Got the RONA...no smell, no taste, no WINE!

PeterH · July 31, 2020, 7:50pm

I was wondering when we would hear from Berserkers hit by the COVID. I hope any who are come out on the other side like you to tell us about the experience.

Here is a link to a brief explanation about how COVID-19 disrupts supporting cells, not the receptor neurons themselves. That gives a lot more assurance that loss of smell is not permanent.

Philip_Ente · July 31, 2020, 7:55pm

This is my field.
We do not know for sure why there is olfactory dysfunction but the French experts feel it is due to epithelial modification rather than destruction of the olfactory sensory neurons, and this would be good news.This article from Harvard is pretty much saying the same thing. Try vitamin A daily .

Don’t know where you live but you could see Dr. Richard Doty of the ENT dept at University of Pennsylvania to see if he can do anything.

Chris_S_p_i_k_e_s · July 31, 2020, 8:02pm

My BIL just had it. Fortunately, no big deal for him and only 1 day of mild symptoms. Lost his sense of smell, but didn’t stop him from drinking wine for the 10 days after while quarantined at home. Smell came back towards the end and today he’s released back into the public.

Patrick_Stella · July 31, 2020, 8:15pm

Hi…remember me? Unfortunately contracted the 19 three weeks ago, started with headache and fever, then three days later flu fatigue, a burning sensation in the nasal…and lost ALL smell and taste! And I mean…totally gone! I won’t bore you with all the details…I wasn’t hospitalized, and was able to go back to work in 14 days. It is now 21 days, still not back to normal, but getting better. The loss of smell and taste started to come back after about 16 days…but still is not totally back yet. Have not had any wine in 21days since this one TN: 2017 Sandlands Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville) - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers. I tell you what…I am very thankful that none of my family contracted it, and that I wasn’t hit as hard as a lot of people who are really suffering or dying. But losing your taste and smell like that, and have read reports that it might be permanent (Anosmia)…a real sense of panic and depression sets in, wondering if you will ever be able to enjoy food and wine ever again!
So…I’m wondering who else has been going, or has gone, through this…and how long it took to get back your taste and smell? Did it come back 100%…have you noticed a change in the smell or taste of wine? And to keep this in the Wine Talk thread…what wine would you suggest that could kick the hell out of the anosmia, and get back your vinous life again?

Thanks, and hope to see you soon…

Hi Brian,

I’m sorry to hear about your illness. Here’s wishing you a full and speedy recovery and particularly a return to full taste and smell ASAP.

To share one data point for whatever it is worth, one person I know well who also works in the wine industry contracted covid and suffered full loss of smell and taste. That person took several weeks but made a very full recovery and I know has been drinking lots of great wine recently without missing a beat. I hope that it provides a little comfort to know other wine folks have come back from it with full taste and smell restored.

Greg_K · July 31, 2020, 8:21pm

Very sorry to hear that Brian, I hope you recovery fully!

Brian_Tuite · July 31, 2020, 8:25pm

Hi…remember me? Unfortunately contracted the 19 three weeks ago, started with headache and fever, then three days later flu fatigue, a burning sensation in the nasal…and lost ALL smell and taste! And I mean…totally gone! I won’t bore you with all the details…I wasn’t hospitalized, and was able to go back to work in 14 days. It is now 21 days, still not back to normal, but getting better. The loss of smell and taste started to come back after about 16 days…but still is not totally back yet. Have not had any wine in 21days since this one TN: 2017 Sandlands Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville) - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers. I tell you what…I am very thankful that none of my family contracted it, and that I wasn’t hit as hard as a lot of people who are really suffering or dying. But losing your taste and smell like that, and have read reports that it might be permanent (Anosmia)…a real sense of panic and depression sets in, wondering if you will ever be able to enjoy food and wine ever again!
So…I’m wondering who else has been going, or has gone, through this…and how long it took to get back your taste and smell? Did it come back 100%…have you noticed a change in the smell or taste of wine? And to keep this in the Wine Talk thread…what wine would you suggest that could kick the hell out of the anosmia, and get back your vinous life again?

Thanks, and hope to see you soon…

From one Brian to another here’s hoping everything returns to normal for you. This thing scares the crap out of me and I have to be out in the public 5 days a week interacting with customers son it’s always in the back of my mind.

Neal.Mollen · July 31, 2020, 8:27pm

Hi…remember me? Unfortunately contracted the 19 three weeks ago, started with headache and fever, then three days later flu fatigue, a burning sensation in the nasal…and lost ALL smell and taste! And I mean…totally gone! I won’t bore you with all the details…I wasn’t hospitalized, and was able to go back to work in 14 days. It is now 21 days, still not back to normal, but getting better. The loss of smell and taste started to come back after about 16 days…but still is not totally back yet. Have not had any wine in 21days since this one TN: 2017 Sandlands Merlot (USA, California, Napa Valley, Coombsville) - WINE TALK - WineBerserkers. I tell you what…I am very thankful that none of my family contracted it, and that I wasn’t hit as hard as a lot of people who are really suffering or dying. But losing your taste and smell like that, and have read reports that it might be permanent (Anosmia)…a real sense of panic and depression sets in, wondering if you will ever be able to enjoy food and wine ever again!
So…I’m wondering who else has been going, or has gone, through this…and how long it took to get back your taste and smell? Did it come back 100%…have you noticed a change in the smell or taste of wine? And to keep this in the Wine Talk thread…what wine would you suggest that could kick the hell out of the anosmia, and get back your vinous life again?

