- Anosmia
- Interviews
Donald Spong's interview
How did all start?
In 2005 I had a sinus infection (cold). My sense of smell went away during the infection and never returned.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I visited 2 different ear/nose/throat doctors for about 6 months following my loss of smell. After doing various tests (including cat-scans and a brain MRI) they did not identify a cause and classified it as ideopathetic.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
See above
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Knowing that my brain MRI showed no cancers, Parkinson’s disease, or Alzheimer’s disease.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Eating around others who are commenting on interesting food tastes
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
They’ve been supporting/understanding
What things have you stopped doing?
I pretty much continue doing the same things and eating the same foods
What do you think about the future?
I hope for a cure
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
Each period has had it’s own good features
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
It would be nice to taste foods again
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
I enjoy science, outdoor activities, family, and travel.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Learn to ignore it and focus on other aspects of food (texture, hot/cold, crunchiness, etc.)
