weird smell after head injury

[gigi987]

About 5 months ago I was injured at work when a 10 lb. steel bar fell from about 15 ft., hitting me in the back of the head. I suffered a concussion/contusion and ended up with 11 staples in my head. Since then I've had many  symptoms like dizziness, headaches,loss of memory, and tiredness. But the strangest one is I have this weird smell that just will not go away. everything from air to gasoline smells like it. It's a horrible smell. I even taste it when I eat!!! I can't stand it. I hold my breath or breathe really lightly sometimes just so I don't smell it as bad. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and will it go away??

[SamPCS]

Ofcourse I understand about Workmans Comp.  I was given comp only for 5 months then they stopped saying I can work, but doctors completely disagreed and want me to be on disability.  I don't have strength to fight them back and is a big Insurance company.Now I have to work from home and though it is taxing at-least I feel little useful.

If you are really want to go further with the smell issue you can check out http://www.tasteandsmell.com/  I wanted to go there but they accept only Medicare and not any other type of Insurance.  Again nothing is guaranteed but he may be able to help since he addresses only smell and taste disorder for 30 years.

You have a Merry Christmas too.  

[Eco14]

I too smell things that are not there and it smells like something died. Not something you want to have to smell all the time. My head injury was in Oct 2000 its been a rough road but after a while with meds and alternative eastern methods I found help. There is hope and help out there try acupuncture.

[Ugotthe7out]

What kind of meds and alternative medicines?

[MiserableAndHungry]

This conversation feed really made !e feel "not so alone" with what I'm going through... The original question is almost exactly what I am going through. Except I have also lost most of my hearing in my left ear. EVERYTHING smells and tastes like burning moldy rubber, but to different degrees. Anything with an ingredient like high fructose corn syrup (I think) is completely nauseating. The strange thing about this though is sometimes water will faintly have "THE TASTE" so maybe I'm detecting something faint in the water? I can generally feel different sensation like tastes in anything that is sweet or salty etc.

I have found small joys in this nightmare... Like milk, no bad smell, no bad taste (or any taste) and gingerale is surprising not bad either. But this issue and horrible smell/taste is consuming my life since no one know exactly what I'm going through constantly, literally. I was an amazing cook before I got my simple concussion but won't step foot in that putrid smelling kitchen anymore. Smell was also a VERY important sense to me. I had an amazing sharp and strong sense of smell that felt like a special gift I was grateful to have.

I don't have insurance so Im not getting any answers to my questions and the ER only checked for a fractured skull and sent me out the door before I could ask any questions. It has been about 6momths and ivce had no changes. I don't know what to do except look for stories of people who have been in my shoes.
I miss the smell of my little boy so much that it makes me cry, often.

[Tms1950]

This January, I passed out from low blood pressure and smacked the back of my noggin on the tile floor in the bedroom. I wound up with two frontal lesions and one in back. I keep smelling different types of smoke. Everything from cigarettes and cigars to burning leaves and diesel exhaust. Dr says it may get better after a year but no promises. So now I am checking my smoke alarms weekly and hoping for the best!

[gigi987]

Good luck to you to. I'll let you know what the ENT says. My workmans comp doctor is sending me to him. I know there is nothing he can do but I have to follow my comp docs advice. I'll keep in touch. Have a Merry Christmas!!

[SamPCS]

You are right.  I don't have Anosmia - more like Parosmia.  Yes, it is tough I understand if you cook a lot that too for kids.  Sorry for you.  People think it is not big deal and only who suffers know what it is.  

I gently caution you about ENT.  Don't expect much from them.  

In another thread one lady lost several years ago but took it in a very positive way.  May be that is what we should do.  May be there is a chance we can get it back.

Good luck.

[gigi987]

I have to go to a ENT on the 6th of January to see if he can figure out what is going on, but it is so stressful. I am a single mother of 4 kids so believe me I cook alot. I can't even cook the same because I can't taste test anything to make sure it tastes ok.My kids complain about the way things taste . It's just a major nuisence...I did read up on the Anosmia. I think what we have is more like Phantosmia or Dysosmia. These 2 are related to the strange smells. Anosmia is loss of smell and taste. I don't know what to do but I do know things sure aren't the same. Thank you for your input. I'm sorry about what you are going through.

[SamPCS]

I had a similar mild traumatic brain injury a year and half ago and now suffering from Post Concussion syndrome with most of the symptoms like you have.  I tried many medicines, seen many specialists, therapies etc., with not much success and the progress is extremely slow and some times relapse.  

My smell and taste also messed up and nothing smells the way is supposed to be.  Medically they put this under Anosmia (loss of smell and taste).  I wish some times it is gone altogether than go through nasty smells/taste.  It makes me not want to smell or eat anything and I have to stuff my food most of the time.  It is horrible and no one can understand unless you go through it.

Your olfactory system/brain may be damaged and no one can predict the outcome.  One Neuro/ENT doctor asked me to pray to GOD.

Normally they say in 6 months to 1 year it may come back if you are lucky and pray.

Good luck.