Got sick, now can't stand vinegar!

[chef k-dude]

Came down with a bug a week ago. Not sure which COVID it was (cold, Flu, Novel-19), we dont run to the doctor every time we get sick and the fever broke in a day. A lot of coughing though...still shaking it off. Wife got it pretty good too.

As we got more interested in eating again, we were going to make salads. Just opening a bottle of Italian dressing repulsed me, I couldn't stand the smell. didn't bother the wife though. The other day I decided to make some Balsamic vinaigrette, thinking it may have been the herbs in the Italian dressing and immediately, same thing, it smelled "acrid?". I then confirmed this sniffing some white vinegar....I cant stand vinegar now!

I've heard of people losing sense of taste with COVID, but I always lose sense of taste with a cold, anytime the sinuses are clogged its hard to taste anything because much of taste is smell. But specifically vinegar?

I searched it and there IS a known condition called "parosmia" associated with COVID and there were some conversations on Reddit about exactly the vinegar thing. Most people say it fades over time. I also noticed coffee smelled unusual and that is starting to return to normal already.

Not good! I love vinegar, pickles, etc. and even mustard with my corned beef and cabbage last night was affected by this.

Anyone ever experience something like that? Some years ago I got a touch of pneumonia that lasted a month. Since then, I cant stand the taste or smell of Kale cooking (dried kale chips, not a problem though). After my dad had his heart attack, he still cant stand the taste of spinach 22 years later and he had no problem with it before.

 

[DRKsmoking]

That would really suck. Sorry to hear. Hope it comes back for you.

I love vinegar on lots of things , and mostly my pickles.

David

 

[jcam222]

Parosmia is a fairly common symptom of COVID. Fortunately for most it involves loss of taste but clears up fairly quickly. Some with worse cases suffer not only loss of taste but also altered taste on some items making them bitter or just putrid. I've had a couple friends with that and it took a bit to clear up. Thankfully most people recover, here's to wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[JLinza]

I was sick a few weeks ago, never had a fever. But about a day after I started feeling better I noticed coffee tasting weird to me. Then just had this constant odd taste in my mouth. It went away in a few days for me. Don't know what it was, as I'm the same way... I have to be holding my own head in my hands to go to a Doctor lol.

 

[Astralogics]

Aww man, hate to hear that. How are tomatoes for you? Seems like acidic foods/drinks trigger it(?)
Hoping it gets better soon, that little tart kick is something I can't imagine missing out on.

 

[Hijack73]

That's how I was able to quit smoking so easily. I didn't have any plans or (truth be told) desire to quit. Something in my mouth or brain changed and all of a sudden I couldn't stand the taste of a cigarette any longer. I tried 6 or 8 different brands. Just couldn't do it. I don't know if I was sick around that time though.

 

[chef k-dude]

That would really suck. Sorry to hear. Hope it comes back for you.

I love vinegar on lots of things , and mostly my pickles.

David

I know, right?! I especially love pepperoncini with my lunch wraps and sandwiches!

Parosmia is a fairly common symptom of COVID. Fortunately for most it involves loss of taste but clears up fairly quickly. Some with worse cases suffer not only loss of taste but also altered taste on some items making them bitter or just putrid. I've had a couple friends with that and it took a bit to clear up. Thankfully most people recover, here's to wishing you a speedy recovery

Thanks. I'll report back if I can remember when/if it goes away.

I was sick a few weeks ago, never had a fever. But about a day after I started feeling better I noticed coffee tasting weird to me. Then just had this constant odd taste in my mouth. It went away in a few days for me. Don't know what it was, as I'm the same way... I have to be holding my own head in my hands to go to a Doctor lol.

Coffee was tasting weird/different to me too, now its getting back to normal. Other than antibiotics with a bacterial infection which some pneumonia can be caused by, there's not much the doctor can do for you other than tell you what everyone should know by now; rest, fluids, eat if you can...and what they wont tell you because it doesn't come from big pharma is studies actually proved the vapors from chicken soup actually does speed recovery. The nutrition from the soup is good too, but specifically the vapors...somehow...

I see a COVID med on TV but they say its for people at higher risk of bigger problems and thats not me. Why take a shower, drag my miserable butt to the doctor just to be told to go home and rest and drink fluids?!

Aww man, hate to hear that. How are tomatoes for you? Seems like acidic foods/drinks trigger it(?)
Hoping it gets better soon, that little tart kick is something I can't imagine missing out on.

