Occasional Hypersensitivity to Smell and Taste

I am a 20 year old male. Every now and again I experience hypersensitivity to smell and taste. (For the past week it has been every day). It happens like this: All of a sudden my nasal/sinus passages seem to clear up and I feel like I can smell everything very clearly, even my clothes. I also have a bad taste in my mouth, almost metallic.

I was thinking that it could be a migraine, but I dont get a headache. Could it be from not getting enough sleep? Over the summer I started to get it, then I went to bed earlier and it slowly went away for a while. Is there anything else that is associated with these symptoms? I am a pretty healthy person. Thanks.

[runaroundalkaline]

I read your problem with hypersensitivity to smell and taste.  I am on the Internet looking for answers to my problem of the past few years dealing with hypersensitivity to smell and noise.  I do not have any answers, but would love to have some.  I have a tremendous sensitivity to smelling a lot of things, but most recently cooking odors.  My sense of smell seems to be so keen.  Also, I don't like noisy places.  My sense of hearing is very keen.  I can hear better than most kids and young adults.  I am a very healthy woman of 59 years.

If anyone has any answers, please speak up.  I am  bit clueless and my husband cooks.  You wouldn't believe what we have to go through for him to cook something in the house.

Help in Columbia, SC.

runaroundalkaline

[wonkalollie]

I am a 45 year old Female that has recently developed a hypersensitivty to smell.  Its driving my family and co-workers nuts.  They dont smell anything, and Im smelling all these strange smells.  Like stagnant water or stale dog pee.  Its terrible, is that a symptom of something?.  Someone please advise.

[electronjohn]

I have been having the same issue for over 10 years now.  If I sneeze, blow my nose, or sometime move to fast I become hypersensitive to smell and taste.  Things you normal don't smell become apparent, clothing, water, breath... things that taste good become horrible... coffee, chocolate, etc...  One it starts, it doesn't go away until I do one of the solutions I've listed below.   I've noticed it happens more in high allergy season and rainy weather, but it can happen anytime really.

I've had sinus surgery and that didn't help, and my ENT doctor had no idea what I was talking about.

Only solutions that I have found that work to clear the issue is laying on my side.  Netipot... the weird pot that runs water through your sinuses, or just going to bed.

Any other info would be greatly appriciated.

[Canadianboy2]

I can totally relate to umdterps, this has been happening to me, I experience hypersensitivity to smell and taste. For me it’s been every few days this past week and ongoing for the past month or so.  All of a sudden my nasal/sinus passages seem to clear up and I feel like I can smell everything very clearly. I also have a bad taste in my mouth, I drink water, bottled, tap, or other drinks and it’s like everything has a weird taste to it and I can’t get rid of it. When I'm just sitting at work or home I still have a weird after taste in my mouth even when I haven’t had something to eat or drink for some time so I drink something to get rid of it and it doesn't go away, and all the while I'm able to smell everything like crazy. I just started swimming on a daily basis and wondering if somehow the chlorine in the water has affected me in some way. So far perfumes haven’t bothered me, it’s all the other scents one comes across in daily life that seem to bother me, I never knew there were so many smells everywhere,  it’s like  a whole new world has opened up and I’m not sure I like it.

[Duchesssix]

I too am having a sudden problem with hypersensitivity to smell.  I see from reading this may not be so uncommon.  However, everyone is just explaining their story I see no solutions.  Does anyone have an answer to this problem?  These smells are killing me!!!

[dancleg]

I too have a hypersensitive sense of smell at times.  It causes me migraines, nausea, and just plain to not feel well.  It seems to get worse in the cooler months when my neighbors start using their fireplace and my house smells like smoke on a daily basis.  Some things I've found that can cause this are fibromyalgia (FMS) and  Multiple  Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).  I have FMS, allergies, and migraines.  I'm hoping to get in to some specialists to find out exactly what's going  on with the smells....ex if the allergies are just in overdrive or if it's the FMS which sends everything haywire...or something else.  I hope we can all find solutions to this sensitivity....I'm sure it will make life a little easier :)

[Stephen17]

Welcome to my world! I have SUFFERED this problem for years, and it's getting worse. I don't have an issue with taste, but I do with smell and sound. It's like I'm a character for Edgar Allen Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." I smell everything: water, clothes, fragrance in EVERY product, and smoke of every kind. I even smell "unscented" products. For the last week I've been in hell because it's cold where I live and the neighbors are using their fireplaces. I cannot get away form the smoke smell.  

My wife and son are wonderfully supportive. They make every effort to limit the smells that come into the house. I haven't even started stating my issues with noise. I hear vibrations from motors of cars, air conditioning units, and machinery of all types. It drives me crazy! To eat in a restaurant with music playing in the "background" is out of the question.