Thanks, and hope to see you soon…

Hi Brian,

I’m sorry to hear about your illness. Here’s wishing you a full and speedy recovery and particularly a return to full taste and smell ASAP.

To share one data point for whatever it is worth, one person I know well who also works in the wine industry contracted covid and suffered full loss of smell and taste. That person took several weeks but made a very full recovery and I know has been drinking lots of great wine recently without missing a beat. I hope that it provides a little comfort to know other wine folks have come back from it with full taste and smell restored.

My sister and her partner both had 19, bad, and both had anosmia. Both are back to normal now.

Pau1_M3nk3s · July 31, 2020, 8:43pm

Glad you are recovering Buzz!

Larry_Link · July 31, 2020, 9:30pm

Glad to hear you are on the mend Buzz. Have you been able to trace back to where you were exposed to the virus? Turn around time for testing is indeed a joke. Did you quarantine yourself after you got the symptoms and were tested?

Dav3_Dyr0ff · July 31, 2020, 9:33pm

Dang, Buzz, sorry to hear that but glad to hear that you’re on the way back. Here’s to a 100% recovery!

T_Altmayer · July 31, 2020, 9:40pm

Feel better soon Buzz, glad to hear you on are the mend. Can’t wait to read your first tasting note back.

Steve_Gautier · July 31, 2020, 9:58pm

Looking forward to your first tasting note when back. Glad to hear you are heading in the right direction.

B_Buzzini · July 31, 2020, 10:18pm

Peter/Larry…most likely from work. I am a finance mgr at a high volume auto dealer, so we see a LOT of people come through the dealership. Even though we mandate face coverings, cleaning crew 3 times a day, shields on desks…and we even have a couple power sprayers that we spray down desks and chairs after each customer…I’m pretty sure that’s where I got it. Ironically being the resident germophobe…I’m the only one that has come down with it…out of 100 people in our sales dept. I was on my second day off(of 4) when the symptoms started, so I self q’d at home(too sick to work) for two weeks. Amazing that my family didn’t get it. But I did my best to stay away from them. They called me the Boy in the Bubble!

Joshua_Kates · July 31, 2020, 10:26pm

Glad you’re getting better, hope you’re back to the razor-sharp whites soon!

B_Buzzini · July 31, 2020, 10:30pm

Wife just had me open your Cinsault Rose’…maybe I’ll try to see if I can smell and taste it!

Dave_McIsaac · July 31, 2020, 10:47pm

Another Steeler fan here with well wishes for a complete return to health.

We need more 99 point tasting notes!!

PS - it took a week for my testing results to come back, which made it over 2 weeks since I was exposed to it. Fortunately, I was negative.

Peter_C · July 31, 2020, 10:54pm

Glad to hear you are on the mend Buzz. Have you been able to trace back to where you were exposed to the virus? Turn around time for testing is indeed a joke. Did you quarantine yourself after you got the symptoms and were tested?

Thanks everyone, appreciate the well wishes! Btw, the testing for covid is a joke! Took 15days for my results to come back. So much for the contact tracers…

Wow! Glad you’re ok but as a fellow Steelers fan, it makes sense you kicked Covid’s tail

Any sense (no pun intended) on how you were infected or no clue?

Peter/Larry…most likely from work. I am a finance mgr at a high volume auto dealer, so we see a LOT of people come through the dealership. Even though we mandate face coverings, cleaning crew 3 times a day, shields on desks…and we even have a couple power sprayers that we spray down desks and chairs after each customer…I’m pretty sure that’s where I got it. Ironically being the resident germophobe…I’m the only one that has come down with it…out of 100 people in our sales dept. I was on my second day off(of 4) when the symptoms started, so I self q’d at home(too sick to work) for two weeks. Amazing that my family didn’t get it. But I did my best to stay away from them. They called me the Boy in the Bubble!

I’m the same way, I do everything to prevent from catching even a cold and so this has me super freaked out. Glad you’re OK!

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · July 31, 2020, 11:17pm

Buzz, hoping you have a full recovery. I didn’t know you were a Steelers fan.

Dave_McIsaac · July 31, 2020, 11:42pm

Yep, he is one of the smart ones…

Doug_Lee · August 1, 2020, 12:03am

Buzz,

So glad you are on the mend. The time arc of your recovery provides a lot of hope for a very good prognosis. Keep us posted, as you are now a human data point (and a great TN writer)!

Very best wishes,
Doug