Burning smell

[dizzywench]

anyone else have burning rubber smell ??

[cat3]

Hi again Dizzy............. and YES, noxious smells have been the bane of my life since the SAH. Mine was 'burning plastic' originally and, as I'd heard this could be a pre-curser to a neurological issue, I spoke to my GP who laughed me out of her surgery and prescribed nasal drops.

Soon afterwards I had the haemorrhage...........and my consultant confirmed that rogue smells (Phantosmia) are commonly associated with all types of brain injury including Traumatic injury, Stroke, Tumour and Bleed on the brain.

And later in a 4 bed rehab ward, all the other three women had developed distinct olfactory issues since their SAHs. And we all agreed that our sense of taste had been equally 'corrupted'.

Some people claim the problem resolves itself in time (often years) but for me it's persisted (5 & half years). However, after the first couple of years I realised (as there wasn't a cure) that I was starting to manage it myself.

Previously favourite foods, such as roast lamb/mint sauce, all red meat, tomatoes and many more, had become sickeningly tainted with the chemical taste. So my diet is limited to fish, chicken and none-meat proteins, and I've started to enjoy food again.

The smell issue made me quite sad as I'd always used one particular perfume which was fresh & soapy smelling and which always lifted my spirits. But I had to shower it away to get rid of what (to me) had become a rancid & vile smell. But I later found that CK1 works fine !

I remember what a relief it was meeting others with the condition, if only to demistify something which others had never heard of up to that point.

Hope this helps a little bit m'love............. Cat x

[dizzywench in reply to cat3]

Thank you Cat

I had my sah last may and since my surgery ive not had a great sense of taste or smell if at all but over the last few days i have had a smell of melting rubber on and off sometimes just a few times a day rang my gp this morning to just see and they wanted me to go straight in for an appointment which i cant do as im at work so i will call in the morning to go in but i dont know what he will be able to do bit of a mystery

[paxo05]

It's a weird one this. I don't smell any constant smell but anything that is baking in the oven smells the same to me since my bi. The weird thing is it smells of heat...whatever that is. Is the best explanation I can come up with.

I can eat spicier things now and other things that I can't smell are gas and unless virtually covered in it is petrol. Yet the smell of a diesel car makes me sick even though I can hardly smell it.

Like Cat has said consultants tell you it will sort itself back eventually. Well been waiting 18 years and it ain't changed. I think you just adapt to your new level of taste and smell.

Luckily for me it really doesn't affect my diet...sometimes I wish it had then maybe I wouldn't eat so much.

Pax

[Towards_Healing]

Ha! I've had these burn smells for years. I have never found anyone who had experienced that, or any doctors who had ever heard of it. Like Paxo, there are smells I cannot smell either. As a kid, in the country sometimes a skunk's smell was encountered, and although my brothers and sisters would complain about the smell, I never smelled it... Interesting. I am adding this to my list of symptoms. Thanks everyone!

[cat3]

There are variations on the condition. Anosmia is loss of smell ; Phantosmia is the illusion of smell where there's no actual smell present, and Troposmia (my particular issue) is where smells (and tastes) are 'corrupted' making them unrecognisable.

As in Pax's case, certain smells don't register with me at all, for example I can't smell gas (slightly worrying) and most nasty odours seem to escape me.

Your GP might decide to test certain reflexes and look behind your eyes and, if concerned, might refer you for MRI ? Just guessing really, but do attend as he sounds to be on the ball and eager to get you checked out ASAP.

It might be a flare-up owing to other issues but seeing as you have a diligent GP I'd let him rule out anything potentially problematic. Let us know how you get on won't you ? xx

[maya72]

I am experiencing the smell on and off continuous after 4 month post op clipping. I went back to neurosurgeon they did an ct angiogram and blood test waiting torc results. It is very worrying. Is anybody experience just give us advice. Thank you.

[marzy31]

I lost my taste completely and then when it came back somewhat altered. Everything tasted wrong and brain interpreted this as being off so couldn't eat it. Now its like i have no idea of my likes and dislikes proving bit of a nightmare. However through all of this this time I have smelt burning regularly but its more like burning toast though.

[dizzywench]

Went to my gp today not my normal Dr and to be honest this guy is useless it wad like I was there for no reason hang on a minute the doctor I spoke to on the phone asked me to come in and the answer I get is well maybe that's your smell and taste coming back Thanks for that but if it was perhaps I could taste banoffee pie mmmmmm if only

ooo I do miss banoffee pie

[cat3 in reply to dizzywench]

Your original GP obviously thought it worth investigating Dizzy. Make an appointment with him specifically, even if it means an extra wait. Most GPs don't have a clue regarding brain issues. xx