Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 01-23-04 13:25pm
Hello.
I smell smoke constantly.
It is like being in a small room with a
bunch of smokers.
I have no idea why this is happening, and
keep forgetting to ask my doctor.
I dont' smoke, and am not around any one
who is.
Help!
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san54
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 227 Location: Virginia
Sinus Conditions Posted: 01-23-04 15:06pm
You may have a deep sinus infection. I
would go to an ent specialist.
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Horselvr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 11 Location: California
i hope you're not still smelling the
smoke. I do know what it is like because
it happened to me. It was like having a
bag over my head filled with the smell of
ash trays and cigarretes burning. Come
to find out, I had central nervious system
vasculitis which is inflammation of the
brain and spinal cord. I had a spinal
tap, mri and blood work to confirm the
diagnosis. I would definitely seek help
from a qualified neurologist. Good
luck!
Horselvr
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sananton
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 7 Location: texas
Re: Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 01-24-06 22:57pm
I just started smelling the smoke smell,
and it is driving me nuts. Did you find
out what was causing you to have this
horrific smell, and whether it is sinuses,
that way I can go and see an ent
specialist. I looked up the vaculitis
thing, and I don't have any other
symptoms. I would appreciate any info
you could give me on this, as I said it is
driving me crazy. I've had this for
about 5 days. :x
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Horselvr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 11 Location: California
Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 01-25-06 12:09pm
Dear sanantan,
i wouldn't fool around with what you are
describing. Smelling smoke, i.E.
Burning cigarettes, rubber, etc. Is a
sign of neuro involvement, especially
seizure activity of some sort. I am not
saying that you have this manisfestation
but I would definitely see a neurologist
in your local area. He or she can run
tests to see if you have anything going
on. Let me know what happens with your
doctor visit.
Horselvr
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sananton
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 7 Location: texas
Smelling Smoke Posted: 01-29-06 01:32am
I did go and see a neurologist, but since
I had no other symptoms, and when they
examined me, I didn't display any other
symptoms, it was hard to diagnose what
this smell was coming from. At the time
my sinuses didn't look bad either. I
waited another few days, and my sinuses
got worse, and I went in to see family
doctor, and he said I had a sinus
infection. But neither Dr. Had ever
heard of the smoke thing. I am on an
antibiotic called bioxin for 14 days, been
taking it for 2 days, but haven't noticed
any difference in the smoke smell yet, i'm
hoping it will take care of this smoke
smell in a few more days, if not the doc
said they will deal with that issue once
the sinus infection is gone, plus the
neurologist said that he would order a cat
or mri next week if this didn't go away.
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Horselvr
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 11 Location: California
Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 01-29-06 06:47am
Dear sanatan,
i am curious....What tests did the
neurologist run to determine you didn't
have signs of neuro involvement? The
first time I went to my doctor I had and
eeg which showed slowed brain wave
activity, i.E. Seizures. I also had and
mri and spinal tap, but mine may have been
worse, at least it developed to that
point.
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sananton
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 7 Location: texas
Re: Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 03-31-06 00:02am
horselvr
wrote:
dear sanatan,
i am curious....What tests did the
neurologist run to determine you didn't
have signs of neuro involvement? The
first time I went to my doctor I had and
eeg which showed slowed brain wave
activity, i.E. Seizures. I also had
and mri and spinal tap, but mine may have
been worse, at least it developed to that
point.
dear horselvr,
i had a mri done, and it came out normal,
they also checked all my cavities, said
they were normal, and based on the fact
that I didn't have any signs or symptoms
of pressure on my face or nothing was
tender, he didn't think that I had any bad
sinus infection, checked all my neuro
reflexes, and responses, and also did some
smell tests to see if I could determine
what was the different smells without
knowing what I was smelling. I was later
given the z-pack from my primary doctor,
for a sinus infection, and that helped
with the smell for about 2 months, but it
came back, and it's just as bad, so no
other ideas for now. No other symptoms
other than the smell.
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tebido
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Florida
Re: Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 05-21-06 14:47pm
sananton
wrote:
i just started smelling the
smoke smell, and it is driving me nuts.
