RA / fibromyalgia bad smell and taste

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Grantsss@yahoo.com - 24 May 2006 19:33 GMT

Hello,

My wife has RA and fibromyalgia. She has been taking massive doses of
methotrexate and prednisone to control her symtoms. She has now
developed and exteme sense of bad smell and taste. I however cannot
smell this.

I am wondering if anyone has encountered this, if anyone knows the
cause and how to remedy it?

Confused ... Hubby

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Squirrely - 24 May 2006 20:25 GMT

Hi confused hubby,

bad sense of smell and taste could be from sinus and post nasal drip stuff
if she had allergy or cold symptoms. Is she having nasal problems. Does she
feel like stuff is going down the back of her throat.

Also I have noticed when on pred at times I get a funny taste in my mouth.
But then usually I also have sinus stuff and post nasal drip problems going
on. I am a very allergic type person.

It would be best to ask her dr about these things.

Others that take MTX might know more about that one, I don't take it, just
pred alot.

We are not drs so don't know for sure what the problem is but can give you
ideas of what to look for.

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Love and hugs Jo

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> Hello,
>
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>
> Confused ... Hubby

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Newsgroup Spambuster - 25 May 2006 00:32 GMT

Dear CH

You don't say what "massive doses" of methotrexate or prednisone is, so
am not sure exactly just how much of each med your wife is taking.
Normal amounts usually are around 15-25 mg of the methotrexate and any
where from
10-60 mg of prednisone can be considered normal. You also don't say
whether your wife is taking the methotrexate in pill form or by
injection, which can make a difference as well.

I can tell you from my own personal experience with both meds, that
sometimes the methotrexate (mtx) can cause or leave a sort of metallic
taste in your mouth. This, for me, usually will disappear if I drink
lots and lots of water to keep myself well hydrated, especially the day
of my mtx dose and the day after.

Often times when I am on doses of prednisone in the 40-60 mg range, my
taste will be completely off and will take a while to return to normal.
Not sure why that is, but it just happens, at least for me.

Neither med has caused me any problems with smell, but that doesn't mean
it can't happen. Your wife definitely needs to mention these issues to
her rheumatologist or who ever it is that is following her and treating
her for her RA.

Best of luck to the both of you!

Donna G

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DeeTee and Bob Taggart - 25 May 2006 13:25 GMT

I smell cigarette smoke sometimes when there's none around. It's from the
blood in my sinuses when it's really dry. I have chronic sinusitis and have
had for eons. When it gets really dry up in there, I get micro-cracks that
bleed a little and give me some really strange smells. At first I would go
to each window or piece of furniture looking for where the smell was coming
from until my hubby said there was no smell except in my own nose.

I know that doesn't really help a whole lot, but get her some PLAIN saline
nose spray and tell her to keep her sinuses wet (not dripping wet, just not
cracking dry). That does help.

DeeTee

> Hello,
>
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>
> Confused ... Hubby

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Navy1 - 30 May 2006 21:07 GMT

My mother-in-law used to get a metallic smell when she got a vitamin
B12 shot.

Loujean

>I smell cigarette smoke sometimes when there's none around. It's from the
>blood in my sinuses when it's really dry. I have chronic sinusitis and have
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>>
>> Confused ... Hubby

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