Things smell funny lately

[cjsmith]

For the past few days or maybe a week, many things have smelled... odd... to me. On Tuesday, Spaghetti-Os smelled like rosemary. A cheeseburger smelled like fresh cut paper (or cardboard?) Wednesday, and even more disturbingly, last night a cheeseburger smelled like nothing at all! It had mustard on it. How can I not smell at least the mustard? Potato chips and french fries both smell somewhat sour, but they taste okay. My body's waste products smell like old fish; conversely, bad breath smells fecal. Today, driving in traffic, I was sure I should be smelling icky car exhaust smells, but what my nose reported was a pot of freshly drained pasta.

This is mildly disturbing. What is going on with my body? Does this have something to do with the new nutritional supplements I just started? I am sure at least the bit about my body's waste products does indeed relate to that; among other things, I'm taking 1.8g of "marine lipid concentrate", whatever that may be, twice a day. But what's going on with my olfactory sense?

Comments

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Its time to check with your doctor. Changes in your sense of smell can be an indication of a serious problem.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh bummer. Really? It's not likely to be just the new vities? I was thinking of discontinuing those first, just to see.

Re:

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I'd heard that changes in sense of smell could indicate neural problems. Seems, on research, that I didn't get it quite right. Then again, I'm a worry wart.

http://www.drkoop.com/conditions/ency/article/003052.htm
Smell, impaired
Considerations:
The loss of smell is usually an insignificant result of nasal congestion or obstruction, but it can sometimes indicate a neurological disorder. Loss of the sense of smell may be idiopathic (without any identifiable cause).

Some loss of smell occurs normally with aging. In most cases, there is no obvious or immediate cause, and there is no treatment.

Temporary loss of the sense of smell is common with colds and nasal allergies such as hay fever ( allergic rhinitis ). It may occur following a viral illness.

The sense of smell is often lost with disorders that prevent air from reaching the part of the nose where smell receptors are located (the cribriform plate, located high in the nose). These disorders may include nasal polyps , nasal septal deformities, and nasal tumors .

Other disorders that may cause a loss of the sense of smell include tumors of the head or brain, head trauma , and a wide variety of endocrine , nutritional, and nervous disorders.

Many medications may change or decrease the ability to detect odors.

Most people who lose the sense of smell can differentiate salty, sweet, sour, and bitter tastes. These tastes are sensed on the tongue. They may not be able to distinguish other flavors. Some spices such as pepper may stimulate facial nerves and may be sensed rather than smelled.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Mm, interesting. I'm still smelling a lot of stuff... I wonder if what I have isn't "smell, impaired" but rather "smell, scrambled". :-) I guess this line might sort of point to the supplements: Many medications may change or decrease the ability to detect odors.

Open top of head. Stir contents. Close. :-)

Re:

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Open top of head. Stir contents.

I love it!

[cassidyrose.livejournal.com]

"smell scrambling" often is a result of neural problem.