Smelling things that are not there????: Hi everyone... - Headway

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Smelling things that are not there????

Prettythings1 profile image
28 Replies

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well!!!

Right I have been noticing this occasionally in the past month; I keep smelling a flowery scent simalee to roses and lilies and theres no flowers anywhere?

Does anyone know why

i am slightly parinoid and concerned now!!!!!

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Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1
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28 Replies
angelite profile image
angelite

Hi Prettythings,

I will give you a link I have used before to a good website that offers explanations to many of our stranger symptoms. I can relate to many of these, especially during acute illness and still have some even now in later recovery.

Please note that it is an MS site but I am not suggesting that anyone has this - all brain function problems share many common symptoms.I had suspected Encephalitis and many of it's effects were similar to MS, with elements of Parkinsonism and Dystonia too . A real mixed bag ! : )

At least flowers is more pleasant than some other possible things ! !

Hope this helps to alleviate your worry,

Kind regards, Angela x

medhelp.org/tags/health_pag...

Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1 in reply toangelite

Hi Angela, a very intresting article, love the e poem at the top of it, very helpful you are a star xxx

cat3 profile image
cat3 in reply toPrettythings1

You're always coming up with stuff I haven't heard for years Angela.................the rhyme is the latest ; brilliant !! xx

angelite profile image
angelite in reply tocat3

Yes, I remembered the rhyme too when I saw it - The version I was taught at school was slightly different but I find it's a good feeling to recognise some of the older stuff I knew when much of my later memory can be rather a black hole ! : )) x

angelite profile image
angelite in reply toPrettythings1

Hi again, just read your profile and realised that you have epilepsy - phantom odours ( 'Phantosmia' ) is apparently also a common aura in epilepsy and migraine sufferers. Perhaps you can rule a pattern in/out if you notice whether you get this before a migraine or seizure activity ? x

cat3 profile image
cat3

I don't really question these things any more and I empathise with the invasive smells ; they can waft across me when I'm sitting alone in the house and they're often pervasive and last from minutes to hours.

I've had a distorted sense of smell since just prior to my SAH and now, three & half years on, I'm used to smelling 'phantom' smells, especially the sweet ones. Many are so fragrant that I don't want them to stop.

I can only assume it's my damaged brain interpreting things wrongly and I do know that the three other patients in my ward all had olfactory disturbances after their brain issues.

Obviously if you're really worried about this you need to speak to a neurologist, but I've been told over the years to simply let it be.

Hope this helps reassure you a little. ;-) x

Gaia_rising profile image
Gaia_rising

Ah! I've had the 'mouse in the house' for YEARS, except it's a spider with me, and, when it gets really bad, the bloody thing creeps over my face. I really like spiders, but not when I can't 'see' them!

My migraine aura used to come on with visual disturbance, and pins and needles in my hands and face... now, post-BI, I have a weird phantom pain in my bum, along with all the other strangeness. Brain, you're a pain in the bum!

Valerie72 profile image
Valerie72

I get hyacinths......no idea

Danslatete profile image
Danslatete

I'd rather get smells of roses than the electrical burning smell I get! I go from room to room looking the source of the smell! It s happened at work too. Imagine going around a school looking for fire!

angelite profile image
angelite in reply toDanslatete

Yes, we have to go hunting if we smell anything burning !

My odd hearing means that I constantly mistake the toilet tank filling for taps left running - I'm off hunting since we both have naff short term memories and are prone to leaving taps on : ))

malalatete profile image
malalatete in reply toangelite

I left a tap on in the bathroom yesterday (had a bit of an accident prone day) and only noticed as the water started coming under the door through to the kitchen....oh well needed to wash the floor and rugs anyway.

angelite profile image
angelite in reply tomalalatete

Oh, Gosh, Mal - I hope no permanent damage and it dries out soon. I have a timer plug that helps us to not have huge bills by leaving the electric fire on but I'm not sure what options there are for taps - maybe something like the Press type you find in commercial buildings ? ( aren't they annoying ! ) I will have to look this up now, my curiosity is aroused ! Knowing that we are a bit autopilot with taps,electric items,doors, gates etc tends to make you a bit OCD after a while and I tend to keep checking after myself and my partner for peace of mind ! x

malalatete profile image
malalatete in reply toangelite

No, no damage done - fortunately it is a wet room off the kitchen so water just flowed through nicely. Water bill will be horrendous this quarter - we discovered an underground leak this Tues....

