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What Causes An Altered Sense Of Smell?
Hello. I am a 71 year old caucasian female who had a total knee replacement on August 22, 13 days ago. At about the 9 day post op period, I began to experience a very unpleasant odor and it won t go away. It s a kind of rubbery anesceptic smell. It has affected my appetite. I have lost 10 pounds in 13 days. I m feeling depressed as well and I m thinking that might be due to this awful olfactory sensation. Any advice?
Fri, 19 Jan 2018
Hi, with such presentations on my clinic I would first check your nose independent from your Knee replacement operation.
1. The most common thing for such problems is an infection like acute sinusitis. In this case in the endoscopic view of the nose it should be pus flow.
2. If you have problems with your nose breathing and frequently sinusitis maybe its a conical sinusitis. In this case the sinus mucosa protrudes into nose where the smelling column is located and so that you can't smell properly.
3. When there are collateral symptoms like weight loss or night sweat, tumors should be in focus. Tumors located in nasopharynx may cause problems with smelling and weight loss.
I suggest you to first have a check by ENP Doctor. A smelling test for objectivity should be done. In case of an Infection you may take antibiotics (Amoxicillin 750 mg 1-1-1) combined with decongestant nose drops (Otriven 2/d)
In case of chronic sinusitis with polyposis you should take cortisone spray for more than 1 month and p.o. 20mg for at least 1 week.
If your problems persist you should do a CT-Scan of your face skull for further diagnosis. It would be good to exclude point 3 as well.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Wish you good health.
1. The most common thing for such problems is an infection like acute sinusitis. In this case in the endoscopic view of the nose it should be pus flow.
2. If you have problems with your nose breathing and frequently sinusitis maybe its a conical sinusitis. In this case the sinus mucosa protrudes into nose where the smelling column is located and so that you can't smell properly.
3. When there are collateral symptoms like weight loss or night sweat, tumors should be in focus. Tumors located in nasopharynx may cause problems with smelling and weight loss.
I suggest you to first have a check by ENP Doctor. A smelling test for objectivity should be done. In case of an Infection you may take antibiotics (Amoxicillin 750 mg 1-1-1) combined with decongestant nose drops (Otriven 2/d)
In case of chronic sinusitis with polyposis you should take cortisone spray for more than 1 month and p.o. 20mg for at least 1 week.
If your problems persist you should do a CT-Scan of your face skull for further diagnosis. It would be good to exclude point 3 as well.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Wish you good health.
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