Well I'm here to join the club. For about three months I have from time to time thought I smelled wood burning. Early on, on two occasions, I got up in the middle of the night to look for something burning in the house. About the only thing I take on a regular basis is Norvasc for moderate to high blood pressure. Also I used to annually suffer with Hay Fever and sinus infection until I started taking Zyertec daily. At least now I know that I'm not imagining this. I'll share this with my Doc and let you know if anything comes to light.

I suddenly found myself smelling stale smoke for no reason. I noticed that I didn't smell anything in the morning until I ate something. After about a week I asked my mother who is a nutritionist if she had ever heard of this. Sure enough she had encountered this symptom before with clients and even had it herself years ago. She suggested that this was due to a digestive problem. I began taking digestive supplements as well as a product called Wobenzyme. The problem disappeared almost immediately. I'd be happy to provide more info if anyone is interested.

I was on Amox-Clav for a slight sinus infection but stopped taking it after taking 1/2 the dose because it was way too strong and seemed to dry me out. About the same time, I quit taking Lyrica after being on it for 16 months. All of a sudden I was smelling cigarettes. No one around me smokes and no one around me smelled it. I was the only one. After reading postings on this site and others, I began to panic. I was hoping to find a remedy, but instead I was scared to death. I must have something fatal, like a brain tumor. However, since I was diagnosed with Multiple Schlerosis last year, I have had several MRI's and figured, that if it was a brain tumor they would have seen it. At times the smell was very strong. Then it was accompanied by a sour/bad taste in my mouth almost like a chemical taste. Then sinus pain. Since I was getting off of all meds (because I wanted to go natural), I tried a few of my own home remedies, and guess what? They worked. For three days, every hour while I was awake, I put a Q-tip in cool water, squeezing the excess water out, and swabbed the inside of my nostrils. It not only gave relief, but it also took the smell away temporarily. At night I slept with a humidifier and Vicks under my nose. The humidifier provided moisture in the air and the Vicks let me smell something other than cigarettes. For the three days I drank a great deal of water and juices. On the third day of trying my own remedy, I began having thick, bad tasting drainage for most of the morning. Then it began to taste like blood going down my throat. Gross I know. Sorry, but I want to tell you everything I went through in case you have the same symptoms. It was'nt alot of blood but I could still taste it. By afternoon the bad taste, white tongue and canker sore on my tongue had gone away. And best of all, there was only a periodic, faint smell of cigarettes. Even as I type this, there is still a SLIGHT hint of the cigarette smell, but not much at all. See, today is the third day of my own remedy so I feel hopeful I am on the mend. I believe that all I have is a bad sinus infection. I wanted to get on and type this as soon as I could, becaesu unlike what I found in my reading, I wasnted to give you hope that the smell will most likely go away. I don't know what your symptoms are, nor if what I tried will help you, but whatever the case, I hope that if you are reading this, that you find comfort. Be patient with yourself as your body heals. God Bless

I am glad I found this forum. I too have been smelling cigarette smoke for the past few days and I have never smoked nor live near anyone that does.
I had a sinus infection that was treated with antibiotics just rior to this, maybe there is a connection...

okay, here is my bio
I have always had a strong sense of smell, I get naucious more easily than others and while pregnant I was diagnosed with hyper-emensis, (may be spelled wrong), that is when you throw up, all day, for 9 months. The throwing up was triggered by smells like incense, tone brand soap, cooking grease, cigarettes, etc. This was always hightned while pregnant, it stops the minute the baby is born.
Moving to NC has triggered me to have allergies, asma, bronchitis, and sinus problems. prior to the move I was fine breathing NYC polluted air. Presently I take Clariton-D, and the Advil inhaler. In the past I have been on Zertec, and Albuturol. Everything else is in excellent health-Oh I'm 39 years old.
Today, I have a sinus infection/cold, but the smell started before this. I do remember having a painful headache (2 days)- from infection. I did not take any anti-biotics for this, it's slowly going away on it's own.
Now, recently there was a wild fire on the outer banks of NC, the smoke was so heavy it blew in land to Raleigh, we were in a fog for about 5 days. Of course everyone smelled smoke at that time but it soon faded away. For me it did'nt, I smell cigarettes everyday for about a month now, I stopped asking people if they still smell that smoke from the fire because nobody does.
My husband said that he can smell the smoke when he comes close to my nose.
From reading all the post I see common problems with the sinus infections, a few had recent exposures to smoke smells and continue to smell even when the smoke is gone. If anyone has similar bio please post. I wish everyone stays in the best of health!

