Sense of smell change?

[Worrysalot]

Hi everyone,

After having been away I'm back. I was doing better with my HA but it has come back with a vengeance. 

I have never really had brain tumor fears, it wasnt one of my usual cycle of worries. But the last few days I have noticed my sense of smell to be sharper on certain smells. It usually involves plastic, like when I opened a toy for my son. I noticed a strong plastic smell from it. My wife said it just smelled liked plastic but that is wasnt that strong.  I also notice it when opening a plastic package that has been sealed for a long time, like a toy or something similar.

Then this morning in my cube at the office I occasionally smelled some type of cleaner, maybe windex or something similar. But I asked and no one else smelled it and to my knowledge no cleaning has been done. I should note it has been slight and goes away quickly. But i have smelled it maybe 4 times for a few seconds in the last hour.

Thinking back, I remember a similar episode with my Air conditioner. I smelled it really sharply one night. My wife just said it was normal AC smell. 

Is this OCD/anxiety? I fixate on a smell and obsess on it? Or has my sense of smell become sharper due to some terrible disease?  I do have OCD and I absolutely fixate on things.

I didnt mean to symptom search but did come across "phamtom smells" being a possible symptom on this site.  For the record the "cleanign smell" this morning is the only "phantom" one I have come across so far. The others have just been sharper.

Anyone have any comforting words? Knowing me this weigh on my mind until I run to the doctor. Or symptom search in hopes of finding relief.

 

[mollyfin]

I'm seeing a neuro today with this as one of my symptoms.  But in the case of just smelling things more strongly, I don't think that is a brain thing.  Phantom scents is smelling things that aren't there. 

Migraines can cause a more sensitive sense of smell, as can hormonal changes. 

[Worrysalot]

Thanks for reply Molly. I'll try the wait and see approach. The problem with me is my HA and OCD are so strong I can convince myself of anything, including phantom smells. So far the only one other people havent smelled is the cleaning smell this morning. But it comes and goes and is very light. Im hoping I dont get more of them.   

Good luck on your appt today! I know you will feel better to have reassurance.

[mollyfin]

I'm hoping mine is just my mind playing tricks on me as well!  It's entirely possible in both of our cases I would say!

[sixpack]

a change in the way we percieve smells is NOT, NOT the same as phantom smells.  The phantom smells associated with brain tumors are actually simple partial seizures. Which means smelling something that isn't there.  My dad had simple partial seizures due to a tumor.  He smelled nail polish or nail polish remover.  Others may smell cake or whatever.  Brain tumors aggravate brains and this can cause seizures.  so that is the connection to phantom smells and tumors.   Be aware that people can simply have a seizure disorder (temporal lobe seizures) and end up with simple partial seizures ---they are just seizures that are sensory in nature.  Meaning they may have seizures but no tumor.  for example my eldest has a seizure disorder but doesn't have a brain tumor.

As molly said, phantom smells are often associated with auras before migraines.  AND phantom smells---not the seizure kind---are associated with anxiety too.  I've defnitely had phantom smells.  Then you have some folks that smell stuff that isn't there because they just do.  My sis in law asked about a smell in our house recently.  We smelled nothing.  She said "no matter I smell stuff nobody else does all of the time."

the way things smell or seem stronger can be anxiety related.  It is just a perception.  AND as we all know our anxious minds around here have pretty screwed up perceptions   

[miika]

I usually have bad sense of smell (sinuses, smoking). 5-6 years ago had an episode for maybe 2 weeks I could smell everything! It was crazy. Literally could tell what neighbour was cooking (while my wife could not smell a thing). It was kinda funny too, oh you`ve had this and that for a dinner today......and being right about it. so it was not imagined. I believe it was anxiety.