Shit… this is bad isn’t it?

[AJT43]

A few months ago I smelt burning on and off for a few days; I was about to see the GP about it and it just stopped.
Fast forward I’ve had it a few times since but it passed quickly.
The last 3 or so days I’ve been smelling burning and foul smells on and off. Then this morning I woke up with a terrible headache at the back of my head.
I plan on calling the GP first thing on Monday morning but I am honestly so scared. Google tells me the bleakest thing. I’m 31 years old with 2 small children and I’m just terrified.

I could smell awful burning type smells after I had Covid. Dr suggested I use a nasal spray like Sudafed and see if it cleared it and it did!

How old is your wiring? I used to smell burning and it turned out that the wiring in my house was old, and dangerous!

Hi OP! Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but a burning smell can actually be an epileptic seizure activity. Which while not brilliant health news, it would certainly be much better than a brain tumour and epilepsy can also leave you with headaches. Not all epileptics have tonic clonic body seizures, some are absence or hallucinogenic seizure and the smell is an olfactory hallicination. In any case, posting to let you know that I have it and this is what I experience and it’s really not life changing and easily managed. So while it’s most likely to be nothing, even if it is something medical, it isn’t necessarily what you’ve concluded. Do see a GP. Take care x

Have you had Covid? I’ve had this on and off since I had it, it’s called olfactory hallucination, sounds absolutely terrible I know, but it’s just a side effect and nothing serious.

I was going to say Covid too. I had this with my first bout.

OP, please check this website, it has helped me tremendously with my health anxiety
www.nomorepanic.co.uk

Sinuses can make things smell very funny. I had similar but I could smell like a burnt vinegar smell.
I really wouldn’t jump to conclusions and I definitely wouldn’t google!

Did you ever lose your sense ofsmell for a period of time after a Covid infection? I lost my sense of smell completely for 18 months. Could not smell a single thing.

Then my smell started to come back but it was wrong for another six months, for example all perfumes and aftershave smelt exactly the same as one another.

After two years my sense of smell slowly returned to normal but then I started suffering with random bouts of phantosmia. I was smelling things just like you are now and it’s something to do with damage to the olfactory nerves in the nose.

these bouts of random smells came and went over a period of about a year before they stopped. They would come and go randomly for a couple of days sometimes a few more and I’m very odd occasion for a few hours. They were just like you describe so there are other possibilities out there, especially since Covid.

Best of luck with the Dr and of course try and get an MRI, but with all the Covid that’s been about it’s more likely to be a something like that than a brain tumour.

Dr Penfield?

(ignore if not 🇨🇦)

These are possibly symptoms of a brain tumour, I assume that is the concern.

You are not on Wegovy are you? My sister swore she could smell burning and that all her food tasted weirdly bitter when she went on it. I am on it too, but never had any of that.

It took me 10 year to get diagnosed. Multiple trips to GP to be told I had migraine and all the migraine meds that I tried and that failed. The thing is things like tripans do actually work for cluster headaches but it’s not feasible, healthy or affordable to take them in the sheer quantity that’s needed to combat them due to the fact they occur daily for prolonged periods. They also treat the symptoms not the cause

I eventually saw a nuero who diagnosed me in about 3 1/2 seconds and I’ve never had one since. The minute I feel that pressure behind my eye I start on high dose steroids and meds (originally verapamil and now toperimete). Fingers crossed your app isn’t cancelled and you get sorted.

Seeing a Dr is obviously important to get checked out. Just a note to say that after I had COVID I often smell burning. For me it's like burning wood. I hope all is going to be ok for you

I get a burning oil smell and sometimes a copper smell. Other times I get tingling in my face or flashing lights. I get migraines but sometimes I get a migraine without the actual headache. If you are worried get the doctor to check you out.

It's always a good idea to see your GP and have any unusual symptoms checked out.

"When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras". It's more likely to be a sinus issue, especially as you had the condition on and off for a few days a few months ago, and now it has returned.

https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/pollen-forecast#?date=2025-04-05&region=wm

OP, many posters are mentioning Covid. Have you had it recently?

Not that I am aware.
In March I had a ‘flu’ which had me in bed unable to move for 2 days, followed by intense diarrhoea for 5 days. I didn’t have any cold/cough symptoms in this time.
a few weeks ago I was given antibiotics for ‘tonsiltiis’ which turned out to be tonsil stones x

@AJT43 ... Certainly get it checked out, OP, for reassurance, but it's probably nothing serious. You may actually have smelled burning the first time and your brain is just messing with you. I am sometimes quite suggestible (fortunately I know this) and we periodically get fires in nearby fields. As soon as I read your first post, I smelled smoke. I was able to laugh myself out of it, and cooking and eating dinner made me forget about it. But having come back to the thread I can smell it again. I know it's not real.

I have the same thing on and off. Had loads of tests and it’s just one of those things. I’m perfectly healthy! Don’t worry I’m sure it’ll be fine but do get yourself checked out.

I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry too much. It could be serious but also it could be nothing - I have this quite often, it's olfactory hallucinations. Mine is at times of stress and I've had it for years. I used to get up and patrol the house for the smoke that only I could smell. My main concern now is that if the house really is on fire I'd probably ignore it!

You need to be checked out by medical professionals.

I have/ had many of the same symptoms. The phantom smells being particularly annoying. After referrals, tests, and an MRI, it was put down to migraines. There were a host of things I was told could have been at play. Try not to jump to the worst case scenario.

Do get seen. I hope you can get some reassurance quickly.

I used to imaginary-smell baked potatoes as a side effect of a medication I was taking.

Friend had this from Covid.

I can always smell burning that no one else can smell, had it for years. I think some people are super sensitive or wired wrong. Try not to worry too much.

I’m not being facetious, this is a worrying situation for you, and I wouldn’t freak of mocking your feelings. However, given the errors with your previous diagnoses, I wonder if it’s your Doctor you should be changing. Just a thought. Hope you get sorted very soon 🤞