I had a constant smell of smoke in my nose for over 1 month. I believe others could smell it too. I tried all the washes and sprays and nothing worked. My cured me is TEE TREE OIL. I took a Q-Tip and dipped in straight into the bottle then just diluted it with a little bit of water. Then I rubbed it all inside my nose as far back as I could with being careful. This is natural antiseptic. I woke up the next day and the smell was totally gone and still is and it has been almost 2 weeks. I hope it works for all of you too!!! Good Luck.

Know it's been a number of months since you posted the “smelling smoke” comment I found today, but your profile sounds similar to mine so I’m just wondering what's transpired for you. Here's my story:

I’m recently through menopause, early 50s, and experience wood burning smell. I had an MRI that revealed nothing and also a sleep-deprived EEG which was deemed "normal.” I wasn’t surprised about the EEG since I was not hallucinating during the test (of course).

My olfactory phantosmia began around Dec — like most, didn't realize it was a hallucination — thought the wood burning smell was a neighbor using a woodstove or a distortion of the coffee brewing at work — after some weeks recognized that the acrid smokey smell actually followed me everywhere! Sometimes the stench is so “thick” I’m almost nauseous.

I don’t get headaches or “auras," my sense of taste is fine, and I feel like outside the fantasy, I smell normally. In last two months, finding I do have some periods of relief — sometimes a day or two, sometimes an hour. Almost w/o exception, it appears in a cluster of days and once it starts it goes on for hours. It’s never there when I awaken.

I knew this was an unusual condition so my first move was for a neurologist at a teaching hospital. I’ve continued researcing since my first doctor’s apt. and seems that even experienced neurologists aren't very familiar with smell disorders, so I’m changing to a neurologist who is connected w/ NIH. Most people have written about sinus and allergies, which are a major part of my medical history, but I don't think that's behind my phantosimia. A psych/neuro doctor-friend suggested seizures.

Mid-Nov '07, I had a bad fall with concussion — back of my head slammed down on the floor with such force that I felt my brain slosh forward with the "recoil" and hit the front of my skull. I never had any symptoms even remotely close to olfactory phantosmia until after the fall.

For what it’s worth to you, despite the EEG, my theory developing out of my psych friend’s idea is that the head trauma has caused a seizure condition.

There were times that I would stay in hotel suites (13- 49 weeks an assignment) and actually move in an effort to get rid of the smoke smell- magically it followed me and I gave up trying to ellude it as the moving process was frustrating in and of itself..

I was in Allentown Pa and the folks at the front desk knew me well. One night I was awakened by the smell of smoke which I of course thought was coming from the vent over the bed. I go down to the desk and they actually came in, three of them, one at a time, to see if they smelled smoke. Of course they did not. Funny I never mentioned it to anyone- it comes and goes, no rhyme or rhythm to its appearance or disappearance- intensity is never great enough to cause coughing or eyes watering as I have read here- just strong enough to be present.

fast forward to today, 4 years later, and I smell smoke...cigarette smoke...which isnt really a problem except being a nurse I think it is a trigger from something else-

Recently I was sitting in another nurse managers office and smelled it- I asked her if she could smell it and she said "seriously?" hmmmm- She did not. However she said she had heard of depression triggering it -

I did acute dialysis in a hospital where the neurologist said it could be a symptom of Temporal Tumor/ seizure/ disorder- I have also read somewhere that it is an aura pre stroke . I guess if it is indeed connnected to the functioning of the temporal lobes that could be feasible- or psychologically it could be a sign of depression..(twice that little word popped up)-

So today after coming from a night out with my husband and having a disagreement......I smell smoke- perhaps it is depression..or a trigger-

I just know that I am glad to find out I havent lost my cerebral functioning with the thought that I am smelling smoke... yet still I havent read anything about the resultsof the antidepressant meds regarding the cessation of the problem- glad to have found yall and thanks for being here!

