My thoughts and observations...
(This is from my thoughts and my observations. I am not a medical professional and I do not give medical advice. Treatment and recovery vary depending on the cause. Please consult with your doctor for medical advise.)
I developed parosmia from an upper respiratory virus before Covid was a well known word. Some medical professionals didn't know what parosmia was and there was little help available for it. I felt like people thought I was making it up. I was constantly avoiding going to any public place because of the bad smells. Going to a restaurant was difficult because there wasn't much on the menu that I could eat. I felt out of place in public because I had to cover my mouth and nose with a scarf before it was a thing.
Who would have thought by March of 2020 the world would be on quarantine from a virus... A very contagious, sometimes deadly virus. And then, anosmia (loosing the sense of smell) became a symptom of Covid. And... when those people were recovering from anosmia, some of them developed parosmia, just like I have. Huh...
Now, 2021, wearing a mask is a requirement everywhere, which I kinda like because I don't feel out of place in public anymore. Parosmia is getting more popular. Not that anyone wants this popular problem. If I had the choice, I would take anosmia over parosmia any time. Be careful what you wish for because smelling nothing is way better than smelling burning, chemicals everywhere.
Although I am not a medical professional, from what I've heard, from those who have anosmia/parosmia because of Covid, seem to be recovering faster than those of us who had anosmia/parosmia before Covid. So that's good news for Covid patients. Another promising outcome is that there is new research for parosmia and maybe more treatments options will result in the future. Which would be terrific for everyone!
I realize there are other more serious medical issues that some Covid patients develop. But, parosmia is here too. An invisible disability that needs attention and awareness.
PS, if you see me driving alone and wearing a mask, just remember it's because of my parosmia and not the Covid virus.
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