Seeing your doctor is the best place to start if something has happened to your sense of smell. Because smell loss often goes unreported, some doctors are not aware how much the condition can affect your life. This article aims to help you think about what you want to say. You might want to take down some notes based on the following points:
This is what happened to you
It started on (date)
You think it started because (Covid? Head injury? Problems with your sinuses?)
How would you describe your symptoms? Has it gotten worse or better?
This is how you are affected
Giving specifics will help your doctor understand your condition better and you can also try using a scale of 1-10 to give him or her an idea of the severity of your smell problem.
Physically – how does it affect your body? Are you having trouble eating? Gaining/losing weight?
Emotionally – how does it affect your feelings? Apprehensive, worried, frustrated, isolated are common feelings experience by those with smell loss.
Socially – how does it affect your relationships with family and friends? Be as specific as you can. Does it affect your work?
Your ideas/thoughts
What do you want out of this consultation? Would you like further help? Dietary advice can help you maintain good nutrition, especially if you find it hard to eat high protein foods. Mental health counselling can also be helpful.
Your Plan of Action
Because smell loss often changes over time, it is useful to keep a diary so you and your doctor can understand your experience.
