Have you ever had any episodes of smelling something no one else could smell, like something burning?

I woke early today and could smell a hot oven, like something was burning. In my mind I thought "oh my husband set the oven to self clean" and I tried to go back to sleep.

The smell was driving me crazy. It was so strong. No one else was awake.

Eventually I went back to sleep. Woke later. Totally forgot about it and tried to cope with day. Suffered severe, 8/10 pain scale headache today and a very noticeable increase in speech problems. Stalling longer between words. Stuttering. Slurring.

This evening I asked husband why he set the oven to clean overnight like that. He said he didn't. I said, but I could smell it. Big time. I explained what I'd experienced this morning. He said no, there was nothing burning anywhere at all.

He got very concerned. Tried to talk me into going into the ER tonight. I decided not to because I think it might just be another awful brain injury thing. It can wait until Friday's doctor appointment. I hope.

Anyone ever have this?

I smell all different things that others don't smell. I also hear things that they don't like bells, alarms, phones, music. Its soft but there. Things also didn't taste the same but I think that's getting better. I have read about yhese symptoms and think they're normal but you should mention it to your doctor.

The one I'm kind of concerned about is that I choke on food or drink about once a day now. Never did that before. You know where something goes down the wrong way and you start to cough/choke? Nothing serious so far but one day who knows. Do you have this?

I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad day. Have you tried meditation? I've found just 20 minutes a day to be very helpful with anxiety/stress and quieting my brain.

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you!

CC

I had an experience where I kept smelling burning rubber especially if someone cooked or heated up food and it was a sinus infection I believe. It got worse every day for weeks and weeks until I got antibiotics from my dentist for sinus infection. I also fell and hit my head so I dont know if that was part of the problem. Sinus infections always alter the smell of food for me anyway like burning rubber. I always check the furnace and look for something burning but no one elce smells it.I also had a tooth abscess at the same time but from my sinus problems burning rubber is usually from sinus infection for me. When I was pregnant food smelled like death what ever that is especially bacon or hamburger.

MsRriO,

Have you every had migraines due to overwhelming odors? I never did before but after my adventures in concussion, I can get bad headaches from certain kinds of exhaust or perfumes. Plus, I somestimes get the wonderful side affect of cognitive dysfunction, where my congnitive function get really foggy, quite quickly.

I'm predisposed to migraines but never had problems until I had this concussion (had my concussion when I was 45) and it has seemed to open the can of migraines. I also found out the same thing with a dentist's local anesthesia. Brain fog. My neurologist said I have a sensitive brain. Yeah, I'd say.

Good luck with this, but also keep in mind what things trigger this for you.

Mike

Hi CC, thanks for the reply. I've never had this kind of thing before the injury so it was new yet strangely NOT worrisome until I realized later in the day that it wasn't real. I need to make that part very clear to the doctor because otherwise it will just be discarded as a manifestation of anxiety. I wasn't anxious, I was totally calm and thought the strong smell was a reality of that moment. I thought nothing of it, except wow that's strong.

Some reading today suggests it was an aura of migraine as previous posters spoke of. Could very well be.

The metallic taste that coincides with my worst speech, plus this smell of burning, plus the incredible head pain, could add up to seizure territory. They may try an EEG on me (as I understand it) but unless I'm having an episode right that very second it will show normal.

If they can pass it off as mental health related instead of physicality in the brain tissue they will.

So really at this point it's just speculation that any doctor would give a darn at all, enough to do some testing, (potentially as useless as CT and MRI)

As for meditation.... I could try it I suppose. I just don't know where to start or frankly what on earth that means. Lol just being honest. I have always had such an active brain (thoughts going a mile a minute, the right personality for marketing and sales) that I cannot imagine what they even MEAN by clearing one's mind. How foreign! It just doesn't compute. Lol!

~Rio~

I have smelt a burning smell as well that I had to call a family member over to smell if it was really there....

**This has been a REALLY BAD last 2 days for me and I'm still trying to wear a smile even though I really feel like I am going crazy @ a rapid pace and all the doctors have me on stand bye while I get worse**

I am in the USA and waiting to see psychiatrist for meds....by the time I get some meds I will probably be back @ first step bed rest and lose my.......

Mia, I feel for you!!!



Hope you get help soon.

Today for me no burnt smells. But good to know I'm not alone, it's funny how we feel like we're "losing it" til we hear of someone else having the same issue. Thank goodness for this forum!

If you get overwhelmed with a anxiety causing smell, try wiping some Mentholatum or Vicks Vaporub on your nostrils. It will hopefully be a recognizable smell that will help you relax. This also works for really bad smells.

Dear Rio,
I often smell cigarette smoke when it is impossible that it is any where around. I accept that the brain changes rapidly during the healing process. Since my accident nothing smells like it used to and many things taste wrong.

I have had a "something's burning" smell off and on over the past seven years.

Recently, it started up again about a week ago. Normally I would use Vicks VapoRub to cover the smell, but last night, I didn't have the Vicks, so I pulled up my t-shirt, covered my nose and breathe through my shirt for about a minute. After removing my shirt from covering my nose, I didn't have the smell for about an hour. I did notice that while I had my nose covered with my shirt, breathing through my shirt, I did not experience the burning smell.

I have read that this is a neurological problem, but if that is true, then wouldn’t I still smell the burning smell even while breathing through my shirt?

I know for certain it is not a smell in the room or the house. About two years ago, I purchased a Sanyo ABC-VW24 Air Washer Air Purification System with Electrolyzed Water Technology. It runs 24-hours a day. If an odor or unclean air is in the room, the clean air indicator turns from green to red. The air purifier is so sensitive to odors, that when I walk in the room with a fresh cup of coffee and close the door, the clean air indicator immediately goes from green to red.

I also read somewhere that the burning smell happens when dryer sheets are used during your clothes drying cycle. The t-shirt I covered my nose with was dried in a cycle using a dryer sheet. So for me, the dryer sheet is not the cause of the burning smell.

I am so confused. So now, when the smell comes, I use my shirt or a handkerchief or tissue to breathe through.

I wish I had the answer and the cure.