Smells-a new symptom?

[Nanna B]

I am smelling something very weird.... it smells like wet leather, it takes my breath away. It is so over powering. It doesn't matter what room I am in. Uh, it is starting to give me a headache.

This has happened to me before, I can smell things others can't.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is it worth mentioning to Dr.?

[BrokenBladder]

Hi Nanna,
I also seem to be able to smell strange things at times that no one else smells. I did mention it to the doctor but she didn't really have an answer for me. This is a strange disease that we have and it seems that everyone has the basic symptoms, but we also have some symptoms that seems strange, to say the least. Take care and I hope the wet leather goes away soon!!

[uvamomb]

People with FMS do have problems with smells. We are so hypersensitive that smells can really set us off. I can smell perfume coming a mile away, and I cannot tolerate it at all. I don't about smelling things others can't smell, but since we are hypersensitive, that seems to make sense. I'd mention it to my doctor, though.

Feel better - go outside and get a breath of fresh air!

Hugs,
Kathy:)

[Nanna B]

I feel kinda funny now.... Last night, this smell got to me so bad it gave me a headache, so I went straight to bed.

This morning I wake up go down strairs and I could smell it again. I located the smell! Couple days ago, I bought a case of bottled water from Wal-Mart. They changed the packaging and the bottles. The odor is coming from that. My entire pantry smells now! It is very overwhelming, (to me).

I didn't realize that people with FMS have problems with smells. This makes perfect sense to me though. I am very hypersensitive to smells! Wow!

What about tastes, do you have hypersensitive tastes??

Thanks,
Have a nice day
Nancy

[snapdragon]

Hi ,have you ever heard of MCS multiable chemical senesitivety, I have a DX of MCS and I started out with the Fibro ,Dxed in 1988 ,MCS in2002 ,and that is some thing you should look in to ,because it can get very bad if you keep exposeing your self to chemicals, & theye are every where ,it is hard to figuere out what is causeing you symptoms ,and even harder to find a DR who knows much about MCS . I got so bad I thought I was dieind , before I found out that my problem was chemicals ,I went too long and even now I run into the problems if I am not extreamly careful . I just found the MCS part of this site yesterday and posted there looking for others who have MCS , you may . Snap

[Nanna B]

Thanks Snapdragon,

Tomorrow I get my report back on the ALCAT test that I took a couple weeks ago. He tested me for 120 foods, 15 food additives and 10 chemicals and something else I can't remember.

Because I have ezcema he told me to stop using dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners. So I did. Then I did a search on those chemicals. Not to be an alarmist but the chemicals in dryer sheets are toxic! So, I tossed the dryer sheets!

I am hoping the blood work turns up something. I just want to start feeling better, we all do. So far he has found a Mitral Valve Prolapse, and iron deficiency. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks,
Nancy

[BrokenBladder]

My mother who had FMS also had Mitral Valve Prolapse. When I was first diagnosed my rheumy said that I have hypermobile joint syndrome, which is directed connected to Mitral Valve Prolapse. Maybe you could ask your doctor about that.
My doctor said that my Mitral Valve Prolapse is in the beginning stages right now, but will need attention at some point in the future.
Let us know what happens with your test results.

[Tootsie]

A signficant percentage of the population has some degree of mitral valve prolapse. It can be very serious but others live with it for most of their life with no problem. I guess it's one of those things that you have checked out periodically throughout your life to see if any intervention is needed.

All those cleaning products found in the supermarket can be a source of all kinds of difficulty. I tried using some of those fabric softener sheets in the dryer when one came in the mail, as a sample, years ago. My oldest son broke out in a rash. I threw the remainder of the package in the garbage and have never used anything like that since.

It's amazing how much you can clean with baking soda or vinegar. At various times, money has been a real issue in our household and I even stopped buying toothpaste when my children were small as they were so careless with keeping it closed. It's the brushing that usually is most significant along with regular dental visits. Equal parts of salt and baking soda works as a tooth powder.

Last Christmas, I had purchased a new door mat for my son and daughter-in-law who had purchased a new house. I had it mailed to me from a catalog and had it leaning, still in it's mailing wrapper, against the wall, until I wrapped it up. The awful odor in the house, smelled like something burning. We had others come in and check out our house for a problem. Finally, someone else realized the smell was coming from that door mat! Amazing that we need to be so vigilant about things we bring into the house. Cheerio.

[Fayelle]

I have always had a sensitive nose and palate.....

I can smell dirt....Scents come to me about 5 minutes earlier at least than anyone else....I am extremely sensitive to environment....

However I am extremely sensitive to everything.....It is an odd way to live sometimes....I can taste minerals in water, I drink bottled water because there is so much purified out of it....I can taste chlorine in even the smallest amounts which completely disgusts me.....

So it is not a shock to me that you are smelling strange smells, I do all of the time hehe.....

Fay

[jonno6766]

Good to see FMSers asking questions about smell and food sensitivity issues.
In my experience with MCS, FMS, CFS and depression, each of my symptoms has been induced by various chemical exposures. When I live in a safe house in a safer location, even the pain in my right wrist which I thought was some kind of join damage turned out to be chemical exposure related. The pressure build up in the base of my skull that affects my concentration turns up when I'm exposed to diesel emissions. I experience generalised pain and fatigue when seated on furniture that contains polyester. The smell of some fragrance induces FM pain. Most induce nausea, headache and intestinal reactions. Latex rubber gives me headache and causes insomnia for me. I've challenged tested this hundreds of times and the results are consistent each time which is also consistent with the MCS criteria.
If you think it's all in the head then see: http://au.geocities.com/jonno6766/mcs.pdf
I only put that brochure together because everyone with MCS includes so much information that puts people who believe that it's 'AITH' off.
MCS is more prevalent than FMS and CFS combined! Pandemic of 'mass hysteria' or maybe it's a 'medical anomaly'. So much for the 'observation of nature', 'cause and effect'.... formally called 'science'.

Some names of Chemical Sensitivity:
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Environmental Hypersensitivity
Chemical Trauma
various types of Chemical Injury including solvent and pesticides
Toxic Encephalopathy
Gulf War Syndrome
CFIDS
Total Allergy Syndrome
Toxicant-induced Loss of Tolerance
".... Sociologists invent words that mean Industrial Disease.... " -David Knopfler, Dire Straits, 1982. So do real doctors!

Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance, Somatisation Disorder and Psychosomatic Disorder are shrink speak.

Jonathan.

[Tootsie]

I don't have a serious problem like so many others, but do make every attempt to avoid noxious odors, additives, etc.

For anyone looking, the Vermont Country Store, sells, all cotton, sheets that have no chemicals in the processing of the fabric. I've seen them in the catalog but have no need of them myself. Cheerio.

[Nanna B]

When I had orginally posted this I had not gotten my test results back. It turns out that I do have quite a bit of allergies. Out of the 120 foods-I am allergic to 70. I am allergic to about 25 food additives, molds and chemicals-the worst for me now: flouride, chlorine, and benzene.

After doing my own research I came to the conclusion that being allergic to all these nasty, toxic chemicals isn't really all that bad. Actually, it is quite good!

Now I am an avid label reader. What kills me is when I read-"dangerous to humans and domestic animals," but they don't list what ingredients are in the product. GRRR.

The products I buy now are organic or eco-earth friendly. I see alot of marketing for "save the earth." But I think, what about -save the human!!

Take Care,
nan