"hyperosmia"

[BethU]

I wonder if the extreme sensitivity to certain odors has something to do with the bulbar area that also controls sneezes, etc. It's not a question of smelling things that others can't ... it's the extreme over-reaction ... feeling that you can't breathe, even when the odors are very mild. Very strange symptom !

 

[rose]

OK, I've the opposite problem. I just discovered I cannot smell Clorox bleach. At all! I can smell other things, but no chlorine. What's up with that? I literally stuck my nose down in the bottle of Clorox today, (it wasn't even one of the scented versions, just regular classic Clorox) and I could pick up a faint whiff and that was it. So, then I went and found my bleach pen, couldn't smell it, searched out all of the bleach based bathroom cleaners in the house, couldn't smell the chlorine in them. Anyone else?

 

[Katie C]

So um... Rose... now that you've done your research, PLEASE stop sniffing chlorine fumes! Geez. ;-)

 

[GlenBrittle]

I wonder if the extreme sensitivity to certain odors has something to do with the bulbar area that also controls sneezes, etc. It's not a question of smelling things that others can't ... it's the extreme over-reaction ... feeling that you can't breathe, even when the odors are very mild. Very strange symptom !

YES .. this happened to me yesterday when Wanda was cleaning the shower. I left the room quickly , could not draw in air . It was scary - real scary. A couple of hits of Ventolin opened my breathing back up.

 

[Cherry]

I've tried to cut out as many chemical based things in the home, nothing to do with hubby choking, but because I think the least chemicals around the better. Even use washing crystals and plant-based washing powder. I don't use perfume myself and don't spray cleaning products that I think might be harmful to him. I can only do my best. Can't do anything about the outside world though!

Love to all, Cherry.

 

[rose]

I have a neuro appt today, so I'm going to ask her. There is nothing else that I've noticed is missing in the smell department. What I don't get is the cranial nerve responsible for smell (I thought) is located outside of the bulbar area..... and yeah, no more sniffing chemicals LOL

 

[indigosd]

Rose, the ability to not smelling the odiferous smell of Chlorox is a plus in my book. Stop doing nose hits of those noxious fumes! It is just like if you have a bruise, you touch it and it hurts so you keep touching it to make sure it still hurts! Or...the guys will love this one, someone passes a horrid toot-you smell it and gag and then you do a huge nose hit to make sure it still stinks! What is up with that?! lol Web hasn' t reported any loss of smell yet.