Okay. What is the solution? No one can tell me. I've been to several doctors. The allergist said I have allergies, but they are the type that is untreatable - whatever that means. I saw an internal medicine physician. He said I was having migraines without the headache. Sorry, no treatment options offered other than to avoid the smells. I looked online and found the diagnoses of "sensory defensiveness." There are no real treatment options other than exercise. I’ve tried anti-anxiety meds. They cause me to be sluggish but don’t help the problem.

I am diabetic, and I have found that blood sugar control helps some. I also find that I feel much better if I eat as low-carb as possible. My pain threshold is higher and my tolerance greater.

Obviously I'm not alone. Will someone please help us?!

[dreaminvermont]

Well it's nice to know I'm not alone.  I am hypersensitive to smells, noises and tastes.  I am 59 years old and type 2 diabetic.  I don't believe the diabetes has anything to do with it.  I joke around that I was a dog in a former life.  I can smell things nobody else can.  I hear things before anyone else.  Ironically I used to sense things were going to happen before they did.  I have also thought I was color blind in a wierd sense because I don't see the same colors as other people.  My family laughs at me but as I have gotten older it has really made me wonder what is going on.  

[ronelle285]

hello everyone, I'm Ronelle Polon,30 years old...I can relate to every comment i just read,i've been in a same situation for more than 10 years until now and no one seems to find cure not a single doctor and no one seems to understand what i am talking about...but reading all your comments there seem to be a difference on my experience...every time i smell something i feel dizzy and i almost faint..they say it's like when a woman is pregnant..a single smell becomes 500x stronger..i cannot enter higher level and enclosed buildings,crowded areas,limit smells inside my home,limit what i eat..only simple foods..the ultimate solution is to confine myself in an odorless place...a couple of months ago my anxiety started i felt like the end of my days..been confined to a hospital choose a well ventilated room and  doctors found cyst or masses in my liver and kidney...and they said it's not at all related to my hypersensitivity to smells.....i hope and pray there is a cure for all of us....P.S. :If someone has already found a cure or any therapy i would appreciate if you add me to my facebook account... Ronelle Polon..thanks & God bless to everyone..

[babsmason]

ron,
i don't have cure but some imformation that might help.  i suffer from migraines without pain and during episode i hear and smell more, even my vision is different.  my doctor put me on norotriptyline and older antideppresent for my migraines and it seems to help some.  still very sensitive to smell, so allergic to perfumes i can go in shock.  this is an isolating condition for which the doctor's have not provided a name of a disease but more and more people are getting it.  i also have lupus which is attacking my immune system.  i have slight problem with liver and i do believe there is a connection with your liver problems.  if you want to communticate with me about this you can reach me at: ***@****

[BluntBrit]

Maybe you've just identified the problem without knowing - being diabetic but associated with the drugs? I've noticed that as my medication has been increased, so has my sensitivity to certain smells increased. The worst being washing-up liquids and washing powders. I'll mention this to my doctor and see what he has to say, then I'll get back to you.

[sharonannemail]

Well as for me...  Baby, I was born this way.... I had a traumatic birth, barely survived. My parents were told I perhaps only had [at most] 4 hours to live.

I've learned some quite logical explanations from wonderful book - which describes it all to a "T" with all the whys and how's.

My library first ordered it for me, but I loved it so I then got it on Amazon.

The only challenge. I've not found a practitioner [in my local area] to help me. However the book has been a godsend for my psyche!

"Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World"  by Sharon Hell

Note: President Kennedy's baby died of the same premature lung condition I had only 3 years later - with all their money - they could not save him!!!

There was no logical MEDICAL reason for me to remain alive after those 4 hours, although obviously oxygen deprived - blue to say the least - it was truly a medical MIRACLE, (only FAITH & PRAYER). Plus the fact that I'm not blind from it all.

Another side-note, Stevie Wonder's blindness was due to high doses of oxygen, also from a traumatic birth.

I've since paid a very high price for living, but still had full a (good) wonderful life. Cheerleader, gymnist, went onto college, marriage, children, own my own business, have grandchildren.

Now I'm paying the piper not only with EVERYTHING you all include and more. I could write ditto, ditto, ditto, but may I also add in...

Have been mis-diagnosed of TIA's for 6 years - costing me 10's of $1,000.00's of dollars in dianostics. Then I see a Youtube video of a TV reporter, believed to having a stroke, live broadcasting about Lady Gaga. Only to find out she was experiencing Migraines w/Aura. BINGO! Now on the proper meds!

Chronic Pain with Fibromyalgia, not much help.

Autoimmune Complex Disorder, with Rheumatoid Arthritis with Sjögren's, on the proper medication.

Good LUCK, you just MIGHT relate a great deal to the book!

Sharon Anne