Smelling nerve irritation

[karinuk]

Hi,

I am experiencing a very annoying problem which is driving me absolutely crazy at the moment.
I have been using a lot of Sterillium (hand desinfectant) this autumn. As I often have my hands nibbling on my lips (shouldn't, I know), the alcohol must have gone up and into the nose. After some weeks I had the feeling that it is irritating my smelling nerves as some smells become unpleasent (mostly aggressive smells). I stopped using the Sterillium. About 10 days ago, I used a very aggressive washing up liquid and suddenly I had the feeling I can't bear smelling it. I immediately got a very bitter taste in my mouth which stayed there for hours. After that experience I tried to absolutely avoid aggressive chemicals ... as good as possible. Bought unscented products and so on. But only 2 days later, I cut raw cauliflower, and this must have been extremely irritating to my nerves because the same happend es with the washing up liquid, just that the bitter taste has ne gone since then (7 days now!!!). I think this is due to absolutely over-irritated smelling nerves, and as there is a proven connection between the bitter taste and the smell, I now have this permanent bitter taste :(

Does anyone of you know this??? Or know someone who experienced a smelling nerve irritation? At the moment, I am running around with a nose clip and panicking whenever I "smell" anything ... Can I do anything else to make it better? Or just avoid any irritating smells as good as possible and give the nerves time to calm down and go back to normal?? I am so confused and desperate. I would be very grateful to anyone who could give me some home ...  But how long can it take for irritated nerves to calm down??

[karinuk]

Would you recommend trying Neti Pot even if I do not have a sinus infection? How can this help me?
As you have written, it's definietely the "damage done by inhaling harsh chemicals ..."
Yeah, ENT would be nice but I live in the UK and I'd first have to see the GP and ask for transferral. And then I will have to be on a waiting list for an ENT .. who knows for how long. So if it does not get better, I will think about the GP after the holidays but now I cannot do much :(

[tschock]

Phantom smells can occur from sinus infections, damage done by constantly inhaling harsh chemicals, etc.
An ENT would serve you better.
Try a sinus rinse ( such as neti pot ) and see if that helps.