I keep smelling burning paper.

[sobs1962]

Since yesterday, I have this smell of burning paper . It comes and goes, but have read this may spell something serious like epilepsy, dementia or impending stroke. Anyone else experienced this and if so, any idea what it might be?

Any advice would be very comforting.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There have been quite a few posts here over the years about phantosmia - getting the sensation of a smell when it doesn't really exist. All too often, the reported smell is some sort of burning, often tobacco, but can be anything.

I used to be convinced I could smell someone smoking in circumstances where it was impossible!

Here are a few previous posts:

Horrible burning wood smell in my nose

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I can smell lavender when not wearing or being near it, should I worry

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Getting the smell of petrol Everytime I breath

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Is it my thyroid?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Confused

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Burning smell, heel pain & weight loss

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Smelling Smoke

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I stink

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Prednisolone, levothyroxine and taking it with food

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

THYROID AND MENOPAUSE TOGETHER.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Phantom smells

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Phantom smells...?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[sobs1962 in reply to helvella]

Thanks for that, it would appear, I'm not the only one who has had this problem, that is reasonably reassuring but if it continues and happens often, I will consult my GP but will try to stop worrying about it as dr Google is such a scaremonger.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to sobs1962]

I have personal experience that it can resolve!

It just got less and less frequent, and less and less intense - but it took a long time to get to the point where I really do think it has gone.

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

That sounds very positive. After I and family members had COVID . We all to some degree smelled garbage. I asked around and many experienced experienced the same symptom after COVID.

[Bellaowl in reply to sobs1962]

I get phantom smells which are associated with migraine eg smelling bacon cooking when I’m vegetarian.

It’s often an early sign like an aura warning me to medicate.

Over many yrs the early auras have changed.

Bella🦉

[Marz]

A possible sinus infection ?

[Workingitout]

Something strange happens to my sense of smell after eating raw carrots. At first l thought l was losing my sense of smell and might have Covid, but then linked it to happening each time l had eaten raw carrots!

[APAscot]

I had the same problem for a couple of years and wasn’t sure if it was down to my thyroid as it seemed to coincide with my diagnosis. However, I did have very blocked sinus which could be seen on my regular MRI scans. Not totally convinced it was sinus. I could smell stale ashtrays as in a pub but also kerosene as if on a runway. I think they have vanished but I now seem to smell sewage/blocked drains. All very unpleasant.

[sobs1962 in reply to APAscot]

It appears to have gone now, think it was a side effect of metropolol.

[APAscot]

Great

[Timetraveler67]

Hi I’ve had these phantom smells for around 20 years now, convinced my neighbour was baking cakes at midnight and when I asked her she laughed and said she’s never baked in her life, then it was burnt toast, after that it was bonfire smoke. I spoke to my gp about it and she asked if anything happens to me when I smell these things and when I said no, she said why worry then. It went away for some months but now it’s back again and the last 2 days I’ve been smelling the cakes baking smell again. I wish, as you do that I knew what caused this, just to add I’ve not had covid.

[sobs1962 in reply to Timetraveler67]

I don't think I've had covid either as have never had symptoms but have never tested myself either as would be in panic mode if I did as have copd. It appears to have gone away now hopefully.

[Anthea55]

I’m just reading a book called “A Smell of Burning The story of Epilepsy” by Colin Grant. He’s a doctor whose younger brother is epileptic. Some people get phantom smells just before a fit.Book found in the Libby app for the area library which has been very useful during lockdown.