Rotten smell and post nasal drip
I’m sorry if I’m not posting in the right place but I’ve seen several similar posts here and figured id reach out as none really seen to be like mine. I have no congestión and I haven’t been diagnosed with a sinus infection. I had a mild cold without much congestión a few weeks ago. During the height of the cold, i noticed when i inhaled sharply through my nose, a distinct onion smell was present in my left nostril only. A week later, it turned into the smell of rotting vegetables or meat but only when i either inhaled or bent down. A post nasal drip started shortly there after. I can’t “taste” it, but it feels sour, and I have had a decreased appetite since. No one else can smell it and it apparently hasn’t impacted my breath.
It’s now been about two weeks. The smell/drip not constant, and in fact I thought it was gone yesterday until i laid down for bed and the drip and smell started again. When i woke up this morning, i felt a cold sensation in my left nose and have had intermittent sneezing and tingling today as well as some light popping with movement.
I have zero congestión and the smell is only in my left nostril. It feels very high up in my nose as my nose isn’t even running and the dripping is only in my throat. I used a saline flush once a few days ago when the smell was at its most intense but it didn’t seem to change anything as I could still smell it right afterward. I am worried i have an infection. My doctor was dismissive and said it I was side effect of cold that would go away. Waiting on appointment with ent in a few weeks, but in the meantime wondering if anyone knows why I would have this with no other symptoms.
The last sinus infection I had was 15 years ago, and it was bad and lasted for months with thick mucus coming out of my eyes and nose. But I haven’t had one since nor have I had major problems with congestión. I do wake up a few times a month for the past few years with a headache in my left temple going to the back of my head occasionally when I sleep too long, or when I’m dehydrated. I didn’t make any connection, but woke up with one of those this morning so thought it could be. Lastly, I did take a Covid test when I was sick. My husband insists it’s dangerous to use the cutip swabs for those tests at home and thinks that’s why i have this. I am a bit dismissive of that myself, but thought it was worth mentioning.
Any help is greatly appreciated this is so gross and I don’t want it to turn into anything else