Hi, badly need advice on a particular
problem I've been experiencing,
specifically a sudden change in the way I
smell. This has been happening on and off
for the last 3 years, but has begun to
become far more regular in the last 6
months or so. It is not BO; I shower at
least once a day, and this change can
occur at any time (even IN THE SHOWER). I
don't really know how to describe the
smell, and I'm not going to try but it's
not pleasant and completely alien to my
own natural smell. It's also destroying my
self-esteem. It changes the scent of
everything around me (to me), from grass
to deodorant, as well as the actual taste
of food and drink. Right now, I believe
I'm the only one aware of it, mainly
because anytime I get it, I rush of to the
bathroom to reverse it in the one way I
know how, unless I'm out in the pub where
the smell is blocked out (to others, not
to me) by other smells around me. I'm not
close to anyone right now, so I don't know
if a lot of time spent in very close
quarters would affect the other person,
although I have my suspicions about a date
that didn't go very well over a year ago.
As I say, I do know one way of reversing
it, although it does disappear when I'm
asleep- I never wake up with it. This way
is to fill a sink and basically suck water
up through my nose; I'd liken the
sensation to the one someone gets when
they dive or swim the wrong way and they
get water in their sinuses which is
accompanied by a kind of burn in their
nose. That works, but rarely for long.
And,as you can imagine, excusing myself to
the bathroom everytime I get it (quite
often) and returning with a runny nose and
sniffles would seem fairly strange
behaviour to others, something I am very
aware of.
I have read that odour changes can be
influenced by a range of medical
conditions from Metabolic disorders to
Diabetes but I just don't see any evidence
of any other problem. The smell does not
accompany any other difficulties and by
all accounts, I am a healthy 24 year old,
with very few medical complaints or
conditions. I would very much appreciate
any advice, frankly it has begun to
depress me so much, cutting off my sense
of smell doesn't sound like such a bad
idea. Thanks for your time.
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Tmddyan
Moderator
Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 4349 Location: post falls, id usa
Thanks: 93
Thanked:63
Posted: 02-26-08 16:42pm
I dont know what to tell you. I sure hope
that you get an answer to your problem. Id
talk to you gp about this.
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bbfeet9
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 62 Location: ,
Posted: 02-26-08 16:48pm
Yikes... i don't get the whole water
thing. Now i have to look until i find out
what this is. How strange. I'm not so sure
snorting water all the time is so healthy
for you. Something this serious should be
taken up with your MD i think.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 02-26-08 21:32pm
You're probably not changing your actual
body odor when you suck water up your
nose. You're just traumatizing the nerves
and sensors so YOU can't smell your body
anymore - but you still smell!! So stop
doing it. You're not actually fixing the
problem. That's why the odor "comes back";
it's because your nose has recovered and
you can smell again!!
This is either an actual change in your
body smell (likely) or possibly a sudden
change in how your nose is smelling your
surroundings. Either way, it is something
you need to discuss with a doctor.
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ledgun
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 02-27-08 11:37am
It has occurred to me that its probably
not healthy for my nose, but it does work
and right now its all I've got. As I
mentioned, I never wake up with it, so I
don't believe the odor doesn't actually go
away after the 'snorting'; it's very
noticeable to me when I have it and when I
don't. It just assumes me, theres never
really a warning.
Also, although I have difficulty reversing
it, I can induce it if I want, so that
rules out the idea that I have it 24-7 and
am only occasionally aware of it. I know
it will hit me if I shout or scream loudly
or sniff air violently through my nose so
I refrain from doing that when possible.
But then, if I'm somewhere loud or even if
I have a cold, I'm pretty much resigned to
getting it.
Anyway, I appreciate everyone's advice. I
guess a trip to the Doc is on the cards,
my only apprehension in this regard is
that they won't be able to do anything; it
just feels like that kind of complaint.
Even re-reading this, I'm aware of how
bizarre it sounds. Way more for me, I
promise you!
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bakin_april
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 210 Location: state of confusion, usa
Posted: 02-27-08 11:46am
Is it possible you have a chronic sinus
infection? That can change our sense of
smell. You'd notice it but no one else
would because it's inside your sinuses.
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bakin_april
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 210 Location: state of confusion, usa
Posted: 02-27-08 11:54am
bakin_april
wrote:
Is it possible you have a
chronic sinus infection? That can change
our sense of smell. You'd notice it but
no one else would because it's inside your
sinuses.
Forgot to add that they can hang on for
months and months. I read your post and
it really made me think of a sinus
condition because you talk about smelling
it when you breath deep, in cold air, etc.
AND people with sinus issues snort water
or saline solution up their noses.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 02-27-08 12:02pm
Because of everything you have said, it
really does sound like it's your nose and
not your body.
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ledgun
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 02-27-08 12:37pm
I hope you're right. As I said, whatever
it is, it's not BO. The sinus infection
sounds plausible, would there not be some
degree of pain involves with an infection
though? Also it doesn't smell any
different if I breath deep or sniff; I
said it is sometimes induced by these
activities, not made apparent or worsened.
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bakin_april
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 210 Location: state of confusion, usa
Posted: 02-27-08 12:47pm
ledgun
wrote:
I hope you're right. As I
said, whatever it is, it's not BO. The
sinus infection sounds plausible, would
there not be some degree of pain involves
with an infection though? Also it doesn't
smell any different if I breath deep or
sniff; I said it is sometimes induced by
these activities, not made apparent or
worsened.
In my experience an infection can linger
with little or no symptoms. You should
get it checked out.
