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MedHelp Member's Question

Constant smoke smell in nasal passages.

by PN904, Jul 12, 2006 12:00AM
I am a non-smoker. We are a non-smoking family. I am not around smokers at all. Why do I have the constant smell of smoke in my nose. It used to be just an occasional thing, but lately it seems to be all the time. I am concerned that this is a symptom of something I don't know about. The smell is strong. I used to notice it about a half hour after taking my Allegra-D 12 hr. tablets, but now I smell it much more often. Am I going crazy or is there something to this I'm not aware of. Has anyone else experienced this? Please help?
Member Comments (171)

by jesussavedme, Jul 18, 2006 12:00AM
I have had that same smoke smell in my nose from time to time. I also get the sensation that one feels after they have been punched in the nose, but not very often. Probably only about 3 times a year or so. I do have sinus problems and always have, but I have never really taken anything for it other than something over the counter during a cold. I have regular stuffiness and pretty much always have. I just have learned to deal with it. It would be nice to know were that smoke smell comes from. No one else smells it when I say I do. I have never smoked nor have I lived in a home were anyone smokes either.

by PN904, Jul 29, 2006 12:00AM
To: Jesussavedme
Thanks so much for your comments. At least I know I am not going crazy. I found out after I wrote my message that my mom also used to experience the same thing.  She says she is sure that it has something to do with impacted sinus tissue. The doctors still think I'm imagining it but one day I'll find one who takes me seriously and we'll figure out exactly what causes it. Thanks again and I hope you stay well.

by Duchess47, Aug 02, 2006 12:00AM
HI, this happened to me one day out of the blue.  All of a sudden the sensation that someone just lit a match and the sulfur smell just went up my nose.  I did become sick a few days later with sinus issues.  Very strange.

by JDanMan, Aug 21, 2006 12:00AM
The only other thing I have heard concerning this, and I do not mean to be an alarmist, is that a smell of something burning can be related to brain tumors. I suppose if you start smelling it all of the time you should probably be concerned.

by PN904, Aug 23, 2006 12:00AM
Thanks to Duchess47, Wepst and JDanMan for your comments and suggestions. I will seriously look into all of your suggestions and hope that it's just some seasonal allergy thing. Thanks again.

by carlincharleston, Sep 09, 2006 12:00AM
i just started smelling smoke about 2 days ago.  it seems to be getting worse.  it's really starting to bug me now.  i have never smoked, and i'm smelling the smoke when no one else can smell it.

by RHCountess, Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
FINALLY a name for this.  PHANTOSMIA.  I found some links regarding this when I did a search for olfactory damage since I had a cat-scan done and the ENT specialist said that although the scan did not show anything - that it sounded like my past illness had caused some olfactory nerve damage.  There also has been some mention of possible damage being caused by certain medications.  I am going to talk to ENT again regarding possible surgical solution to this since I have seen some info on this being successful before.  This is becoming unbearable at times and even makes my eyes sting.  I am SICK of putting Vicks Vapo-rub under my nose in order to be able to sleep a night.  Have gone through a round of Cipro - but it has not helped.  Has actually gotten worse lately.   My best hope at this point seems to be prayer - but will still keep checking on medical options also.  Please let me know if you have any new info.  ***@****

by RHCountess, Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
I FINALLY found a name for this.  PHANTOSMIA.  It seems to be olfactory nerve damage that can cause phantom smells (smells without a physical source) such as rotting flesh, smoke, or some other unpleasant smell.  This seems to be a connection to viral infections, some medications, or sometime less frequently neurological reasons as a possible source for this condition.  I have seen an ENT specialist and had a cat-scan which did not show anything out of the ordinary - but the specialist said he thought that I had suffered nerve damage which could take months and possibly up to a year to heal - if it ever did heal.   Some mentions of possible instances of surgical solutions without loss of sense of smell - but not sure how proven this path is.  My case seems to be getting worse - have finished a round of Cipro - but no improvement.  Have tried sudafed / Claratin / codeine cough syrup (some relief the following day for a few hours at most).  I also have been battling a case of Thrush (a fungal infection of the tongue / throat) for almost as long as the smoke smell (a result of the Prednisone) taken while sick.

Hope this helps.  Write me at:  ***@**** if you want to discuss further or have any news to share.  Thanks - Maggie

by RHCountess, Sep 12, 2006 12:00AM
Sorry for the almost duplicate posting - not sure why I was unable to view it after the first posting - so I resubmitted with a few changes.

by stevied, Sep 25, 2006 12:00AM
for the last 6 years or so I have been getting these phantom smells .. but not smoking.. weird stuff like wet cement, the smell of baking,some unknown medicine.. sometimes they'll last for 6 months other times they're gone in a week. I have noticed them less often in the last year. My doctor thinks I'm nuts... I know what I smell. I don't have allergies of any kind and I'm in excellent health  and I can learn to live with the smell of fresh baked bread in my nostrils.. I mean it could be owrse.. still I think I should get someone to check this out especially as I read about Phantom smells being a possible side efect of brain tumors...

by wepst, Oct 03, 2006 12:00AM
well i had an mri and it showed nothing.  sometimes i think it's supplements i'm taking and other times i'm not sure.  didn't have it for a while and now it's back again.  sometimes i get eczema around my nose area and i think it's that. most times it starts in my office where they used to smoke inside and now smoke outside.  but as long as i don't have a tumor i'll live with it.

by Yazzer, Oct 06, 2006 12:00AM
I have been experiencing the smell of smoke for about one year now.  I noticed it when I was lying down at night before I went to sleep.  I thought the neighbour was smoking but everytime I'd go to the window to check, there wasn't any smoke smell coming in.  Then I'd lie down and it would come back.  I figured it was smoke coming through from the floor above (although I knew the folks upstairs didn't smoke).  It didn't have a distinctively cigarette, cigar, pipe, food, or marijuana smell but just something I described as "smokey".  I don't smoke and rarely do I burn something while cooking.  Recently, while travelling I got the smell again when going to sleep, so I knew it was something I was 'carrying' with me.  I have since returned home and still get that smell when I'm lying down, even in the day.  I don't know if I'm just noticing it more or if, in fact, it is increasing.

by Belasco, Oct 07, 2006 12:00AM
Hey there, found this message board today after noticing the phantom smoke smell for the past week. The thing I notice I have in common with some of you is that I recently had a bad cold I caught while travelling. The talk of possibly being a symptom of neurological problems and brain tumors is worrisome since this coincided with me discontinuing a prescription of Lithium that was making me break out in acne. Anyone know if the two could be connected some how? I rarely have colds and don't have allergies per se. I do have mild sinus issues that are aggravated by changes in the weather, but nothing major at all. The smoke smell is driving me crazy!

by daisysmom, Jul 09, 2007 06:28PM
To: jesussavedme
do you still having the problem with smelling smoke?  Any ideas on what to do?

by jazbetaiv, Jul 10, 2007 09:09PM
To: daisymom
I'm glad I found this message board, I thought I was losing my mind.  I've been smelling some sort of burning for about six months now.  It comes and goes completely at random and at different severities.  When it started I thought it was the baby's diaper pail on fire.  Anyways, does anybody know if this is going to go away or if anything can be done?