Why can't I taste or smell at all after a cold?

Help!!!! Cant taste or smell anything after sinus infection!!!?

• Hi I am 19 years of age and currently taking antibiotics for a pretty bad sinus infection. I have been sick for 7 days now and on the 2nd day of being sick I lost my sense of smell and taste!!! I can only smell certain things but its very hard for me to taste anything. This has made life very hard for me and I am quite miserable. I have no desire to eat anything but I know I have to eat something. I am starting to go into a deep depression because of this....i have long restless nights and I'm just not happy!!!! I wanted to know has anybody else experienced this, and if so how long did it last and what was the cure. Oan: I went to the doctor and she prescribed me some amoxicillin and rhinocort nasal spray but that is not working!!! :'( Please Help!!!!

• Answer:

  about 80%of the "taste" is actually part of the sense os smell. With the swelling and the white blood cells gathered in the area to fight the infection those sensory nerves are dulled and hidden in the swollen area. The Doc gave you thought spray and Amoxicillin to fight the infection and reduce the swelling but it will take 1 to 2 weeks before your sense of taste will return to normal (1 week to fight infection, 1 week to get the nerves back working right).