Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Forum - I Smell Cigarettes All the Time And I Don't Smoke.


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PLCLARK

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Joined: 07 Feb 2008
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smelling smoke Posted: 02-07-08 17:26pm


What in the world is going on with this. I am smelling smoke too. I smell it everywhere so I know it isn't just my house. Apparently it doesn't matter if you are 40 and fit or old and falling apart. I am 65 and have been smelling this for about six months. Also have headaches that I have never had before and took two rounds of antibiotics for a sinus infection. A CT scan shows mild inflammation in the sinus. This is annoying. The only solace I have is knowing I am not the only one.

kathyv

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unbelieveable Posted: 02-11-08 18:37pm


Hi All, Yes, I too smell cigarette smoke at times and am so glad I decided to Google it. 48, good health, had CT and MRI for tinnitus, nothing there, except my right septum is deviated. Right now I have constant post nasal drip, and "full ear" feeling, but no sinus infection or infection of any kind detected. I'm going to try the Neti Pot gig and will let you know. After reading the entire collection of entries, I'm leaning more toward fungus or something in the nasal cavity. I'll let you know. Before I Googled this, I just laughed to myself that I would never find anything! Jokes on me!

Galaxy

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Posted: 02-11-08 21:26pm


Interesting, kathyv - I have the same symptoms as you, but I don't smell cigarettes any more. I did, for several years after I gave up smoking - I used to think there must be pockets of old smoke stuck somewhere in my sinuses! I use Nasonex nightly and that stopped the smell but I still have the post nasal drip and the full ear. I also have a deviated right septum and am awating a surgeon's decision as to whether or not to operate on it as I am having repeated sinus infections

mcmommy

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Posted: 02-12-08 16:12pm


I also have this problem and also have a history of sinus problems, diagnosed over 19 years ago. I am healthy, thin, good blood pressure and only 29 years old. I do not take any prescription medications. No one in my home smokes. I just thought I would google the cigarette smell too, to see how to get rid of it; it is driving me nuts. All that said, I am currently pregnant with my 4th child and in the dryest part of the year. I always have extra sinus problems when I'm pregnant and that is where I'm at now. After reading many of the responses here, it seems to be connected to sinus issues. Anyone have this happening to them even though they are in a humid climate? It is dry dry dry here, and I know that for me, that leads to all sorts of problems, including frequent nosebleeds. Interesting. Now I won't be so scared; I was also thinking brain tumour. blush

Galaxy

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Posted: 02-12-08 16:56pm


I think everyone has that thought at first, mcmummy! I have very dry airways - even when I have a cold, it manifests as dry crust (yuck) and never moistness. I also have dry eye syndrome for which I have artificial tears (on prescription) and a very dry mouth. I believe there is something you can get to lubricate your nasal passages but I will need to research it. Good luck with your pregnancy - 4, eh? You must have a busy household!

mcmommy

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Posted: 02-12-08 17:20pm


Thanks! Yup, busy household for sure. I have 3 boys so far and the oldest is 5. LOL

Galaxy

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Posted: 02-12-08 17:25pm


LOL? Is that a somewhat manic LoL?

peteismyname

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smoke gets in your.....nose? Posted: 02-16-08 20:27pm


i seem to have become smitten with this cigarette burning smell without a visible sign of a cancer stick anywhere... it is really annoying...only experience it indoors...and is more noticeable around 11am and again about 3pm...would this correspond to a delay after breakfast and then lunch?... i have recently been on antibiotics for chest infection but had to stop early as they were affecting my stomach.... have had sinus infections in past and experience numerous headaches with the odd migraine from time to time.. is there any conclusive diagnosis of what causes this and why the smell of cigarette smoke..why not rotting fruit or damp clothing? i notice a number of users here have mentioned they were in various stages of treatment ..very few it seems have come back with progress reports or conclusions.... would be nice to have some firm answers....... anybody? sniff sniff!!!

justmetoo

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stale cigarette smoke smell haunts me Posted: 02-18-08 12:12pm


I noticed a stale cigarette smoke smell about 3 months ago. No one else notices it. It is with me wherever I go. Alot of the same situations apply to me (sinus infections, sinus washes, migraines, etc.). What a blessing if someone could help.

a1j

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Joined: 01 Mar 2008
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smelling smoke Posted: 03-01-08 22:08pm


Another member of the "Smelling Smoke" group joins you. I can't believe this. I just began to experience this 'round the clock. It seems to be go away outdoors, but any indoor space feels like I am sitting at an old musty bar surrounded by smokers. I've previously experienced this smell on a few separate occasions, but nothing overwhelming. I noticed, but no one else did. Today, was horrible! No one smelled it, but I've had itchy dry eyes and a scratchy throat all day. I used sinus spray and relieved it for like 5 minutes. I am going tomorrow to buy the neti pot. I pray that helps.