malalatete profile image
malalatete in reply toDanslatete

When I smell burning it usually is...I have 8 saucepans, all burned within the last year. Last night it was my sewing machine, but the straining motor, the bang and the clouds of smoke showed it wasnt imaginary! I dont tend to smell things but do see things that aren't there - mice and indeterminate creatures running across my field of vision.

sporan profile image
sporan

Hi Prettythings,

I get the same thing from my tumour (don't panic as others here have said it's quite common with any brain injury).

Unfortunately the smells I get are very musky and suffocating and also the scent of real flowers can almost be suffocating s have to avoid them. Weird or what!

You're not alone.

razyheath43 profile image
razyheath43

ask who is making the smell? ust saying it could be paranormal i get spirit smells allot! thought i would sugest a differant idea

Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1 in reply torazyheath43

Scary Zi googled it and an article mentioned the precencebof spirts im terried xxx

sporan profile image
sporan in reply torazyheath43

If they're paranormal then given the suffacating musk I get coming through it's time for a quick excorsism!

Oh and I'm now burning the Ouiji board! ;-)

angelite profile image
angelite in reply torazyheath43

If you ask this in my house my partner looks guilty and blames the dog ! : ))

amateurwriter profile image
amateurwriter

I get phantom smells at the most random times and places, I smelt burnt toast when I was in the toilet room a few days ago but no where else in the house, I also smell mint chops when we haven't cooked any for ages,

I'm slightly inclined to agree with razy about my phantom smells being paranormal not saying everyone's will be but I believe mine are partly paranormal, I believe that when I smell these that my nan is with me in spirit, my nan loved mint chops and she also said that burnt toast tasted a lot better than regular toast and I do agree with the toast.

Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1 in reply toamateurwriter

Wow supernatural,?!i read that about flowery smells and ghost which terrifys me!!!!! X

amateurwriter profile image
amateurwriter in reply toPrettythings1

Just a thought, have you had a loved one pass away and that person love flowers? I find it a real comfort to smell mint chops and burnt toast even though some people wouldn't because some people think it's an early sign on a stroke smelling burnt toast, I find it a real comfort because I know my nan is still with me in spirit and it makes me smile and I speak to her, ok I don't get a reply but I enjoy having chats with my nan :) x

Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1 in reply toamateurwriter

Yes but they dodnt luke flowers xx

amateurwriter profile image
amateurwriter in reply toPrettythings1

Do you like flowers, and they know you like flowers? just a thought, I hope you find out why you keep getting phantom smells xx

gymrat1279 profile image
gymrat1279

hi prettythings 1 I have had my accident over 18 yrs ago and I have the same problem, apparently I was told they are remembered smells if I see a BBQ I smell sausages etc cooking , I can smell tarmac when they are doing the road , which is amazing when I have no sense of smell and very little sense of taste.

so what you have is probably the last or nearly the last smell before your brain injury, could be worse I have to be careful I don't stand in dog mess

Prettythings1 profile image
Prettythings1 in reply togymrat1279

Interesting!

No I dont think its that because my smell senses were not effected by my BI there are no flowers in my house yet i smell it in various rooms in my house at work etc I don't kbow why!!!!!

Ususlly smell it when I am tired and at night etc xx

razyheath43 profile image
razyheath43

no need to be frightned! simply ask good luck

Moon_Glitter profile image
Moon_Glitter

The strange smell out of no where started for me two days ago. I dont have the words for its in depth description...

All i can tell you is its a wretched smell, that will send me rushing to the powder room to vomit.

The smell is Everywhere, and even on things, my clothes. My hair. Bed clothing..

Just everywhere, even outside. Its keeping me ill.

Im going to my gp tueday im going to bring this up and hopefully get a cat scan.

Just a side note: before this started i had been up a total of 72 hours, with no sleep... im wondering if maybe this has been the cause?

Have your own experiences let me know I'd like to hear about them and if you have any ideas about what might be going on with me drop me a line.

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