I too have been smelling smoke for the past two weeks and yes it is freaking me out. No matter where I am the smell comes and goes and appears to be happening every few minutes or so, like right now. Yes, I do smoke but this is not a cigarette smoke smell, it’s more like an out doors fire or wood burning fire. I’ve asked my friends at work if they smell it and of course they don’t and I've asked the Man in my life. The smell is almost constant in my nose with only the exception of a few moments when it is not. I know smoking is not good for anyone and I am working hard on quitting, at 56 years old I’m trying to change my life style to be here for my grandkids. I don’t take any medications outside of otc Excedrin, vitamins and hot flash tablets . I’ve tried flushing my nasal cavities with warm water without relief and taking liquid chlorophyll (a good digestive tract detoxifier and will stop body odors).
I’ve never had any sinus problems, but that doesn’t mean I’m not developing them.
But in reading the last entry form travelnurse55, the part that concerns me was that it could be an (aura pre stroke) and I was wondering how would I know that this might be the problem?
I don’t feel like it’s a depression issue but I could be wrong, being signal and approaching retirement and maybe facing life alone sometimes causes a little concern but it’s not really depressing, do you know what I mean?

Bottom line I would just like to find the real problem behind this mysterious smell.

Thank you all for there here as I don’t know where else to go.

Please let me know if anyone finds any answers.

LAWNV

I just can't believe that this "smelling smoke thing" is like some new, undiscovered illness or something??-and I have it?? there really isn't a diagnoses for this?, I just can't believe it! Knowone or Doctor seems to have an answer, this is odd. Did anybody have this years ago? I just don't understand this?
My update- I did the nose rinse/wash out with the nettie pot and it worked for a day. I still smell the smoke.

I’m in Sparks Nevada and mine started like yours. I was on vacation the week of July 23rd and Northern California had hundreds of forest fires burning and the smoke had drifted over into Northern Nevada. I spent much of the time outside doing yard work, Wednesday the 25th was particularly bad for being outside and I’ve been smelling it ever since. Weather I’m inside or out, in front of a fan or not, it’s with me everywhere I go. Not only do I smell smoke, but it’s starting to smell peppery as well. I’m going to try the Tee Tree oil mention above to see if that will help.

LAWNV

I see we do have some things in common, I am going to try the tea oil too, I'll post to let you know if it works for me. I still find it hard to believe this is a mystery condition. I'm still researching for answers. My doctor said to try the nose rinse and that did'nt work and plus she had never heard of such a thing. She is suppose to follow up with me this week after she consults with other MD's.
Good luck

I started smelling smoke this past weekend while staying in a hotel and thought it was coming from the ventilation system. I continued to smell smoke on the airplane home, this is day two at home and still smelling smoke at home and work.
Seeing my doctor today and will discuss.
It is concerning, somehow comforting to know I am not alone, it is not very pleasent.

She's been driving me crazy for about eight months now with the "I smell
smoke". We don't smoke, don't hang around anyone that does nor
around anthing ablaze. Being an analyst I see some interesting
connections in data. She has had a lot of sinus problems since moving
to Austin in 2005. Infections, antibiotics, head aches, drainage, the
works. Recently just treated for a suspected deep infection by the
ENT she just went to, who just gave her a MRI today which I suspect
will be negative like the rest of you. I've given her this address to
read the boards and get a little more relief that she's not crazy and
will inform if we find something.

Personally, I suspect that an infection may have damaged something
in the sinus causing the issue though I find it extremely interesting that
prior to this year there aren't too many people posting about this that
didn't really have a tumor or some neurological condition. Begs the
question: Is there really something in the air that some are more
sensitive to? Maybe smoke or maybe some neurotoxin? Very odd that
none of the doctors have seen this and there appears to be a rash of
it this year. I have a pretty good sniffer and never smell it when she
does but if it's something else in the air we're breathing in and this is
just a side effect it would make sense. Where does everybody live?
Is this country wide or isolated areas?

She'll probably try the oil listed and post results.

Thanks,
Chuck

Hi all,
Glad to have found this thread. I am also living through this mess. I had sinus surgery 2 months ago. After that I lost my sense of smell completely for about 6 weeks. That was terrible! People really don't think about how important smell is. It is unlike our other senses, you can't remember a smell yet our memories are really tied up in them. Anyways, I got most of my smell back, but it came with this burning smell that occurs on and off all day and night. I called my ENT and he has set me up with an MRI for 2 days from now. I also have sinus problems again! I am better off since the surgery, but I wonder if all this is worth it.

I will get on when I get my results and let you know if I get an answer to what this is about.

Hi, I can't say how glad I am to have found this.

