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What Causes Phantosmia While On HRT?
Question: I smell smoke regularly these days and no one is a smoker nor has been in my area. What does it mean?
Brief Answer:
Questions so that I can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Neysmith,
While this can be an olfactory related problem, I first want to make sure that something in your environment is not producing abnormal fumes. For example, for months I and no one else in my family smelled smoke in and around my kitchen. After many months it turned out to be a malfunctioning part in the refrigerator.
Do you smell smoke at all times? In all environments, such as when you go outside or to a store?
Do you have any health problems for which you take medications?
If so, what are the medications?
Any of these new?
Questions so that I can help
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Neysmith,
While this can be an olfactory related problem, I first want to make sure that something in your environment is not producing abnormal fumes. For example, for months I and no one else in my family smelled smoke in and around my kitchen. After many months it turned out to be a malfunctioning part in the refrigerator.
Do you smell smoke at all times? In all environments, such as when you go outside or to a store?
Do you have any health problems for which you take medications?
If so, what are the medications?
Any of these new?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am only taking HRT and have been for 12 years. No new medications at all. I smell smoke in other environments but less often. I wonder if I am more distracted. I have always had a keen sense of smell, so I know this is a change. I am in a villa that we own in Florida and my summer home is in Toronto. I read that a smell of smoke could relate to Parkinson's or to a stroke. This alarms me as my Mom had Parkinson's for 20 years beginning at age 65. My grandmother on my Dad's side, died of a stroke at age 72. I will try to map when I smell smoke in the next days to see when and how often I smell smoke.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, keeping track to see if there are any patterns would be helpful.
I will assume that you have been in your homes for some time (not recently purchased), because if the previous owners were smokers, the tobacco residues can off-gas for a few years.
Most times the phenomenon of smelling something that is not there is not due to anything serious. But you are right in that sometimes it can be related to concerning illness such as neurological problems (seizure disorder, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's) or tumors.
About Parkinson's, the majority of people who get it do not inherit it genetical. Only a small percentage of people who get it have inherited it via genetic changes.
There is no specific test for Parkinson's, but diagnosis is based on history and exam. The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease are resting tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity. Usually symptoms begin on one side of the body and then involve, over time, the other side as well. Some people also have balance instability. If any of these things apply to you, then I do recommend going in to be seen by your primary doctor and then a neurologist.
What I recommend at this point is recording the environmental situations where you experience the smoke-smell. And make an appointment with an ENT doctor who has experience with "phantosmia". You may be able to find one at a university hospital.
I hope this information helps. If you are willing, please let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Yes, keeping track to see if there are any patterns would be helpful.
I will assume that you have been in your homes for some time (not recently purchased), because if the previous owners were smokers, the tobacco residues can off-gas for a few years.
Most times the phenomenon of smelling something that is not there is not due to anything serious. But you are right in that sometimes it can be related to concerning illness such as neurological problems (seizure disorder, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's) or tumors.
About Parkinson's, the majority of people who get it do not inherit it genetical. Only a small percentage of people who get it have inherited it via genetic changes.
There is no specific test for Parkinson's, but diagnosis is based on history and exam. The cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease are resting tremor, slowness of movement and rigidity. Usually symptoms begin on one side of the body and then involve, over time, the other side as well. Some people also have balance instability. If any of these things apply to you, then I do recommend going in to be seen by your primary doctor and then a neurologist.
What I recommend at this point is recording the environmental situations where you experience the smoke-smell. And make an appointment with an ENT doctor who has experience with "phantosmia". You may be able to find one at a university hospital.
I hope this information helps. If you are willing, please let me know how you are doing after you have been evaluated.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I thank you for this analysis. I will try to keep a calendar of when I am smelling smoke. The houses are definitely not new to us. I am Canadian, so I will wait until I am back in Toronto before I follow up with an ENT specialist. If I can let you know what I experience as far as the environment, I will get back in touch in a few days.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Sounds like a good plan. And thank you for your willingness to follow up.
Hopefully it will simply go away. Sometimes that happens too.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Information
Detailed Answer:
Sounds like a good plan. And thank you for your willingness to follow up.
Hopefully it will simply go away. Sometimes that happens too.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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