Behind her radiant face hides a woman at the end of her nerves.Sandrine, 51, contracted the covid virus in her workplace.She is a nurse in operating room at the Martinique University Hospital Center.
Overnight, his life changed.
I had zero disease, zero treatment and I practice sport daily.But the covid does not sort.
Sandrine, nurse.
Sandrine has breakfast.Oatmeal, dried fruits, almond milk.As per usual.But that day...A major surprise awaits him.
I went to bed the day before with smell and taste and I woke up with...nothing.I tried to find taste for toothpaste, I ate mustard...nothing.I called SOS doctors, did the test and put sick leave.I was positive.
Sandrine, nurse.
"I was afraid"
Sandrine led a very active professional life, passionate about her job as a nurse.A healthy life around sport and a balanced diet.
This virus put it down.Healing for 4 months, she has not found the taste or smell.A real penance.A crossing of the desert which affects its morale and its health.
When she discovers the results of her online test on the internet, alone in front of her computer, she vacillates.She is positive.
An ARS (Regional Health Agency) agent calls it the next day.A Sunday.Full isolation, she announces the news to her spouse.Fear in the belly.
I was afraid when I read the results.I was also afraid for my spouse and for both of us.He took a step back, it hurt me but I still felt supported from afar.After 3 days, I called my chief of chum and I cried all the tears of my body.
Sandrine, nurse.
"I eat to live"
After 9 days, Sandrine can resume "her life before".At least she believes it.
If she puts her sneakers again to run again, breathe in the open air, she does not find her taste or her smell.
6 months after being healed, I did not find my taste or smell.Today I eat to live.My partner makes me local juices.There is only the pastry that passes.The others are bland, without taste.Morale begins to be reached.
Sandrine, nurse.
"You have to live it to believe it"
Sandrine was not aware of the importance of these two senses.
I love chocolate apple but no taste.You have to live it to believe it.I didn't think a virus could do this damage.And yet I am a nurse.
She leaves to join her parents in France last April.
My parents wanted to please me but I felt all the eyes riveted on my table reactions.I still took a semblance of distant flavor except for spices.It was encouraging.
"A smell in my mouth"
Another symptom appears.After anosmia (loss of taste and smell) comes the cacosmia.A disorder defined by the perception of unpleasant or fetid odors without there being odors of this type in the external environment of the patient and without dysfunction of his olfactory system.
A horrible smell in my mouth.Insupportable.To erase it, I make a menthol mouthwash but the smell persists.it smells bad.It's horrible.
©ColPriThe long covid
Tired, Sandrine is reducing a test to check if she is reached again from COVID.The results are negative.But doctors diagnose a long covid.
She no longer has covid but keeps symptoms, anosmia and cacosmia.
Back to her work, she is gradually isolate herself.The meal smells of his colleagues are unbearable to him.In the operating room, the smells are foul.She wants to vomit.
I felt like nobody took me seriously.That no one listened to me then I farted my lead.I who treat patients, I felt misunderstood.
A Chum infectiousologist advises him an ENT.She passes an MRI (imaging by magnetic resonance) cerebral then undertakes an olfactory rehabilitation at the Mangot-Vulcin hospital.
Reprogram the brain
With its small bottle of essential oil in hand which helps it scare away the bad smells felt.Sandrine explains.
These bad smells are activated by all cooking and heated dishes.The smell of coffee is unbearable to me as well as the smell of cigarettes.I have to eat in an odorless room and the rehabilitator of the senses advised me to speak to my food.The brain must understand, that brain cells regenerate.I feel everything I put in the mouth.The process is long but it is the only rehabilitation I know.
A solidarity entourage
Sandrine has resumed her full -time work but can no longer ensure for the moment all the penalty on the boyfriend.
My colleagues are understanding and united and share the on -calls that I cannot insure.When we are in the block and I do not feel good, I signal to my colleagues so that they put a little bit of lavender essential oil on my mask.
She advises the population even more to respect barriers and to wear a mask.While waiting to be healed, she displays her hunting temperament.
This virus is not trivial but I am a fighter.And then I have a gourmet dream, savor a strawberry pie when my senses come back.
This loss of taste and smell would affect a million French people after being healed from the COVID.
In Montpellier, a clinic detects and takes care.A first in France.
The Clémentville de Montpellier clinic detects and supports patients with "Long Cavid" after a complete assessment made in a few hours.
