Does Anyone Suffer From Sensitivity To Odors?

Hi Everyone,

I am a new member.

I am 46 years old and have had FM for at least 20 years.  I consider myself fortunate in that I lead a relatively active life.  I work full time and am able to exercise, though I do have to pace myself daily and have many symptoms.

Along with fibromyalgia, I have M.C.S. (multiple chemical sensitivities).  What that means is that I am alergic to many things in the environment.   Especially chemical toxins, pollution, perfumes, paint, household cleaners, etc.   Thank goodness I'm not alergic to my cat.   The most difficult part of this is that I am very sensitive to odors!  Strong odors make me feel sick!  My symptoms can be everything from nausea, dizziness, headaches to breathing problems, flu like symptoms.  Often I have to leave the offending environment.  This is worse during barometric pressure changes and smog days.  I need to avoid people who wear perfume &/or hair spray.  All of the research I've done indicates that most cleaning products, perfumes and sprays contain toxic chemicals.  In the last 10 years, the research data has become much more public because cancers have been on the rise.   Also, as a society, we are much more aware now than ever before.

Does anyone have sensitivity to odors?  Any suggestions to help this?

Thanks,

 

Welcome.  Yes I am very sensitive to certain odors.  I do not use scented anything, when possible, on my body.  I get headaches from many odors.  When we are in the car I push the recirculating air button to keep as much odor as possible out of the car.  When we b.b.q. I close the windows to keep that smell out of the house.  I use rubbing alcohol mixed with water to clean counter tops, table, mirrors.  It has a scent but it disappears quickly unlike scented household cleaners.  I actually hold my breath when I walk through the perfume dept. in stores and I walk really fast.  I almost run from those ladies who are handing out perfume samples. Yuk.

 

I glad you joined us. Lots of caring people who understand all these little fibro annoyances.

 

Have a great and hopefully painfree day.

 

Puppylover

Can't really add much in the suggestion department -- agree with other posts -- and try to avoid as much as possible. Welcome and hope you can post often! This is a great forum with lots of supportive people!
(((hugs)))
Shash

I'm with Hara. Some strong smells affect me, but generally it's short lived. My skin, on the other hand, does not tolerate perfumed soaps, washes, etc. I braek out in a really nasty rash. Noise, however, sends me reeling. Just the neighbor driving up the gravel drive, just now, sends me into fits. The radio on in the car. Musics ok but the commercials are painful. i feel like they're yelling at me. Also, dogs chewing, licking themselves, any little repetitive unpleasant sound, I am unable to tune it out. makes me run for anxiety med. Mt Dad used to clack his tongue. I don't know what that sound was but it's like a noise you make wwhen wanting work horses to get going. It became constant with alzheimers. I had to go in my room and shut the door.

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Absolutely, I too have to run through the perfume department. I can smell odors for miles away it seems. I get a really bad headache. Tyno3 I am very sensitive to sound and i didn't realize it could be another symptom of fibro. I have to put everything on mute when commercials are running. Its hard because my family are musicians and when everyone is playing loud it is hard for me to take. But thank goodness I still have my hearing.. : )

I swear I can smell things that are a mile away.  I smelled gasoline the guy next door was pouring into his lawn mower.  My husband cooked pasta with garlic one day last week and I smelled it for two days.  It's not just the sensitivity to odors...I smell them for hours after they disipate.

I have the same problem with taste...I am having a hard time eating citrus fruit because I taste the tartness for the longest time afterward.  Oh well...guess I'll have to just eat chocolate!

huggies

Donna