Eating post-pleasure: a phenomenological exploration of loss, disgust and dislocation in the sensory worlds of individuals with persistent chemosensory dysfunction following COVID-19.

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the subjective experiences of individuals with persistent chemosensory dysfunction following COVID-19 illness. By exploring the perceptual and emotional dimensions of their altered sensory worlds, and using a realist phenomenological approach, the study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges these individuals face.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 patients undergoing treatment. A descriptive phenomenological approach was applied to analyse the interviews.

Results: Participants described profound emotional and sensory challenges following chemosensory dysfunction. 'Emotional Discontent' was a key theme, encompassing dissatisfaction, grief over the loss of sensory pleasure, and a sense of indifference toward food. The second theme, 'Sensory Aversion', highlighted participants' reports of discomfort and disgust toward previously enjoyable foods, which had become repellent or intolerable. The third theme, 'Perceptual Disorientation', captured the unpredictability of altered sensory experiences, with elusiveness reflecting the fleeting nature of perceptions and sensory alienation highlighting an intense disconnection from unfamiliar and unreliable senses.

Conclusion: Chemosensory dysfunction following COVID-19 disrupts embodied relationship with food, creating profound emotional challenges. Eating becomes a post-pleasure experience, shifting from a source of enjoyment to a merely functional act. Addressing this requires person-centered interventions that acknowledge the sensory and emotional dimensions of the condition.