Did you find out what was causing you to
have this horrific smell, and whether it
is sinuses, that way I can go and see an
ent specialist. I looked up the
vaculitis thing, and I don't have any
other symptoms. I would appreciate any
info you could give me on this, as I said
it is driving me crazy. I've had this
for about 5 days.
:x
i'm am so glad that I found this website.
I have been experiencing this smelling of
smoke for a couple of years now. It comes
and goes. I thought I was going crazy
until I found this website. It feels like
someone is holding a dirty ashtray right
under my nose. This time it started last
night and I wish I could find a way to
stop it. I do suffer from migraines and
wonder if it could be connected to that.
Do you have migraines?
i hope you're not still smelling the
smoke. I do know what it is like
because it happened to me. It was like
having a bag over my head filled with the
smell of ash trays and cigarretes burning.
Come to find out, I had central
nervious system vasculitis which is
inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
I had a spinal tap, mri and blood work
to confirm the diagnosis. I would
definitely seek help from a qualified
neurologist. Good luck!
Horselvr
hello everyone--here's a post I just made
on the subject--no answers, just joining
the crowd, so far.
Smelling Smoke (cigarette) For Long Periods Posted: 08-13-07 10:57am
Hi
I have had a history of smelling
smoke when I get the flu or a bad cold and
take a lot of meds like Contac or cough
syrup. It never really bothered me (I was
already pretty sick) just let me know the
medicine was in there.
I was in a motorcycle accident in May
of 07 and received a fractured skull. I
had a little bleeding of the membrane
around the brain in front. I was out of
the hospital in four days (my wife didn't
make it, she died 8 days after). I have
the same cig-smoke smell that I used to
only now it's with no meds and it's a lot
of every day, say 4-5 hours out of my
awake time of 16-18 hours.
It' rather irritating, my doctor has never
heard of it and just thinks it may go
away. It isn't as bad as when I first got
out of the hospital.
Hello,
I thought I was alone! I didn't think
that anyone else had the same symptoms. I
would have this off and on for many years
now. When I have it, it would last for
about 4-7 days. It comes and goes through
out the day. My eyes would feel really
dry and have a burning feeling, followed
with a migraine. Anyhow, I wasn't sure of
what it was until Friday night when a
girlfriend of mine mentioned to me that it
might me a severe sinus infection.
Thinking about it today, made me search
the net for answers and I came across this
forum. I would've never thought to go see
an ENT specialist. This forum really
helped. I am looking to setting up an
appointment tomorrow morning and hoping to
get answers soon. I will post my update
after my doctor visit. I am looking
forward to hearing from others about
different treatments to get rid of this
awful smell/feeling. Does anyone have a
good ENT doctor to refer me to in the
Denver (CO) area?
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mmccartney1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 5
Smelling Smoke All the Time Posted: 11-27-07 13:28pm
I was shocked (and happy that I wasn't
loosing my mind) to see other people
dealing with this craziness. I went to my
family doctor this morning and he has
referred me to an ENT. I see them on
Thursday. I'll keep you all posted on
what happens. My doctor seems to think it
could be sinus related so he has put me on
an antibiotic for 7 days. He also stated
that he wanted to do a brain scan. I
asked him why and he said that since your
sinuses are ultimately connected to the
brain, there could be something
malfunctioning there?? I'll check back
soon. Good luck guys...this is so
irritating.
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whyibother
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 2
I Too Smell Smoke Posted: 11-28-07 00:01am
Been smelling cig smoke for 4 months now.
Brain scan negative for tumors. Neuro
tried to tell me I had seizure disorder
(with no follow-up tests) and wanted to
put me on anti-convulsants and report me
to DMV - beware everyone in Calif and
other states that have reporting
guidelines.
Saw an ENT who suggested Nasonex.
Hmmmmmm. . . .
Does anyone else have an issue with:
loose teeth - particularly in the front or
suffer with fibromyalgia?
Thanks . . .
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RickF
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 1
Smelling Smoke Too Posted: 11-28-07 06:10am
I've been smelling smoke STRONGLY for
about a week, everywhere I go. It is
quite annoying. I have actually been
smelling it mildly for several years, but
didn't realize there was really no smoke.
I have a keen sense of smell and can
usually detect faint smells before other
people. I just thought other people were
missing it. I'm looking for any common
threads with other people who have this
condition. I don't currently have a cold
or flu. I don't have any loose teeth and
I've never been tested for fibromyalgia.
