To be petrified after googling symptoms

[coco2891]

Hiya, have smelt imaginary smoke for 4 days now, it's really strong and putting me off my food -literally like sitting next to someone smoking a strong cigarette. Sat in bed I can smell it now 😖 Going to call docs tomorrow. I'm baffled because it's just so random and ridiculous! My husband and children can't smell a thing so it's all in my head !! Googled my symptoms and it's coming back with a brain tumour or MS or ghosts ?!? Anyone had the same ? I know some ppl have funny smells during pregnancy but it's definitely not that.

[22Giraffes]

Do you/have you had a cold? Blocked sinuses can make things taste and smell funny. Try not to scare yourself with Google!

[coco2891]

Bout a week and a half ago I did have a blocked nose for a couple of days 🤔 but to have this as a follow on seems so strange !

[coco2891]

And thanks yes I try not to google illness related stuff but this is like nothing I've ever experienced 😮

[LakieLady]

My sense of smell (which is very good anyway) gets incredibly sensitive when I'm getting a migraine, but I've always been able to find a reason for the smell I can smell.

Could it be that you can smell something which is actually there, but so subtle that you've never smelt it before?

My friend says she smells weird and non-existent smells when she's going to get a migraine, but I think she's like me and gets very sensitive so she can smell stuff other people can't.

[coco2891]

My sinuses very clear now tho 🤷‍♀️ x

[coco2891]

Nope absolutely no reason -not been near anyone smoking

[Montybojangles]

What are you googling?? Does this help? www.nhs.uk/conditions/phantosmia/

[ZippyBungleandGeorge]

Are you sure your husband hasn't had a sneaky cigarette or been around a smoker? Not sure how old your children are but same questions for any teens. I have a nose like a bloodhound, and it was heightened even further in pregnancy, just a thought....

[Notanalien]

I get this smoke smell every time I have a certain type of cold and it often brings a feeling of my ears being blocked and I can get quite dizzy with it. One time it developed into full blown labyrinthitis which was initially quite scary as the dizzy spells are unpredictable and make day to day life difficult and it took weeks to clear, but at the same time it was reassuring that it wasn't anything more serious. My sinuses were swollen from an infection and this affected my ears, sense of smell and balance, yet I didn't have a blocked nose - the issue was further back if you see what I mean! Now I often know I have a cold/vague infection because this smoke smell seems to be first thing to appear. Make an appointment with your doctor, I'm sure they will be able to reassure you.

[MyKingdomForBrie]

What montybojangles said!

[Yekrats]

100% you are smelling ghosts. They all smoke, not much else to do in the afterlife.

[clairemcnam]

Is the smell stronger in one nostril?

[HarryHarry]

My husband had this and unfortunately it was MS. But I’m sure it’s not in your case! Do you have any other symptoms?

[polarpig]

Has it been foggy a lot recently? In some areas, particularly in a hollow it smells smoky when it's foggy

[Smotheroffive]

Smell of burning? Or cigerette smoke?

I'd heard that smell of burnt toast is one of strokes?

Have your wiring checked out?

I have a dog-nose and can smell drivers in front of me smoking, or passing the house.

[LonelyMouse]

I don't want to worry you but this can very very rarely also be a type of seizure.

I'd also say a cold or silent migraine is a possibility. I often get a weird taste before one.

[TeddiesAreTakingOver]

Omg I’ve had this on and off for a few years, never heard anyone else mention it before. I never used to think much of it, I googled it a while ago and it I don’t really remember what I read but I know I wasn’t concerned. But I never seen anything about MS or brain tumours! Now I’m worried too!

[clairemcnam]

Teddies If you have no other symptoms, I would not worry. Most causes of this are minor.

[cloudymelonade]

I get this quite often, reoccurring allergy rhinitis.

[dirtylittlemonsters]

Just to add another possibility into the mix... I get this too and I've discovered it related to my thyroid.I get recurrent attacks of thyroiditis and the smoke smell can last for days. My other symptoms are heart palpitations, bleeding gums and hair loss but you can get all sorts when it comes to the thyroid!

[sashh]

I'm not adding any suggestions just a point I have mad before.

Say you are hanging a picture and you end up hitting your thumb with a hammer.

The following day you have a bruise and swelling on your thumb.

If you go to Dr Google and ask, "what causes swelling and bruising o a thumb" it will give you hundreds of responses and they will include some very weird and horrible diseases. Cancer will almost inevitably be in there.

The one thing that will not be in there is, 'hitting with a hammer'.

This applies to any symptoms, google brings up the weird and wonderful, the unusual and the most interesting, but frequently not the most obvious cause.

[BlitheringIdiots]

When I was recovering from a particularly bad cold my nose was very sensitive to smell and everything that had vinegar in it i could smell to the point it was unbearable. I was able to identify foods that I didn't know had vinegar in! Like packaged bread. It went after couple weeks