For a while there I was getting waves of what seemed like a stale cigarette smoke smell. At first I blamed my significant other because he smokes outside - but it wasn't quite his brand. Then it turns out only I could smell it and I would get this anywhere I was: work, driving, home. Lately, it's turned into a "need to clean the bathroom" smell even though the bathroom doesn't smell or I'm not near the bathroom when I smell it. And, it's not me that smells and I can't track it to anything.
So I was curious... what are other people's phantom smells?
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i've smelled everything from onions to pooo, yuck...
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
Smoke. I always think there is a fire some where near or that maybe I left something in the oven. It may sound rather gross but I often will scent what smells like C-diff out of nowhere! Ewe! Grosses me out when it happens.
I've had other times where I smell random things but it isn't ever anything pleasant! Why can't I randomly smell cookies baking?
Posted by scorpiogirl (Member # 31907) on :
Burnt electrical wires, dead rats, cigarettes, pee in the alley. But never anything pleasant though!! Posted by JeniferM (Member # 31996) on :
Unpleasant things... I wonder why that is? Weird.
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Consider an infection in your sinuses, mouth or throat. It took me years to figure out that I had a mycoplasma pneumonia infection -- well after the point of initial infection.
Two of Boston's "top" ENT docs in 2004 and 2005 dismissed my symptoms, including the phantom smells.
If they were more diagnostic, and better listeners, they could have prevented the worsening infection which took (more than) SIX years from my life.
In the meantime, consider a xylitol rinse several times daily as it works against biofilms. Xylitol helps get rid of sinus infections. Here's a great $11 investment:
No More Allergies, Asthma or Sinus Infections: The Revolutionary Approach
Yes, the stale cigarette smoke smell! I haven't had that in a while, but I remember getting that early on.
The probable reason that it's stopped for me is that I rinse my sinuses regularly.
Does anyone know if this is correlated to any particular coinfection?
Posted by tiredmom21 (Member # 28479) on :
I can't belive you started this thread. I totally smell cigarette smoke! I blame dh but then I smell it at work too. So bad it gives me a headache. I did test pos for myco pneu but never connected that to the smell. Good to have insight...will be doing the sinus rinses!
Posted by sleeping dog (Member # 27267) on :
in addition to the phantom smells (like fire and foul swampy water), i've also experienced changes in smells (all milk and yogurt smell spoiled) and hyper sensitivity to pleasant smells (like flowers, detergent, soap, and strawberries). at times, it has been so bad that i have pulled fresh sheets off my bed in the middle night and thrown away fresh flowers because the scent was overwhelming. has anyone else ad this? it's crazy. i ended up throwing away a lot of things and having to buy a lot of 'scent-free' products. the joys of lyme never end! smiles...
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Cigarette smoke.
Posted by FYRECRACKER (Member # 28568) on :
No lie, I was just saying to my mom that every few seconds i get a whiff of dirty/sweaty feet!!! GROSSS! lol
I am in a nice hotel and I can not pin the smell down from ANYthing!
I even JUST got out of the shower so I know its not me.... My feet don't ever stink anyway, I'm a girl Posted by discariot (Member # 27067) on :
Cigarette smoke, stale as well as fresh. Ammonia.
Posted by JeniferM (Member # 31996) on :
Yeah, my nose has gotten so sensitive that I've thrown away everything that contains added fragrance. I'm even down to bathing with plain baking soda and an extremely mild shampoo that I order over the internet. I can't even stand to be near others if they smell of soap, cologne/perfume, or even fabric softener. It's terrible!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
well it's the "outhouse" smell that really gets me. yuck...
Posted by Hambone (Member # 29535) on :
Holy cow!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been yapping at my husband for years now that I keep smelling cigarette smoke, and nobody here smokes and never has!!!!
He always says I'm crazy and he never smells anything.
I never have any sinus issues though. None. I seem to breathe just fine.
I just assumed I have a bionic smeller and maybe a neighbor is smoking. When I was pregnant 20 years ago, I could smell dog poop in a yard 5 houses down. I kid you not.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I smelled a dead rat for a long stretch. And sometimes I smelled smoke. Its better now though. I think it is a neuro lyme symptom.
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