No severe head injuries in the past. I
have headaches often, but usually not
intense. I have had blind spots in the
past, which the doctor thought were
probably migraine "auras" but didn't
otherwise know I was having migraines. I
only sleep 3 to 4 hours per night, which
may be the cause of the headaches. I have
been tested and diagnosed with mild sleep
apnea. Recently discovered elevated liver
enzymes and the doctor is testing for a
cause. Already ruled-out hepatitis. I've
never drank alcohol, smoked, or taken any
illegal drugs. I'm not currently on any
medication. If any of this rings a bell
with anyone else, please reply. Good luck
to everyone!
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mmccartney1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 5
Saw the Doctor Yesterday Posted: 11-28-07 11:10am
He put me on an antibiotic named
Cefuroxime, 250 mg. I took it twice
yesterday as prescribed and when I woke up
this morning I thought the smell was gone.
I showered without the smell but after my
shower and I came downstairs, it was back.
We did just get our Christmas Tree on
Saturday. I'm wondering if it has
anything to do with that. It's the only
thing that has changed for me in the past
few days. Seems to coincide with that
anyway. I'm seeing an ENT tomorrow. I'll
keep you guys posted.
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mmccartney1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 5
Saw the Ent Doc Today Posted: 11-29-07 22:47pm
He said that the phantom smell of smoke is
common and usually brought on by a
bacterial sinus infection and inflamation.
Your smell glands are located at the top
of your nose between your eyes. If you
have a substantial bacterial infection in
your sinus cavity accompanied by
inflamation, which I do, it puts pressure
on the smell glands and thus creates
(sometimes) phantasmic smells in your
nose. Sometimes there are no obvious
signs of the sinus infection. (I did not
feel like I had one) So, we are keeping me
on the antibiotic Cefuroxime, 250 mg,
twice a day and also a high dose of
steroids, Prednisone 20 mg, 3 tabs every
morning for 6 days then 2 tabs every 3
days then 1 tab every 3 days. So in
twelve days I'll report back and see if
this is a bunch of nonsense or if it
really works. Man I hope it works. I do
not want to eat Christmas dinner in a bar.
(Cuz that's what I smell all day long up
my nose)
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saralee1803
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 1
Posted: 12-10-07 10:57am
I have also had the same symptom where I
smell cigarrette smoke when there is non
around. I have very frequent headaches,
almost every day and I get migraines often
too. I have noticed when I wear certain
perfumes I smell smoke. I am looking
forward to hear from mmccartney1 to see if
the treatment worked. I know I need to go
see a specialist..
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jodilovescomps
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 6
Smelling Smoke Too Posted: 12-22-07 00:18am
I've been smelling smoke for the last few
days (today is Saturday). Anyone else
taste it as well? On Monday and Tuesday
every time I had a coffee it tasted like
I'd been smoking a pack of cigarettes. At
that stage I couldn't smell smoke. It was
about Wednesday that I started smelling
cigarette smoke, the taste symptoms
stopped. Noone else around me could smell
it. I smell it in the shower, on my
fingers (I'm not a smoker), and just
randomly.
I've been googling and came across this
forum and a few others. I'm trying not to
think it's a brain tumour, but with the
luck I've been having lately...
Anway the Sunday prior to my smoking taste
symptoms, my asthma reared up a little. We
had been cutting concrete in our back yard
and shovelling a lot of dirt. I stayed in
inside, but I think it still affected me
as on the Sunday I was wheezy and tight
all day and my sinuses were blocked
(however I've woken up with blocked
sinuses every day for months. I've always
had a great sense of smell. But back in
Oct, I had a virus and since then, my
sense of smell has been very low).
Anyway, so I'm hoping that this bizarre
smoke smelling is just a sign of an
infection given all the dust etc that was
flying around last week. I do have
headaches though. I tend to get headaches
at the back of my head, lower back (these
have been for a while, I tend to put it
down to bad posture/postioning at my desk
at work, because my shoulders get sore as
well). But anyone had headaches in that
region or in general along with the
smelling problems? I have had a headache
today at the front of my head, just above
my eyes.
I'm off to the doctors on Monday, so we'll
see what happens.
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