Tomatoes are fine, its just the vinegar. But I did notice rice vinegar wasn't as bad last night when I made some dumpling sauce. Maybe rice vinegar isn't as strong, I'll have to look at the dilution rate on that.

That's how I was able to quit smoking so easily. I didn't have any plans or (truth be told) desire to quit. Something in my mouth or brain changed and all of a sudden I couldn't stand the taste of a cigarette any longer. I tried 6 or 8 different brands. Just couldn't do it. I don't know if I was sick around that time though.

Interesting you mentioned that. I'm not a heavy smoker but I like a couple self rolled cigs in the evenings (and a little something extra/special in small amounts). I self roll because its cheap and a pack of cigs goes stale by the time I get through it.

With the effect on the lungs this bug came with, smoking was out of the question. I'm using this as an opportunity to quit all smoking, at least for a while. Been thinking about it lately and this is an opportunity. Same with drinking. I drank way too much over the years, trying to use this as an opportunity to reset that situation as well!.

 

[chef k-dude]

Turns out the rice vinegar is 4.5% dilution, the weakest of my pantry. Red and white wine vinegar run 5%. Balsalmic, which I had hoped would be milder? Nope, 6%!

 

[WaterRat]

I had a similar incident also post covid (I was barely even sick, not even a bad cold) but my case was really sweet things like toothpaste, soda: Coke, mtn dew, etc… just tasted nasty. The good news is it mostly went away the bad is it took a while. I still don’t quite enjoy a coke like I used too. Bud Light is now undrinkable too (ok, it wasnt good before but it wasnt nasty to me), my Brother now finds Coors Light undrinkable after his covid, strange world.

 

[thirdeye]

Just opening a bottle of Italian dressing repulsed me, I couldn't stand the smell.

I wonder if you had a plain old cold, but with a sinus infection? That can throw off your sense of smell.

 

[jond36]

I got covid a few years back. Every time I got it I would lose taste. That was literally my only symptom every time. I felt great, but I couldn't taste. My taste and smell were off for a while, but it came back. There is hope things will change for the better.

 

[bigfurmn]

(Smart arse comment incoming) Have you tried it while sitting down???

 

[Fueling Around]

Both times I had the true flu my taste buds changed. Pneumonia after the second flu really sucked.
Had the Covid a number of years ago and only symptom was the taste and smell went completely flat. First taste back was anything with salt (even butter) completely gagged me. Lived on Golden Oreos for 2 months as the only thing I could stomach. Years later I do not like sweet.
No shots no re occurrence.

Wish you best on recovery.

 

[millerbuilds]

I had COVID in 2021 and certain things still smell different, the one I notice the most is dirt.... I did not notice vinegar. The other is peppers, the heat bothers me quite a bit compared to pre-COVID. I had to cut way back on the level of spice, when I go to Indian or Thai restaurants, I have to order mild, in the past I was medium or even Hot, now I can barely eat a Jalapeno without complaining.....

Weird stuff!
- Jason

 

[chef k-dude]

Just reporting back. Thankfully the aversion to vinegar HAS gone away! It took probably 2-3 weeks as did the cough to go away. Had my first salad with balsamic vinaigrette last night and I enjoyed it more than any salad in recent months. I had actually gotten tired of traditional lettuce based salads before getting sick, but now I'm stoked to have some salads again...so in the end, a positive result!

Downside is a month after coming down with whatever it was and "recovering" I never really gained my energy back and now my BP and heart rate is running high. Could be starting a whole new adventure now. Breaking down and calling the doc about it tomorrow.

Dang it! I have wood to split before the summer heat! Currently on light duty bieng real careful...I'm about the age my dad had his heart attack. Good news is, he is now 82!

 

[Ana Lewis]

That's how I was able to quit smoking so easily. I didn't have any plans or (truth be told) desire to quit. Something in my mouth or brain changed and all of a sudden I couldn't stand the taste of a cigarette any longer. I tried 6 or 8 different brands. Just couldn't do it. I don't know if I was sick around that time though.

​

That's actually pretty interesting our bodies have a weird way of telling us when enough’s enough. I had a bit more of a gradual process quitting and I’ve been using this app called PuffStats to keep track along the way. It’s been helpful just seeing the numbers and progress. it kind of keeps me grounded.