Webmay 16, 2023 · a stroke may seem to come on suddenly but, in some situations, there may be warning signs before a stroke happens, such as a severe headache or a tia. Weblike many effects of stroke, taste and smell changes can recover in the first few weeks and months after a stroke. Websmelling burnt toast isn't a definitive sign of a stroke. Instead, it's typically a phantom smell, known as phantosmia, caused by various medical conditions, such as sinus infections. Webjul 27, 2017 · smell. There is a fairly common misconception that if you smell something that is not there (such as burnt toast) it is a sign of a stroke. This is not true 1.