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I’ve Had A Horrible Smell And Taste That Comes And
Question: I’ve had a horrible smell and taste that comes and goes. It’s been happening for at least 4 years but the last 2 years has been a lot worse.
It now happens 2-3 times a day. When it started, I could do a sinus rinse and it would get rid of it. Now I have to sniff in while doing the sinus rinse to get rid of it. And sometimes it takes doing that a lot to get rid of it.
I cough up a lot of clear jelly like phlegm with grey/green spots in them. When smushed the green/green look almost hair like.
I also have terrible inflammation when getting up in the morning in my sinuses. I can breathe a bit through my nose while laying down, but as soon as I stand up they clog. I have to do the sniffing sinus rinse to clear them. Sometimes otc nasal spray will open them up.
With the rinse I cough up more of the grey/green gunk I’m clear jelly.
I have seen an ENT and was told there’s nothing in my sinuses. He has put the camera up my nose to look at my sinuses twice and has done a CT scan which I was told was fine.
I’m wondering now if it’s coming from where’s my ears and sinuses connect since sniffing in the fluids seem to help. I’m desperate and need relief from this.
It now happens 2-3 times a day. When it started, I could do a sinus rinse and it would get rid of it. Now I have to sniff in while doing the sinus rinse to get rid of it. And sometimes it takes doing that a lot to get rid of it.
I cough up a lot of clear jelly like phlegm with grey/green spots in them. When smushed the green/green look almost hair like.
I also have terrible inflammation when getting up in the morning in my sinuses. I can breathe a bit through my nose while laying down, but as soon as I stand up they clog. I have to do the sniffing sinus rinse to clear them. Sometimes otc nasal spray will open them up.
With the rinse I cough up more of the grey/green gunk I’m clear jelly.
I have seen an ENT and was told there’s nothing in my sinuses. He has put the camera up my nose to look at my sinuses twice and has done a CT scan which I was told was fine.
I’m wondering now if it’s coming from where’s my ears and sinuses connect since sniffing in the fluids seem to help. I’m desperate and need relief from this.
I’ve had a horrible smell and taste that comes and goes. It’s been happening for at least 4 years but the last 2 years has been a lot worse.
It now happens 2-3 times a day. When it started, I could do a sinus rinse and it would get rid of it. Now I have to sniff in while doing the sinus rinse to get rid of it. And sometimes it takes doing that a lot to get rid of it.
I cough up a lot of clear jelly like phlegm with grey/green spots in them. When smushed the green/green look almost hair like.
I also have terrible inflammation when getting up in the morning in my sinuses. I can breathe a bit through my nose while laying down, but as soon as I stand up they clog. I have to do the sniffing sinus rinse to clear them. Sometimes otc nasal spray will open them up.
With the rinse I cough up more of the grey/green gunk I’m clear jelly.
I have seen an ENT and was told there’s nothing in my sinuses. He has put the camera up my nose to look at my sinuses twice and has done a CT scan which I was told was fine.
I’m wondering now if it’s coming from where’s my ears and sinuses connect since sniffing in the fluids seem to help. I’m desperate and need relief from this.
It now happens 2-3 times a day. When it started, I could do a sinus rinse and it would get rid of it. Now I have to sniff in while doing the sinus rinse to get rid of it. And sometimes it takes doing that a lot to get rid of it.
I cough up a lot of clear jelly like phlegm with grey/green spots in them. When smushed the green/green look almost hair like.
I also have terrible inflammation when getting up in the morning in my sinuses. I can breathe a bit through my nose while laying down, but as soon as I stand up they clog. I have to do the sniffing sinus rinse to clear them. Sometimes otc nasal spray will open them up.
With the rinse I cough up more of the grey/green gunk I’m clear jelly.
I have seen an ENT and was told there’s nothing in my sinuses. He has put the camera up my nose to look at my sinuses twice and has done a CT scan which I was told was fine.
I’m wondering now if it’s coming from where’s my ears and sinuses connect since sniffing in the fluids seem to help. I’m desperate and need relief from this.
Brief Answer:
Chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
1. There is normally a continuous layer of mucus originating in the sinuses flowing through the nose, into the throat. Similarly mucus from the lungs moves into the throat from where it is swallowed or thrown out. Tiny cilia beat in a predetermined pattern to clear this mucus, which helps create a barrier, humidify and also carry away contaminants.
