E-stim Stockings and Burnt Matches

[Guitar_grrrl]

Yep, that's the description of my current flare.  Been going on since April 1. Imagine those e-stim patches they use in physical therapy in the form of stockings to the mid-thigh.  Turn the amplitude up to that threshold where you start feeling/seeing fasciculations, and there you have it!  Add the smell of burning matches and burning cigarettes (nobody here smokes), and, well, welcome to my life right this minute, lol!  When the burning smells started, my sister and I were in my car, and about 20 minutes into the ride, I finally asked her if she smelled a burning cigarette.  "Uhh, no..."  It's all so d@mn weird!  

I feel totally weak, too, but neuro says my strength is OK, but the sensation of feeling weak, and the sensory stuff points to a lesion in the thalamus.  He doesn't want to give me steroids, as I'm already on Tysabri, and he just isn't comfortable stacking immunosuppressants.  So, I'm resting.  I'm supposed to be training for a 50K ride, but my bike is getting dusty. *sigh*

[Poppy7402]

I thought I was the only one going nutty, asking the family whether they could smell something burning at times.

So pleased it's just another of those weird brain things.

Poppy

[SarahL2491]

Oh, goodie, I am not the only one wandering thru the house at night, looking for the smoke and/or flame!

Thanks for sharing!

[Lulu54]

At times it can be so intense, like yesterday, that i have to mention it to my coworkers to see if they smell it.  At home I have even had my family smell me - at least sniff around at my hair and head - to see if they can pick up any scent.  

[Guitar_grrrl]

The burnt smells last 20-60 minutes for me.  So weird!  This is the first time this has happened for me.  Strange that it'll take a few months break for you.  I've met other MSers who've had sense of smell disturbances, too.

[Lulu54]

I hate to read you problems but am so glad to read it.  Just yesterday at work i again had the burnt dust (like when the furnace kicks on for the first time in the heating season) or singed hair (like burnt from a curling iron)  smell.  It drives me buggy when it happens - I get it quite often at work but have it also at home at times.  

Does the smell last long?  For me it is at most a 5-10 minute thing and then gone, only to reappear again.  But then I can go months without it and suddenly have the smells again.