I did a search, but couldn’t find a satisfactory answer. Occasionally, I smell an odor that isn’t detectable to anyone in the vicinity. To me, it’s overwhelming, and no one else smells it. It’s accompanied (sp) by deja-vu, the likes of which are off the chart; it almost seems like I’m experiencing something primal, like pre-birth, or lizard brained … pretty much impossilble to describe with my limited writing skills. I’m an athiest, and this smell/experience seems to give me pause about my beliefs. It’s that intense.
I’m aware of the association with tumors/lesions. This has been going on for about two years now, and I’m not dead. I’m aware of the rule prohibiting medical advice on the boards, and I’m not seeking advice. Just wondering what the hell is going on.
Of course, you know you should see your doctor and tell him/her this, right?
Disclaimer done, an anectdote from our company’s CEO who has had brain tumors. Has one now, actually. When he first was diagnosed with a brain tumor, it was because he went to his doctor to explain a very odd thing that had been going on with him. He had suddenly – not all the time, just now and then – began having the sensation of sleeping with his head on a cold concrete floor. He is an ex-navy man (retired) so he knew the feeling well. He said it would be so intense, so vivid, that he would have to look around and sometimes pinch himself to be sure he was in fact awake and not lying on a cold concrete floor.
Just recently, he has been diagnosed with another tumor – based on having exactly what you described. He would smell things that no one else could. Based on his history, he knew to go to his doctors – and sure enough, tumor time.
Might not be what’s going on with you, but better to get it checked and know than not. You could also just be a schizophrenic…
I can only add to the chorus of ‘See a doctor’. Cuz that sounds a lot like the ‘auras’ I have which are complex partial seizures, left over after brain surgery to remove a tumor 10 years ago.
But that’s my experience, not yours, brownsfan. I never had the smells. The brain is a funny ol’ thing.
Before I get migraines I have olfactory hallucinations. They are overwhelmingly strong, and very recognizable. (Hershey’s chocolate syrup, mangoes, freshly baked rye bread, etc.) While having migraines, it becomes difficult for me to form words and my sight goes wonky. I have heard of migraines without pain, just with some of the other symptoms.
Olfactory hallucination and simultaneous profound deja vu, while they may be indicative of other conditions, are classic precursors of epileptic seizures. You could be experiencing petits mals. Get thee to a neurologist.
I realise you’ve said you can’t adequately describe the odour, but could you give it your best shot? One thing it could be is some kind of sinus infection - and the vivid memory thing could be a completely normal memory/smell association.
If a patient came to me with that I’d work him up, esp for a temporal lobe lesion. CT and/or MRI for mass lesion; EEG for poss epilepsy.
Cause could be benign or serious irrespective of your two-year survival of it.
This “advice” is worth what you paid for it, less the $15 SDMB fee. What’s going on is that part of your brain is lighting up, either from mechanical irritation or dysfunction. This might be a good opportunity to have a conversion experience, but this not much better than Kurt Cameron’s proofs of a Supreme Being.
