Phantom smell

[ThePresence]

For the past 3 days I have constantly been smelling exhaust fumes wherever I am. Nobody else smells it. It's constant and pretty frigging annoying. Obviously it's not a real smell, but my brain thinks it is. Called the doc, he has no idea, says I should come in. If this is still going on Monday, I will. Never experienced anything like this before, has anyone else here?

 

[rcpratt]

/House

Brain tumor.

/House

 

[beach2nd]

Try inhaling some wasabi?

 

[Drako]

Obligatory "Pull your head out of your ass".

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Brain tumor or stroke or something like that.

 

[Saint Nick]

Maybe you've had a stroke?

 

[ThePresence]

Maybe you've had a stroke?

I would probably notice.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I would probably notice.

You're noticing a smell that's not there right now aren't you?

 

[PottedMeat]

I agree with brain tumor/stroke assessment.

If we get more people on board we can get you to a mob doc ( crooked vet ) and get you fixed up.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Where ever you are? Where are you? How do you know you are actually there?

 

[Texashiker]

Something in your clothes washing detergent.

I have a couple of shirts that have a funny smell to them. Nobody else can smell it but me. Its a really annoying smell, to the point where I do not wear those shirts.

 

[Azraele]

I googled it and came up with this response in a discussion thread. (taken from http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Allergy/I-smell-exhaust-fumes-all-the-time/show/1245562)

"Hi, smelling exhaust fumes or such strange smell can be present in certain conditions and it is termed as Parosmia (abhorrent odor perception).

It is usually associated with rhinosinusitis, head trauma, viral infection, or oral problems.

It frequently disappears with successful treatment of the above mentioned conditions.

Apart from treatment of the cause or in conditions wherein the cause remains unknown, in such conditions Anti seizure or anti epileptic medication like clonazepam against prescription is sometimes helpful esp. in persistent cases.

You can use scented wax or incense sticks before sleeping. You also need to maintain good sleep hygiene.

I suggest you to consult ENT specialist to rule out the cause. Take care and regards. "

 

[trmiv]

I get the same thing with smelling cigarette smoke when I get nasal congestion. When the congestion clears up the smell goes away.

 

[Born2bwire]

Head trauma is a good diagnosis I think. Lord knows given the behavior of so many posters on the forums I would think that a various array of head trauma and mental defects can be found.

 

[ThePresence]

I googled it and came up with this response in a discussion thread. (taken from http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Allergy/I-smell-exhaust-fumes-all-the-time/show/1245562)

"Hi, smelling exhaust fumes or such strange smell can be present in certain conditions and it is termed as Parosmia (abhorrent odor perception).

It is usually associated with rhinosinusitis, head trauma, viral infection, or oral problems.

It frequently disappears with successful treatment of the above mentioned conditions.

Apart from treatment of the cause or in conditions wherein the cause remains unknown, in such conditions Anti seizure or anti epileptic medication like clonazepam against prescription is sometimes helpful esp. in persistent cases.

You can use scented wax or incense sticks before sleeping. You also need to maintain good sleep hygiene.

I suggest you to consult ENT specialist to rule out the cause. Take care and regards. "

Good info, thanks.

 

[ThePresence]

I get the same thing with smelling cigarette smoke when I get nasal congestion. When the congestion clears up the smell goes away.

Although I don't really feel congested I will take a decongestant. Hopefully it works. Thanks.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

The Presence has Phantom Smell...

Does anyone else find this highly amusing?

 

[Born2bwire]

The Presence has Phantom Smell...

Does anyone else find this highly amusing?

Sounds like the title to an old radio drama or Saturday morning serial.

 

[ShawnD1]

/House

Brain tumor.

/House

Sounds more like schizophrenia to me :hmm:

 

[rcpratt]

Sounds more like schizophrenia to me :hmm:

Lupus?

 

[bignateyk]

Another vote for brain tumor and/or stroke.

 

[jonks]

Look around for a little japanese girl in a dress holding a doll or jumping rope or otherwise doing something vaguely surreal. If she's horribly burned, there's your source.

 

[Squisher]

I went through this with cigarette smoke (something I abhor) about a year ago. I started out by telling the wife, "I think I have a brain tumor". It took a good 6-8 weeks before it went away.

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Lupus?

It's never lupus.