I saw my doctor about 3 weeks ago and I told him about my "smelling smoke" problem. I have been experiencing smelling cigarette smoke for over 2 months. It happens several times a day for about 30-60 minutes and then it goes away.

My doctor mentioned that it could be a precursor to a migrane or a seizure. I don't have any health problems, I don't smoke, I am fairly active, I don't take any medications, am not depressed and I don't have sinus problems, so when I heard this I was pretty concerned. He said that since the smell was not constant we were not going to worry about it.

I was glad when all of a sudden it was gone, nothing, nada. For about 3 days I was free of the smelling smoke problem BUT now it's back and for the last 48 hours it has come back and worse than ever. I now smell it 24 hours a day. It's driving me crazy.

I have made another appointment with my doctor. I will let you all know.

Long story short.. I've got the same problem, but I think I figured out what is causing it. At least a general area. I think it is related to an overactive thyroid and whatever it produces. I used to experience the smelling of cigarettes with burning eyes and burning nose, even a cough, but it would go away. A couple of years later, I found out my thyroid quit working. Then after some testing by the doc, sometimes it would work, sometimes not. Finally it just quit altogether, so my doc put me on armour thyroid. When I first started using it, i started to get the smoke problems (lack of better words), but it would be a couple of days later, so I never tied the two together. Not until the last month. I'd been off of it because I didn't get my prescript refilled... after starting it again.. i got the smoke sensation, but then it went away.. Then just two days ago, i decided to increase my dosage from 60mg to 90mg, and sure enough.. the smoke problems are back.. bad though.. my eyes burn just like someone is blowing smoke in my eyes.. and my nose burns, and i get a cough.. like i'm doing the smoking.. .it's horrible.

So.. since armour thyroid is supposed to be close to natural, it could be the same for someone that has an overactive thyroid.

Anyway.. decided I'd come back to these posts and give some input.. i'd read them about 3 or 4 months ago, finding it amazing that someone else experienced this.. and that contrary to what my wife thinks.. i'm not insane.

Anyway.. i'd love to discuss it..

God bless.

- Zambodi

I also suffer from constantly smelling cigarette smoke which drives me mad at times. In addition to this I suffer from tinnitus constantly. I am due to see a ENT specialist in August and have been interested to see that my smelling smoke problem isn't me going mad but will be interested to see if it has anything to do with my tinnitus. Funnily enough the smoke problem is especially bad when I get signs of a cold etc.
Anyone else have tinnitus in addition to the smoke smells?

Hi Everyone,

Just like everyone else in here. I thought I was going crazy for smelling smoke. It started when I was at work on Tuesday and it ended on Thursday. I even smelled it at home. My wife and I don't smoke. I asked her do you smell cigarettes? She said no of course. I started to google it and I found this wonderful site. It made me feel there are others out there just like me and that I wasn't alone and going crazy. So anyways. I few months ago I had a cold and noticed it then. I got a prescription and the cold went away. It would occur here and there but it wouldn't bother me. I thought since the warm months were coming in. I thought it could of been allergies. My question to everyone is. I don't know how to put this a clean way. When you smell this smoke. Do you have a build up light green snot or clogged nose of dried up green boogies? I am blowing my nose every morning to clear my passage ways. And they are always light green. I am fine for the rest of the day. I never had allergies before but I am getting older. I think I am getting an allergy from the trees and plants. I havn't seen the doctor for this yet but I will soon. If anyone has any info. Let me know. Thanks.

Hi Everyone,

Just like everyone else in here. I thought I was going crazy for smelling smoke. It started when I was at work on Tuesday and it ended on Thursday. I even smelled it at home. My wife and I don't smoke. I asked her do you smell cigarettes? She said no of course. I started to google it and I found this wonderful site. It made me feel there are others out there just like me and that I wasn't alone and going crazy. So anyways. I few months ago I had a cold and noticed it then. I got a prescription and the cold went away. It would occur here and there but it wouldn't bother me. I thought since the warm months were coming in. I thought it could of been allergies. My question to everyone is. I don't know how to put this a clean way. When you smell this smoke. Do you have a build up light green snot or clogged nose of dried up green boogies? I am blowing my nose every morning to clear my passage ways. And they are always light green. I am fine for the rest of the day. I never had allergies before but I am getting older. I think I am getting an allergy from the trees and plants. I havn't seen the doctor for this yet but I will soon. If anyone has any info. Let me know. Thanks.