me. I can't really taste anything with them, but they're at least not distorted like the real stuff, and hot sauce makes up for the lack of flavor. Things like soaps and detergents are also off, but I can deal with that. They tend to be kind of burnt or vinegary to me when they're distorted.
Smells from other people's meals can be an issue though, especially in restaurants, so if it's really bad I use nose filters like these to help block it, nose clips work better but they're more obvious and uncomfortable. Recently I've been testing out an air purifier in my kitchen and that does seem to help as well. If I absolutely need a break, I'd still much rather be outside with rancid fresh air than inside with cooking chicken though! I just can't deal with both smells at once lol.
The same thing happened to me two months after COVID. I was really losing it for a few days but wearing a nose clip while I eat saved me from insanity. I've seen a lot of people give up on them because they're uncomfortable and you have to train yourself to breathe through your mouth while you eat. But if you can get used to it, it's well worth it. It seemed like my taste was what was skewed but it was actually my smell and when I wear the nose clip things taste like they used to- albeit a bit dulled. I've tried a bunch of different clips and this has been by far the most comfortable for me. I guess it doesn't work for everyone but best of luck! It really is a shitty situation and it does seem like people don't realize just how horrible the "smell" is.
Maybe an air purifier would make a difference? Haven't gotten around to seriously testing it out myself, but I'd imagine it would help control odors if you're able to keep one running in the kitchen.
I've been using nostril filters like these when smells are unavoidable and I want to be more discreet in dealing with them (compared to something like actual nose clips). They don't completely block out smells, but maybe they'd block whatever is managing to get through your mask. Definitely not an ideal solution though.
What sauces are you trying out? I've been going down the rabbit hole as well, I have barely any taste (outside of the distortions) but the heat's become its own sort of flavor for me. Keeps food interesting for sure.
My current go-tos are Marie Sharp's Red Hornet and Karma Sauce's Funken Hot for intensity, but I've also been enjoying Yellowbird's Habanero and Ghost Pepper sauces for general use since they have a lower heat level and smooth consistency that seems to go well with anything. Just bought this set of pepper powders for when I want straight heat, and even picked up some carolina reaper infused maple syrup. I think I'm at the point where everything needs to be spicy lol.
It's a bit pricey, but this is the only toothpaste I've found that I can use.
Revitin Natural Prebiotic Oral Care Toothpaste - 3.4oz - 1 tube 1 pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0749J1PT5/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_QZS3YGZS2KEE826VM8KD
Yep! I still don't have most of my sense of taste back (aside from the distortions) so I can't really vouch for how they normally taste, but plant-based meat alternatives have been generally working for me while regular meat/eggs are distorted, and texture-wise I really can't tell the difference. Gardein has a lot of variety and their products have been pretty reliable for me. Just Egg is another good one, they sell a liquid that you can cook up like scrambled eggs or an omelet, and they also have frozen patties that are great for breakfast sandwiches. Garlic and onion might potentially be a concern though.
If anyone needs Thanksgiving ideas, Gardein's turk'y cutlets work for me, and Whole Food's holiday roast was also pretty good (though the included gravy was questionable for me so I might just try making my own).
I've used nose filters a few times at restaurants when I don't want to stick out wearing nose clips. They don't completely block smells, but they significantly reduce them.
Amazon had Evolve protein shakes on sale a few weeks ago so I bought their chocolate and vanilla flavors to try out, they both work for me. They're vegan and only have a handful of ingredients, so they seem pretty parosmia friendly.
These are the ones I got. Ordered them along with a nasal spray bottle just because spray is more comfortable than drops for me. Micellized Vitamin A Liquid 5000 IU VIT A Per Drop - Vitamin A Palmitate & Beta Carotene Drops - Eye & Immune Support - Hypoallergenic Bioavailable Liquid Supplement (1 oz / 600 Servings) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JP675O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_E0CT4SH9GC6ENZWJ8JEF
Amazon. They come from Germany. I'm buying them from Spain. But they are regular a vitamin, just using liquid form instead of oral pills.
They work but it takes some adjustment learning how to use them while eating/drinking. I can't really taste anything to begin with aside from trigger foods, so I'm not missing out on anything flavor-wise when I wear them.
I ordered a pack of these nose filters a while back since they're a more discreet way of blocking smells (and you can breathe through them). I haven't tested them intensively, but they did seem to help a lot the handful of times I've tried them.
This free Android app might be of interest to you and your followers. It facilitates the process of #smelltraining for #anosmia and #parosmia.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.smellsense
This free Android app might be of interest to you and your followers. It facilitates the process of #smelltraining for #anosmia and #parosmia.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.smellsense
The 1st one is the one that I used. It works great but it is a little uncomfortable. I just ordered the 2nd one.
TYR Ergo Swim Clip https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VGVL1W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_23D5FY1FGB8MRNND475F?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Stop Nosebleeds Epistaxis Clip Nose Bleed Stopper Nasal Clip Treatment 3 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3N16Y4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_7EATYMR97RNGTYJ6WVXM
It’s a basic allergy relief nasal spray that I ordered from Amazon. Please check with your doctor to see if it’s recommended before you use it. I will include the link for you below:
A lot of people dismisses it as something that you can ignore... I don't know if we can make them understand... This is a difficult thing to solve, but maybe you can try something else, I've found this nose filters in amazon https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Filters-Defense-Pollution-Replacement/dp/B07SCKTDWL
I bought some similar that I can get in my country, they reduce the smell, maybe they can help you for your wedding...
I would take 2 the bottle I have is 220mg but they are sold out right now
Omg this was me a few weeks ago. Firstly I am so so sorry. Not being able to eat a proper diet is so hard on your body and I definitely understand the loss of hope. Here are a few things I did that helped me (only physically). I bought a nose plug, there are some you can buy on Amazon that people use for swimming it’s like 8 bucks and it helps block out really bad smell. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095KIX82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_PkM.FbDKNBHWN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 I wear that anytime I eat. Things still taste off, but the plug blocks out the really putrid tastes. You can also just plug your nose with your hands to see if it works for you. I am usually able to eat most foods (as long as they’re not processed) when wearing the nose plug. Once I finish eating real food I’ll eat some cheese as a palette cleanser before taking off the plug.
I also had a really intense nausea problem, so I called my local clinic and had them prescribe me anti nausea medication. This was a life saver! Everything still tastes weird and bad, but I stopped puking constantly.
I also recommend eating raw fruits and vegetables (I’m sure you have already tried this but just in case). It’s not the most fulfilling food but it tastes less disgusting. Another thing that has helped me is eating everything cold, it’s a lot less flavorful meaning I can somewhat tolerate it.
I have also been really lucky to start acupuncture treatments, and they have also helped a lot. https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1575-acupuncture-restores-the-sense-of-smell If you are able to find an acupuncturist that is open, I’m sure they would be willing to trying this out.
Again I’m so sorry that this is happening to you. It’s horrible and lonely. If nothing here works and you just need to vent feel free to reach out to me, because I’ve been there and sometimes you just need to talk about it. I hope you feel better soon!