I smell exhaust fumes all the time

[jerry1957]

I have been smelling exhaust fumes where none exist for about 2 weeks now. I can be in the shower or laying in bed and the smell won't go away, it smells like i'm in an enclosed garage with a gas powered vehicle running. Is this common?, I have never had any allergies.

[olfactorypuzzle]

Well, after a quick perusal of the approximately 10 or 12 symptoms of GERD, of which I have zero, I must conclude that GERD is not my problem.

[olfactorypuzzle]

Wow, so many posters makes me think we can figure this out!

My situation:

Had a cold about 7 years ago that wiped out my sense of taste for about 18 months. It eventually returned but at what I would speculatively call 75% strength. And there it has remained ever since. My sense of smell throughout this period, as best I can remember, remained normal.

The exhaust smell began about 4 or 5 years ago and I don't know if it's related to the cold. My symptoms come and go and are not as noticeable when breathing fast.

I have lived in 3 places in the past 2 years and have not only smelled it in every apartment--more or less ruling out an apartment related leak--but I also smell it at work and in the car. I should mention that I'm a contract videographer and work in a different place nearly every day. So, clearly not location related.

I am 49 and take no meds for anything and apart from being a little overweight am in great health and have good cholesterol levels. Also, I did smoke for many years but haven't in about 7 years.

I'm now going to do some research on GERD, which I'm guessing many of you are, as well. I have never been diagnosed with a sinus infection, but that sure doesn't mean that I don't have one.

I'll repost when and if I learn more about my own situation.

Thanks to all the contributors!

[mummakaz]

thank the gods its not only me... ive been smelling car exhuast fumes for about a week now.. in the car, in the house, at the shopping centre, in bed everywhere... hubby and the kids dont smell it..
im a non smoker, 52 take no meds.. reasonalble health but have had a cold lately....  i hate it... its driving me mad, at first i though my car was leaking fumes or something but had that checked...
im going to the dr tomorrow for a check. hopefully it will be an infection as stated above but im not counting on it, as it seems to go and come back on some people ive read... wish me luck

[cjbme]

i have this also it is definitely exhaust smell. We do not have gas appliances all electric, I am perplexed!!!! cjb

[Heavenlyberi]

For about a month now I have been complaining about smelling car exhaust fumes.  After reading several of these posts I cane tell you that I wear full dentures, I live in an apartment that is about 50 feet from the parking lot.  My apartment is all electric.  There is not a smog problem where I live.  I thought I was going crazy because I kept asking other people when they were here if they could smell it and they said no.  I also read on one post that taking a seizure med would help.  We'll I take gabapebtin not foe seizures but I do take it.  All I know is it is driving me crazy.  I even try putting things like a perfumed lotion above my lip under my nose but that doesn't last very long.  As far as I know I don't have a sinus infection.  I just want it to stop.

[banalanal]

Mine is back. 6th time in 5 years. Mine is always triggered by smelling actual exhaust from a vehicle, and then the smell stays with me for days, everywhere. But this time I did not trigger it with exhaust (as far as I know). But I was doing some painting and wonder if the chemicals present triggered it?  Also woke up pretty blocked in one nose. And I do have a broken nose (just found that out when I went to an ENT last year). He thinks it could be the issue, trapping smells somehow. Hope it goes away again. Annoying.