everything smells bad

[yuckyuckyuck1]

bit of a weird one but been bothering me for a while! I had surgery whilst awake (local anaesthetic, no sedation so I was fully aware during it). I lost a decent amount of blood and had a large area of tissue basically cut off. I was awake and aware throughout it but the worst part was the smell. I dont know if it was the blood, or the tissue being cut, but I have never smelled anything so utterly revolting in my life. it was a really strong burned metallic smell but it was unbelievably strong and at one point they had to pause the surgery because I was lying flat and nearly vomitted from the smell

anyway, ever since then ive really become really intolerant to strong smells. metallic smells are the worst, but even other smells like strong food or chemicals make me physically wretch. Smells that previously would have been a bit unpleasant but still bearable are not absolutely revolting to me and its as if everything smells 200x stronger and worse now!

has anyone ever had this? I really want to try and desensitise myself to smells again but I haven't even the faintest clue where to start!

It will go in time, its a reaction to the trauma and the anaesthetic. I also get phantom smells in my nose, theres a word for it that I cant be bothered to look up, its annoying.

it would have been the cauterizing of the blood vessels. so yes exactly right burning smell and blood contains iron (heme) gives that particular metallic scent.

I also had this as a reaction to trauma (following a traumatic birth where I nearly bled to death). For a few weeks afterwards my smell was much stronger. Anything with a blood or a metallic smell (so, for example, changing my sanitary towel as I was still bleeding from birth) was enough to make me vomit or even make me pass out. It went away in time, but I remember clearly how strange it was.

It’s a traumatic response to the intense smell of blood. I promise you it will go, I had the same after I had FESS surgery. Ironically FESS removed my sense of smell of pretty much everything else, but the metallic tang remained. I know the exact smell you mean. I promise it will ease. Do you have a diffuser? Getting one to pump some nice essential oil notes while you sleep might help. Have a look at Argos for the diffuser and Sainsbury Habitat for the oils.

I had the exact same with my period as well, was very odd.

that's interesting because it was my period I had a really particularly strong reaction too as well!!! I use tampons and change regularly so there's never even a smell , but post surgery since having my period ive been absolutely revolted by the smell, even though it doesn't even smell!!

According to a professional who did a small area of scarification (body modification) on a friend (no judgements please) every person has a different smell. I would agree with others and say that your experience is linked to trauma. You have not mentioned your age, but from experience pre menopausal Phantosmia is a real thing. I started out smelling flowers and soap which was fine, but then progressed onto cigarette smoke, cat pee and cannabis which was not and was very horrible.

@yuckyuckyuck1, it does sound exactly like my experience. For me, it did fade in time (actually, immediately after my birth I was so traumatized that I thought I would be a changed person forever, a shadow of my former self, but within a month I was feeling much better and now, several years later, can barely remember the trauma). I think the smell thing went after a couple of months.
I hope you are recovering well from your op.

@Diversion I have phantosmia which also started around the same time as my menopause, I had an MRI scan to check for tumours but all was clear. I've had a wide range of smells over the years, some quite nice and others unpleasant. It's very annoying as I never know if the smell is real or imagined until I'm in different settings e.g., work, my car, outdoors, if the smell is in all of them then know it's just my phantosmia.