I just googled this because I literally had a severe Influenza B last week and am unable to smell and taste, but I occasionally can smell burned plastic!!! I was shocked to see your comment because it has taken me 2 days to figure out how to describe the sour/sickening sweet smell. Please tell me that you are 1. Still living and 2. Have recovered your sense of smell/taste. I am making an appointment on Monday to see an ENT doctor. I will report back.
What ever came of your smelling burning plastic? I have been smelling burning rubber now for over a month. Also having hives. I had a negative head CT. I am to see an allergist in a week. I was told I should have had an MRI instead of a CT. If the allergist doesn't find anything then I am going to request a referral for an MRI. Just really concerned because I have read that it could be a brain tumor. I'm not experiencing any other symptoms. Is there anyone else that have experienced both of these symptoms?
Perhaps you have some kind of chemical sensitivity. I don't have as much trouble with phantom smells since I got rid of every personal care product and household cleaner made with manmade chemicals and everything that had any kind of fragrance to it. There are some natural cleaning recipes on Care2.com that show you how you can clean your home environment without the waste and expense of the chemical cleaners that people have been led to believe that they can't live without. There are laundry powders that are unscented and fragrance free plant based products, and there are environmentally sound dish liquids that are also fragrance free. I have less sinus trouble ever since I got rid of everything chemical in my environment. It was affecting me in many other ways, too, so I had strong motivation to get rid of the stuff. Guess what else? It saves me a lot of money, which is a winner in this kind of economy.
I had this symptom of smelling burnt plastic for about a year. It seemed to be coming from my pores. Also was sweating like crazy and changing clothes through the day. It felt really gross like chemicals coming out of me. Didn't think it was hormonal as menstruation unaffected. I was processing intense rage and anger during this time and long standing liver discomfort after chemotherapy years ago was finally being investigated. Examination showed inflamed liver, weirdly after all that emotional processing all my symptoms cleared up, including the long standing liver symptoms. Happily I can now drink alcohol again after 15 years post chemo!
I have the same problem. It started after I got severe nosebleeds and they had to put adrenaline up my nose to try to stop it. A few days later I was putting on an organic Shea butter lip balm on my lips that I have loved the smell from and used for many years, but all of a sudden it smelled like burned plastic that made me want to vomit. Now about 10 days later the mucus coming out of the nostril that was damaged has the same burnt smell. What is this?