Everything bad or strong smelling smells like coffee to me

[Kdaready]

I had a. Ad cold with both respiratory and gastro symptoms, afterwards I began noticing that my excrements smelled just like coffee.   After weeks now I've discovered many strong smells both bad and good smell like coffee.    Not only has this completely eliminated any possibility of me ever drinking coffe due to my relating it to my own excrements but it's affecting my ability to enjoy most food.   I'm becoming concerned about my ability to smell things of a warning nature, like gas, smoke, spoiled food and even little things like when my granddaughter needs a diaper change.   So far I'm only a month into this, but I'm reading about a lot of people who have had this long term, if there is any help please advise where to look first.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Your symptoms could be due to olfactory hallucinations. Phantosmia most often occurs as a result of a head injury or upper respiratory infection. It can also be caused by temporal lobe seizures, sinusitis, brain tumors, migraine, Parkinson's disease and stroke. You may need proper evaluation by your GP, please consult him for a neurological assessment. He may then refer you to a neurologist if needed.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[friggy]

:Your condition is called "phantosmia" if you want to search for more information.  Many of the causes are permanent and a doctor can fill you in on those.

However, since you had the problem immediately after a cold, you could very well have a lingering infection in the upper sinuses near your olfactory (smell) nerves.  I had the problem several times when I was chronic, and the smell would be like parmesan cheese, or dog poop.

The best way to get rid of it is with a Flip-Turn Sinus Flush, which is the most effective way to get saline into the upper reaches of your sinuses where the olfactories are.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322

The Flip-Turn Sinus Flush is mildly risky, because you have to bend over to do it, preferably in a shower, but you can also do it outside on soft ground, or you can kneel down and lean over a bathtub with the shower running.