[St George 2013]

Hey all....I cannot sleep and my mind is spinning.

I have been smelling things that are not there. Weird....I have SFN that effects my feet and hands.......but I smell things like dirty socks, roast beef cooking and most recently spaghetti sauce...what the heck is going on ?

Surely not a symptom of SFN ? Could it be the gabapentin ?

That's all I need....another symptom...like I don't have enough already

Any thoughts on this ?

Debi from Georgia

[mrsD]

I would report this to your doctor. Changes in smell may signify
a brain lesion.... and with your cancer history, this should be
followed up on.

Taking antiseizure drugs can lower the electrical threshold for
seizures in some people. So because of this you should also report to your doctor. Changes like this in smells can be an aura for a seizure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_%28symptom%29

[St George 2013]

Gosh dang it ! It's just one thing after another for all of us isn't it ?

I've only seen a neuro once but the orthopedic dr I saw yesterday was very insistent that I be under the care of a neuro. So I'm going to give the guy one more chance. I'll tell him about the smell thing.

And I also have to go back for my 3 month blood work in Nov with my onocologist. Also have an appointment with my Gyn that I've been seeing for 30 years....She is so wonderful and when i use to see her around town we would always stop and talk. I had not seen her during all my issues this year and went to see her in Aug......she spent an hour and a half listening to my medical horror story because she wanted to know everything that had happened to me. She was very upset that all the other dr's had not been sending her reports even though I had her listed as one of my dr's. Said she would have called me immediately to discuss and follow up. Sweet, sweet lady. Reminds me of Mary Tyler Moore.

Anywho....thanks Mrs D.....always a wealth of info coming from u !

Have a great day

Debi

[tnthomas]

I have had some form of PN for about 3 years, and I too experience some alarmingly wierd "inappropriate" smells, that seem to have no tangible origin. However, I tend to view this and most other current medical issues I have as being connected to the brutal effects of treatment with Interferon for HCV.
The thought of 'brain lesion' had crossed my mind at one point, but hesitated to bring that issue up with my DR. at the moment, since I have a real "laundry list" of post HCV tx health issues that I have bombarded my doc with.
In recent times, the abnormal smell experiences have lessened for me, and seem at a normal level. However, I now have noticed my hearing has become real sensative to low, faint sounds. This is new in my life, as I've historically viewed my hearing to be damaged, particularly in the low frequencies.

With all the odd twists and turns, I'm starting to question the need for taking life so seriously anymore.

[St George 2013]

I try very hard not to take life seriously.....with the help of my kids, grandkids and neighbors I do pretty well on that level.

I just take one day at a time and fail to be surprised when something 'new' pops up which it has been doing on a regular basis now

Have a good day !

Thanks as always Mrs D !

Debi from good ole Georgia

[LithEruiel]

Originally Posted by St George 2013

Hey all....I cannot sleep and my mind is spinning.

I have been smelling things that are not there. Weird....I have SFN that effects my feet and hands.......but I smell things like dirty socks, roast beef cooking and most recently spaghetti sauce...what the heck is going on ?

Surely not a symptom of SFN ? Could it be the gabapentin ?

That's all I need....another symptom...like I don't have enough already

Any thoughts on this ?

Debi from Georgia

I smell a certain type of cleaner when I have migraines sometimes…instead of having a visual aura I guess.

[123neuro]

I have been smelling cigarette smoke for the last 2 years, when there is no one smoking. It comes and goes randomly, with no apparent trigger. No one else can smell it. This condition is called Phantosmia (olfactory hallucinations). My neurologist has ordered an MRI, CT scan, and EKG to rule out temporal lobe seizures, Parkinson's, brain leison or brain tumor. Also may be "migraine sans migraine" -- migraine without the headache; just the aura. It is disruptive to my life and sometimes even I think I am going crazy!

I also am a 13-year type-II diabetic, and in the last 2 or 3 yrs have developed stabbing pains in the top of my foot. Podiatrist took skin/nerve biopsies that revealed small fiber neuropathy. Also experiencing cold toes (have to wear socks at night). However, in last 3 wks or so have developed a dramatic increase in symptoms: pins and needle sensation in left foot on arising from sleep, numbness as if my feet were full of Novocaine, and aches and stabbing pains in esp the left foot. Am concerned about the sudden onset of these additional symptoms; am awaiting a call back from my endocrinologist on how to proceed. Any advice others can provide on how to deal with these symptoms would be appreciated!

[mrsD]

Diabetics lose magnesium thru the urine all the time.
The reason for this is not understood.

There is a lotion now, that is very very good, that helps the circulation to the feet and other areas of the body. It is called Morton Epsom lotion. It is at WalMart, Walgreen's and also online at Amazon. It will provide magnesium to your body, and also work as a pain reliever to some extent. It will also reduce muscle cramping.

Use about a quarter's dollop divided in half, for each foot.
If you take blood pressure medication, follow your blood pressure as magnesium will lower high readings and you may need a dose adjustment eventually.

http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-h...-epsom-lotion/

This is a first line suggestion because it works for just about everyone with PN.

[St George 2013]

Hi LithEruiel.......Before I started taking blood pressure medicine (atenolol/Tenormin) for my migraines different food/smells would trigger my headache. Avon killed me....lol......I would also have an 'aura' in my head and I knew at some point that day I would have a migraine. I was extremely lucky to be one of those that the BP medicine works for.

And to 123neuro.....sounds like your SFN symptoms are kicking in. I'm so sorry about that. My feet go through the whole range of symptoms.....ebbs and flows all day long, some extremely painful and some just annoying. Electrical shocks, numbness, swelling, burning and so on. I don't seem to have symptoms on the tops of my feet....just the bottoms and sides. I wish u much success in your dr journey to find relief from this monster that tries to take our lives.

And my sweet MrsD.....I AM going to WalMart on Sunday....I haven't been in 7 months ! I'm taking the wheelchair and my daughter and son in law are going with me. I hope I wake up in good shape Sunday morning And on top of that list is the LOTION you've recommended. That is the first thing I want to find.

I went to a new oncologist yesterday and I'm going to start a new thread. It was upsetting and shocking to say the least about his take on my condition.

Thanks everyone....can't make it without everyone here

Debi from Georgia

[ElaineD]

People who post on another forum, for an autoimmune condition called Sjogren's Syndrome, also have this symptom.

I usually smell smoke, several times a day. In relation to nothing in particular as far as I can tell.

Also my sense of taste and smell is somewhat impaired at this point. Probably by my dryness syndrome.

It takes a while to get used to. Fortunately I don't have the dirty socks odor appearing.

Hugs, Elaine