1812Scott

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Smelling it too Posted: 03-02-08 05:14am


Unbelievable we all smell this stuff. I don't smoke, nor does anyone around me. I smell cigarettes at home, at work, in the store, on the bus I take to/from work...all over. It started in November 07. The only think I can think of that I was doing then that I hadn't done before was use Zycam gel swabs, which I applied to the inner portions of my nostrils when we had a cold bug going through our house. My symptoms are about the same as everyone else's. I'm 44 and in good health. One thing I seem to think is interesting: those little nasal strips one can use to help breathe better, they might help. I emulate what they do with my fingers and make the nasal passage a little larger and the smell is gone. I'm not going to even waste time going to a doctor with this. My guess is that it is some type of fungus or bacterial infection that is way up there in the nose and seems to take advantage when some type of medication destroys the good/bad microbiological fauna of that area. It's almost like some organism that is opportunistic may take advantage. I'm thinking it might not be vulnerable to typical antibiotics since they don't seem to be helping anyone. Also, since they aren't being seen by doctors up there, they're probably also very well hidden or well camoflauged in the tissues. Several people said the Neti pots help -- maybe that's the assault that these little buggers need. THat's just my best guess. I'm going to try one of these little pots and see what happens. I will get back to you all!!

moonphaz

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Joined: 05 Mar 2008
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Me too........... Posted: 03-05-08 15:27pm


I am having the same thing & did what you all did and that is look up "smelling smoke." I have never heard of this, but it started about a month or so ago. It is driving me crazy too. I was using a Netti Pot (where you put saline through your nose for sinus cleansing), but I have done that before without this happening so I have no clue. I have not seen the doctor because I thought it would go away, but it has not. I am allergic to cigarette smoke & sometimes it makes me sneeze just because I smell it so strongly as if someone around me is smoking. I am going to my acupuncturist today & going to ask her about it. Maybe she can help. If so, I will let you know. Please let me know if you guys hear anything else or find the cause of it. Surely this isn't going to last forever!!! Later...Debbie

nomad17

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Smelling Cigarette Smoke Posted: 03-07-08 17:05pm


About a month or so ago, I started smelling cigarette smoke where there shouldn't be any cigarette smoke and where nobody else smells it. At first, I thought I was smelling residual smoke from some article of clothing around me. None of my family or friends smoke, and I work at a public elementary school, but I would smell faint odor of cigarettes quite often at home, at school, in my car. I knew something wasn't quite right. Today when I was in my office at school, I smelled it most of the day, so I thought I'd google and see what came up, not really expecting much. At first I read something about brain or olfactory tumors, but then I came upon this forum. Seems like sinus problems are the common denominator...and I definitely have had a number of sinus infections in the past several years, and about 15 years ago, I had a very serious infection...sickest I've been in my life. I'm going to check into fungus possibilities. I had an ear fungus decades ago, that was almost never diagnosed because it was a bit unusual. I now seem to be developing a yeast infection...maybe my body, including my nose, is being overrun by fungus? I'm 47 years old, and I don't ever use prescription drugs.

