Hello all!
I have noticed in the past month or so that I am EXTREMELY sensitive to odors that used to not bother me. Driving to doctor's appointments is nauseating because I can smell the exhaust from other cars. I have two kitty's and while I keep their litter boxes meticulously clean, the residual odor is sickening to me suddenly (even when they've just been cleaned). I have had to switch to unscented laundry detergent because the fragrance is too strong. I have never noticed this before (except maybe when I was pregnant....which I am not). Does anyone else experience this with this disease??

Also, my hair has been falling out at an alarming rate lately. I have never read anything about these two particular symptoms, nor has my research on the sympathetic nervous system in general yielded any connection, and am just curious to see if anyone else has experienced this.

I am not on any different meds at this point than I was before my diagnosis. I was just diagnosed a few weeks ago, have only had symptoms for a month, so it couldn't be med related. I go in for my first sympathetic nerve block tomorrow.

Any feedback would be much appreciated!! Thanks to all!!

The hair loss is,unfortunately, an rsd thing. If it's not meds, then it's rsd. I started losing hair, way more than usual right from the get go as well. It's been almost 6 years and I'm amazed I'm not bald yet! LOL I do keep my hair super,super short because I can't take having hair everywhere. I,and many others,have also lost hair on the affected limb. RSD can also go the opposite and make hair grow faster on the limb and nail growth can be affected as well, either growing fast,slow or barely at all.

I don't know about the odor thing but seeing as it just came on like that I think it's most likely the rsd. I've never heard anyone mention this problem before but there might be someone out there who has or is dealing with it.

It's great you've been diagnosed so early and are getting blocks. I will keep you in my thoughts that the blocks will kick it out and get the rsd into remission.

Hugs,

Karen

Well......shoot!! I knew that I could lose hair or grow hair on the affected limb.....I did not know it could affect all my hair growth. It would be much more convenient if it would just fall out on my legs!! No more shaving!!

Ok.....I have pretty short hair as well.....I WAS letting it grow, but I suppose I'll keep it short. I appreciate your response!! I'll be curious to see what others say about the odor thing. My poor hubby is cleaning the litter boxes CONSTANTLY for me already!! My silly cats are litter box dysfunctional......they use it, get out and scratch the floor instead of covering their business!!

I've always been a little sensitive to odors but this sensitivity used to just drive me away from them. Now the sensitivity is only slightly stronger but they tend to be more sickening.

My biggest problem is olfactory hallucinations. I awaken sometimes to strong odors and often smell smoke and have to investigate. These have been easing a little lately but are quite disconcerting.

Oh, I can only imagine how freaky that would be. Scary!! Perhaps I'll be grateful I only have the sensitivity. I didn't mention that it is not just to unpleasant odors.....even the smell of dinner cooking seems overwhelming to me sometimes. I try to use the crock pot to cook dinner in the morning because my RSD symptoms get worse as the day progresses and it's hard for me to stand more than 5-10 minutes at a time. My family gets fed, but I have to smell it all day.

Are you on any meds that could be contributing to your olfactory hallucinations??? How long have you had RSD???

the hair loss is the rsd im also surprised that im not bald my hair noe is almost see thro lol the smell i have some sensitivie but not as bad as you were explaining ..

I'm not really complaining. This is one of the least of my problems and for the main part they aren't especially common.

I take seroquel to help get to sleep and there seems a high correlation between the visual/ olfactory hallucinations and dosage of this drug. A family member took it for arteriosclerotic cerebrovascular disease and had the same problem with it. My psychiatrist keeps wanting me to up the dosage and I keep trying to use as little as possible. Increasing the depakote seemed to take care of most of the immediate problem.

It's been 10 1/2 years that I've had it but I had it partly under control until 2004. I suffered another injury (partly the result of RSD) and it started getting worse again. It seems like it always "wants" to get better but even the slightest injuries cause setbacks. Even unknown triggers cause real setbacks.

I too, am extremely sensitive to odours! It really frustrates me as sometimes I can't spray perfume that much because it will make my pain go up and when my mum has been cleaning up, I can smell the polish that she uses and it takes my pain levels up!! I spoke to my PM Doctor about it and he said it is a common symptom of RSD, although it isn't listed on any medical articles for some reason?!?!

I have heard from many people that say they experience hair loss with RSD. I am the total oposit however, my hair just wont stop growing which is soo annoying!!!

I hope and pray that the nerve block today will help you and reduce your pain levels. Please keep us all updated and I am so sorry that you are dealing with all of these symptoms ((hugs))!

Thanks so much for your response! I just hope ALL my hair doesn't fall out. I AM quite nervous about my nerve block this morning (one hour till I have to leave). I am so thirsty (nothing to drink for 6 hours before) and my head hurts. I will let everyone know how it goes when I'm able.

It would be WONDERFUL if this "cured" me.....but I'm not holding my breath.....especially after I typed in "sympathetic nerve blocks" into the search on this forum last night and read other people's experiences. NO ONE said they worked for long (a few hours, weeks, or months at best), most people said the did nothing or that they had to have a bunch of them, and some people said their symptoms spread as a result. THAT is my biggest concern. I am already anxious about this and can't take anything for the anxiety. I hope they give me some good stuff in my IV!!!

Thanks for your response!! Take care!!!

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