Strange smell sensation - what could it be?

[suebfg]

Hi,

On and off, I get this strange smell sensation in my nose - it's really hard to describe. It tends to come on if I'm tired or stressed and I have no other symptoms at all.

Does anyone know what it could be?

I would get this checked out. I don't want to worry you but I watched a programme once and a strange smell can sometimes be smelt before having a stroke. I'm not saying it could be this but best to get checked out.

Will do. It's very ad hoc and hasn't yet developed into anything more sinister but I will get it checked out.

I googled for you and it can be a burning smell like toast or someone said oranges. Some people also have smells before an epileptic seizure.

Funny thing is I was smelling different things, like marzipan then it was washing powder. Had a good night's sleep and it has gone now.

Have you got a cold or congestion?

I think I might have a cold coming on as I have been sneezing a bit and woke with a sore throat the other day

I often get weird smell sensations before getting a migraine. Sometimes during the migraine too. I get real sensitive to strong smells but can also smell weird smells that nobody else can. Do you get migraines or headaches? Often I get silent migraines with no pain but get a bunch of weird symptons - the smell thing is just one of them. Hope this helps.

I had sinusitis for the first time a couple of months ago. It came me a very odd smell sensation, which has not gone away yet.

I don't get migraines - just occasionally tension headaches.

How old are you? I'm 47 and get weird olfactory illusions like the smell of something burning, mentioned it on the menopause board, turns out quite a few other, ahem, mature MNers experience this as well.

I'm late thirties

Do you have any other perimenopausal symptoms?

I know someone whose first sign of pregnancy was smelling porridge.

The only other thing I get is that I am very pale the day before and the day I start my period. I put this down to having a significant blood transfusion when having DS1. Don't think this is perimenopausal but not sure ...

I get a much sharper sense of smell just before my period. Mainly things smelling more horrible! I'm 43 and am now worried it's because I'm hurtling towards the menopause...!

Smell sensations (olfactory hallucinations) are pretty common as part of the set of symptoms (aura) some people experience before an epileptic seizure. Are you getting any visual disturbances when you get these sensations?

I think they can also be associated with migraines, sinus problems, strokes and brain tumours. Not to alarm you OP but you really should go to a doctor.

No, I don't get any visual disturbances at all - no other symptoms.

I'd go to a doctor, I was getting a horrible smell for ages and it was a bad sinus infection.

I also sometimes take Tramadol which sometimes gives me smell hallucinations (along with visual and auitary ones,and the doc wonders why i don't take them very often)

I would get it checked out. I'm going to ask the GP about my olfactory hallucinations next time I see her.