2. When there is stasis, allergy, infection, inflammation, this mucus flow slows down, thickens and the contaminants (eg. pollution, dust, pollen, animal dander, house dust components, etc), sometimes infection (which may be fungal, bacterial or viral)and dead white blood cells add to the problem. Dehydration, allergy, nasal obstruction, auto-immune disorders, harsh weather, stress, biofilm formation and so many other reasons add to this.
3. This kind of mucus also causes odd smells that come and go. This is because there is the diffusion of air in and out of the sinuses; not direct ventilation. Such symptoms are fairly common and affect the Quality of Life (QoL).
4. Get these secretions examined. Nasal smears for staining and examination including for fungus, bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, allergy tests (IgE, IgG based), skin prick tests, autoimmune workup, and a chest x-ray. Audiometry tests should be done. These include an Impedance Audiogram (I/A or Tympanogram) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA).
5. If your audiometry tests are normal, the eustachian tubes and ears will not be an issue. However, being lined by the same mucosal lining, some changes are bound to be there.
6. You can continue your current medication and nasal washes until the results are available. I would like to know in detail how you prepare and use your nasal wash. There could be a problem there. Do you have images or a video of your nasal endoscopy and a few relevant CT images (not the report)? Sometimes MRI Scans can pick up what CT Scans miss in the sinuses.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
1. There is normally a continuous layer of mucus originating in the sinuses flowing through the nose, into the throat. Similarly mucus from the lungs moves into the throat from where it is swallowed or thrown out. Tiny cilia beat in a predetermined pattern to clear this mucus, which helps create a barrier, humidify and also carry away contaminants.
2. When there is stasis, allergy, infection, inflammation, this mucus flow slows down, thickens and the contaminants (eg. pollution, dust, pollen, animal dander, house dust components, etc), sometimes infection (which may be fungal, bacterial or viral)and dead white blood cells add to the problem. Dehydration, allergy, nasal obstruction, auto-immune disorders, harsh weather, stress, biofilm formation and so many other reasons add to this.
3. This kind of mucus also causes odd smells that come and go. This is because there is the diffusion of air in and out of the sinuses; not direct ventilation. Such symptoms are fairly common and affect the Quality of Life (QoL).
4. Get these secretions examined. Nasal smears for staining and examination including for fungus, bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, allergy tests (IgE, IgG based), skin prick tests, autoimmune workup, and a chest x-ray. Audiometry tests should be done. These include an Impedance Audiogram (I/A or Tympanogram) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA).
5. If your audiometry tests are normal, the eustachian tubes and ears will not be an issue. However, being lined by the same mucosal lining, some changes are bound to be there.
6. You can continue your current medication and nasal washes until the results are available. I would like to know in detail how you prepare and use your nasal wash. There could be a problem there. Do you have images or a video of your nasal endoscopy and a few relevant CT images (not the report)? Sometimes MRI Scans can pick up what CT Scans miss in the sinuses.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
1. There is normally a continuous layer of mucus originating in the sinuses flowing through the nose, into the throat. Similarly mucus from the lungs moves into the throat from where it is swallowed or thrown out. Tiny cilia beat in a predetermined pattern to clear this mucus, which helps create a barrier, humidify and also carry away contaminants.
2. When there is stasis, allergy, infection, inflammation, this mucus flow slows down, thickens and the contaminants (eg. pollution, dust, pollen, animal dander, house dust components, etc), sometimes infection (which may be fungal, bacterial or viral)and dead white blood cells add to the problem. Dehydration, allergy, nasal obstruction, auto-immune disorders, harsh weather, stress, biofilm formation and so many other reasons add to this.
3. This kind of mucus also causes odd smells that come and go. This is because there is the diffusion of air in and out of the sinuses; not direct ventilation. Such symptoms are fairly common and affect the Quality of Life (QoL).
4. Get these secretions examined. Nasal smears for staining and examination including for fungus, bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, allergy tests (IgE, IgG based), skin prick tests, autoimmune workup, and a chest x-ray. Audiometry tests should be done. These include an Impedance Audiogram (I/A or Tympanogram) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA).
5. If your audiometry tests are normal, the eustachian tubes and ears will not be an issue. However, being lined by the same mucosal lining, some changes are bound to be there.
6. You can continue your current medication and nasal washes until the results are available. I would like to know in detail how you prepare and use your nasal wash. There could be a problem there. Do you have images or a video of your nasal endoscopy and a few relevant CT images (not the report)? Sometimes MRI Scans can pick up what CT Scans miss in the sinuses.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the query.