I can help

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Smell burnt but no smoke Posted: 03-08-08 04:53am


I have had this post nasal drip inner ear problem for a few years, it would settle when I stopped drinking milk, and come back after icecream latte's or milk... I put up with it until now. I started to smell burnt smoke. my neigbours don't smoke, no one smokes in my home, it comes near the end of the day for me. I drank this 'Green Drink', a highly concentrated powder of green food, blue alge, and other good for u stuff, and it went away for a few days, I drank milk and later that night the burnt smell came back accompanied by inner ear infection, also too much sugar doesn't help either, I noticed improvement in my eustation tube when I stopped cookies/brownies, sweet food, it is difficult because I enjoy eating the food, but now with the burnt smell I am scared, and the green drink really helped.. I just now have to stay away from milk and sugar foods and I am back to normal.

foodie15

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Can't TASE OR SMELL AFTER BOUT WITH BRONCHITIS!!! HELP PLEASE! Posted: 03-11-08 15:25pm


I notice these postings are from a while back. I have been on every website possible. I had a bad bout with bronchitis the second week of February and since then, I cannot taste or smell anything! I am frustrated and annoyed and a little scared. I have had some people tell me it will return but I have not talked with anyone that has had this happen to them. I can distinguish sweet, salty, and spicy, but that's it. Cigarette smoke smells like hair is burning and coffee..........eeww, smells almost fishy. Someone please help me - my doctor said if it doesn't return, I could go on heavy doses of steroids but this is out of the question. I am done with medication for a while. Will it come back??? This is the 4th week!

Fairy*Godmother

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ON BOARD! Posted: 03-11-08 15:29pm


I will be so glad when SOMEONE finally diagnoses what this damned smell is......if its not cigarettes, its something burned. Have had this on and off for several years. No one else smells it and when I tell someone they think I'm nuts.......I AM!

jrroasio

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Smoke Smell Posted: 03-14-08 11:34am


I found the solution to smelling smoke constantly. A few months ago I visited a casino where there was lots of smoking. I smelled this smoke constantly for about 2 months, almost drove me crazy. Then I saw on Oprah Winfrey about using a neti pot for nasal health. I tried it and haven't smelled smoke since. You can acquire a pot at the health food store. I was amazed at how simple the solution was to curing this annoying smell. Try it, you'll be thrilled.

montana05

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WOW Posted: 03-14-08 16:51pm


i am just like the rest in regards to the symptom of smelling smoke. i have read all responses. this is my history. i never experienced this until 2005. i was in a horrible accident in april of 05. i was a passenger in a car sitting at a stand still waiting for oncoming traffic to make a left turn and a truck plowed into the back of the car at 80mph. i suffered many many injuries but the worst was a spinal cord injury. a spinal cord injury causes a neurological disorder as your brain signals travel down your spinal cord telling you to move a foot or finger for example. i was in the hospital five months with a trach on a vent etc... not until i was released did i start experiencing this. in addition, when i cry or yawn and my eyes water, my eyes burn horribly as others on this site seem to experience. it has to be neurologial. the brain is an amazing this.

One a day

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I just started smelling smoke for about a month... Posted: 03-16-08 14:02pm


I have been smelling smoke for about a month and can't ignore it any more. I didn't really think I would find anything on the internet and am surprised to find this forum on my first exploration. I am 50 and used to smoke (years ago). Have no known allergies but had a heart attack in 2002 and take meds due to that. Since the heart attack I exercise regularly and eat well balanced meals. I am slightly overweight and don’t have depression, etc. The only regular medicines I take are due to the heart attack and they are as follows: 325mg Aspirin (AM), 12.5mg Metoprolol (AM), Multivitamin (AM), 75mg Plavix (PM), 20mg Simvastatin (PM) and 12.5mg Metoprolol (PM). Two meds were changed from brand name to generic recently: 1. Blood pressure medicine was changed from Toprol-XL once a day to Metoprolol twice a day. 2. Statin medicine was changed from Lipitor to Simvastatin. I guess I need to call the doctor and get a nose scope for polyp and a CT scan for tumors.

kana

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Posted: 03-16-08 21:46pm


I'm 22 years old and just started smelling smoke about 3 days ago. At first, I blamed it on my father who lives in the apartment upstairs, but after several trips to the mall, target, and being other nonsmoking zones, I don't believe it is actual smoke I'm smelling. Nobody else can smell it. A few years ago, my mother lost her sense of smell completely. She's 49. No doctors can tell her what's wrong, so I'm discouraged and not at all motivated to ask my doctor. About a week before I started smelling smoke, I had a constant headache for a few days. Sinus medication was the only thing that helped it. I NEVER get headaches. Luckily, the headache is gone, but this smoke smell is horrible.