Phantom Smells

[MightyMay]

Hello Everyone...I haven't written anything yin awhile but I'm experiencing like phantom smells and I was wondering if this is a hypothyroid symptom. I have just started taking omeprazole for my gerd and wondering if that could be the reason also. I'm smelling the scent of flowers and there are none. I do suffer from sinus issues and allergies, but just wondering if any of you have had this issue.

[TiggerMe]

Unusual to have excess stomach acid when hypo usually the opposite, omeprazole effects the uptake of levothyroxine so it would be a good idea to check your levels and see if you need a tweak

[MightyMay in reply to TiggerMe]

Hello TiggerMe...I probably do. My T3 never gets as high as it should be, even though I'm taking liothyronine along with Synthroid.

[janeroar]

It’s asking your doctor. It might be sinus related, after Covid people are reporting weird affects on how they smell things. But it can also be linked to stroke/neurological issues so it’s worth checking it out.

[MightyMay in reply to janeroar]

Hello Janeroar...I do have sinus issues. I used some sinus medication that my doctor prescribed and it seemed to be helping; two squirts in each nostril.

[Agitator23]

I've been on medication for GERD/reflux for years. I've recently discovered that hypothyroidism causes your LES - lower eosophageal sphinctor, the muscle that closes and opens top of your stomach, to become weak and relaxed. This means stomach acid can escape the stomach into your gullet and throat. I've had a cough and hoarse voice for years and now think this is the reason.So, I think it's probably possible to have low stomach acid and still have reflux symptoms 🙄

[arTistapple in reply to Agitator23]

Whilst I wholly agree with your assessment; that sense of reflux can also come from simply ‘inflammation’ in the oesophagus caused by being generally under medicated for hypothyroidism. I noticed this result fairly recently. I have had loads of experience of this problem. Reflux symptoms which refused to be ameliorated by using antacids? I have found that certain foods were definitely a problem and it seems that different patients have different ‘irritations’. Sugar is my main one which I avoid as best I can but fats are definitely OK - in fact a heavy fat meal will settle mine. Too much bread used to be another but I avoid it now. So a further ‘tune in’ might be useful too.

[Agitator23 in reply to arTistapple]

Definitely. Reflux is more complex than just one cause. May be a combination of many factors. Weak sphinctor muscle to add into the possible mix!

[MightyMay in reply to Agitator23]

Hello Agitator23. I definitely have reflux symptoms; was diagnosed with Gerd. I just recently had an endoscopy.

[Agitator23 in reply to MightyMay]

Hi MightMay. Me too. They said I have a weak stomach sphinctor. It was put down to 'genetics' at the time but I'm questioning that now. I do know when my fT4 is low I get worse symptoms of GERD.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Suggest you have a read here:

helvella - Phantosmia or Phantom smells

This blog has links to many previous posts on this subject - but there will be others. I try to keep adding when new posts on the subject are posted. You will find many cross-references between posts.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[MightyMay in reply to helvella]

Thank you Helvella...interesting read. I believe mine is sinus related. I'm constantly hacking up mucus from my throat.

[Batty1]

Its not because of gerd meds … have you had covid in the past year or so?

[MightyMay in reply to Batty1]

I had covid in 2022.

[Batty1 in reply to MightyMay]

I had covid October 2022 and to this day I have random smells that no one else smells. I smell (burning odor and wet dog) its terrible and I never had this issue until I had Covid…. I usually get a migraine within a day or two of smelling these random smells ….I don't think it will ever go away.

[MightyMay in reply to Batty1]

OMGeee...I truly hope it does go away for both our sakes.

[Batty1 in reply to MightyMay]

Sorry I had Covid 2022 not 2023.