1. There is normally a continuous layer of mucus originating in the sinuses flowing through the nose, into the throat. Similarly mucus from the lungs moves into the throat from where it is swallowed or thrown out. Tiny cilia beat in a predetermined pattern to clear this mucus, which helps create a barrier, humidify and also carry away contaminants.
2. When there is stasis, allergy, infection, inflammation, this mucus flow slows down, thickens and the contaminants (eg. pollution, dust, pollen, animal dander, house dust components, etc), sometimes infection (which may be fungal, bacterial or viral)and dead white blood cells add to the problem. Dehydration, allergy, nasal obstruction, auto-immune disorders, harsh weather, stress, biofilm formation and so many other reasons add to this.
3. This kind of mucus also causes odd smells that come and go. This is because there is the diffusion of air in and out of the sinuses; not direct ventilation. Such symptoms are fairly common and affect the Quality of Life (QoL).
4. Get these secretions examined. Nasal smears for staining and examination including for fungus, bacterial culture and sensitivity tests, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests, allergy tests (IgE, IgG based), skin prick tests, autoimmune workup, and a chest x-ray. Audiometry tests should be done. These include an Impedance Audiogram (I/A or Tympanogram) and a Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA).
5. If your audiometry tests are normal, the eustachian tubes and ears will not be an issue. However, being lined by the same mucosal lining, some changes are bound to be there.
6. You can continue your current medication and nasal washes until the results are available. I would like to know in detail how you prepare and use your nasal wash. There could be a problem there. Do you have images or a video of your nasal endoscopy and a few relevant CT images (not the report)? Sometimes MRI Scans can pick up what CT Scans miss in the sinuses.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Hi,
I will ask my GP about those tests that you suggested.
Nasal smears i am assuming an ENT would do. Would sending the sputum i cough up be able to test for anything?
I have attached access to my imaging records. There is a Sinus CT as well as some head MRI's. The reports say that they are fine but the congestion continues. Could i still have the diffusion is the sinuses are areated?
I have noticed my sinuses overreact. I had to wear a face mask and my sinuses close up soon after putting a face mask on, no matter whether i breathe through my nose or mouth.
I will ask my GP about those tests that you suggested.
Nasal smears i am assuming an ENT would do. Would sending the sputum i cough up be able to test for anything?
I have attached access to my imaging records. There is a Sinus CT as well as some head MRI's. The reports say that they are fine but the congestion continues. Could i still have the diffusion is the sinuses are areated?
I have noticed my sinuses overreact. I had to wear a face mask and my sinuses close up soon after putting a face mask on, no matter whether i breathe through my nose or mouth.
Hi,
I will ask my GP about those tests that you suggested.
Nasal smears i am assuming an ENT would do. Would sending the sputum i cough up be able to test for anything?
I have attached access to my imaging records. There is a Sinus CT as well as some head MRI's. The reports say that they are fine but the congestion continues. Could i still have the diffusion is the sinuses are areated?
I have noticed my sinuses overreact. I had to wear a face mask and my sinuses close up soon after putting a face mask on, no matter whether i breathe through my nose or mouth.
I will ask my GP about those tests that you suggested.
Nasal smears i am assuming an ENT would do. Would sending the sputum i cough up be able to test for anything?
I have attached access to my imaging records. There is a Sinus CT as well as some head MRI's. The reports say that they are fine but the congestion continues. Could i still have the diffusion is the sinuses are areated?
I have noticed my sinuses overreact. I had to wear a face mask and my sinuses close up soon after putting a face mask on, no matter whether i breathe through my nose or mouth.
Brief Answer:
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for following up.
1. Yes, sputum can be processed as mentioned above for swabs.
2. Your imaging/ scans are within normal limits. Allergy can exist without signs of sinusitis.
3.The experience with he masks is due to allergy.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for following up.
1. Yes, sputum can be processed as mentioned above for swabs.
2. Your imaging/ scans are within normal limits. Allergy can exist without signs of sinusitis.
3.The experience with he masks is due to allergy.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for following up.
1. Yes, sputum can be processed as mentioned above for swabs.
2. Your imaging/ scans are within normal limits. Allergy can exist without signs of sinusitis.
3.The experience with he masks is due to allergy.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Details as discussed below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for following up.
1. Yes, sputum can be processed as mentioned above for swabs.
2. Your imaging/ scans are within normal limits. Allergy can exist without signs of sinusitis.
3.The experience with he masks is due to allergy.
Hope that I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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