LC and Non-food Sensitivities?

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:45 pm

Is anyone else here extremely sensitive to smells- perfumes, air fresheners, cleaning products, etc? Just wondering if there might be a link or if I'm just weird.

Post by **tex** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:44 pm

Hi Leni,

Quite a few members have posted about that same problem. Maybe some of them will see your post and respond. Some of those odors affect me slightly, and cleaning product odors are some of the worst, but I would rate them as only a moderate problem for me. Diesel exhaust, on the other hand, makes me nauseous, and almost always precipitates a headache, if I inhale very much of it.

Tex

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:18 pm

Thanks, tex. My sensitivities are very annoying, especially at work, where it seems that everywhere I go, there is a different smell! Sometimes I feel like I should live in a bubble!

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:30 pm

Hi Leni
I am extremely sensitive to scents, which seems to have gotten worse over time. Certain perfumes, candles and soaps will give me an instantaneous migraine. Along with cigarette smoke, which is the worst! I am able to wear a softly scented perfume, but I've worn it for years and have probably just built up an immunity to it. I'm always careful to not wear it when visiting doctors' offices or other places where people may have sensitivities.

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:39 pm

Hi Leslie and thanks for your response. My sensitivities seem to get worse over time too. I'm not able to wear any daily fragrance and I have to be very careful with my soaps, shampoos, etc. Yesterday I used a hand soap in a bathroom at work that I don't usually use. The only available soap was Winter Cranberry and it was so awful that I had to go to my regular restroom and scrub my hands with my regular soap. It's such a pain. I get a slight headache, but my worst symptoms are runny, itchy eyes and nose, sore throat and chest congestion.

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:25 am

Yep. Odors are awful for me too. I noticed that I can stand a scent for just so long and then it starts to make me nauseous, not unlike how it was when I was in my first trimester of pregnancy! The hand soap I used when I was having so much diarrhea, had to go. Could not stand the smell and I am sure that was all in my head. I connected it with a bad memory.

I find that with heavier scents, like incense I have to leave because I cannot breathe. There are some perfumes that women (and men) lather on so heavily, that my eyes go into spasm and I want to flee. I have transient headaches that are not severe, but certainly not great.

I have read that it is thought that people with allergies are more sensitive to odors and I think that it true. I think that sensitivities to odors run in families too. At 92, my mother still has a nose like a bloodhound and complains vociferously when she can smell cigarette smoke anywhere in her retirement community. She lives in fear that someone will move in next door and be a smoker. I think that my son will one day be "one of us" and his sense of smell is phenomenal to the point of distraction for him.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:49 am

I'm sensitive to artificial scents and chemical scents. Whenever I enter a department store like Target or Macy's, the smells make me go running to the bathroom with D! Very strange reaction to smells! I only use natural soaps, lotions, shampoos, detergents and cleaners at home, an I haven't worn perfume in years.

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 12:02 pm

Zizzle and jgivens, I'm so sorry that you two have the same problem, but it's such a relief to know I'm not the only one. Sometimes I feel like a freak. Its a bit embarrassing too, but my most of the people around me know about my problem and do there best. I have one friend who warns me if he has on cologne so that I don't give him a hug. One day after giving him a big, I had to wash my face and neck. Ugh

My least fa orite stores are Bath and Body Works and AC Moore. Way too many smells in one place.

Martha · Post by **Martha** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:24 pm

I am sensitive to odors too. I gave up perfume long ago, and don't like scented anything.

DH loves ti tree oil, and when he uses it, I feel like I can't breathe. Scented candles are also out for me now. When I buy dryer sheets, I put the whole box outside for several weeks to air out before I can bring it into the house.

Bed, Bath and Beyond is a store I don't even like to walk past because the smells come clear outside. I don't know how people can work there, but I suppose that means that not everyone is so sensitive to the smells. That's almost hard to believe.

It's interesting that the odors that bother us are the ones that are purposely added to things to make them smell good. None of us are talking about how we are sensitive to the smell of rotting garbage, or skunk!

Love,
Martha

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 1:31 pm

Martha wrote:It's interesting that the odors that bother us are the ones that are purposely added to things to make them smell good. None of us are talking about how we are sensitive to the smell of rotting garbage, or skunk!

That's probably because virtually all of the odors that are offensive are synthetic, rather than natural. Or am I wrong?

Tex

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:01 pm

tex, I think you're right. I can't do dryer sheets or fabric softener at all. We had to rewash everything the last time we tried one. My symptoms range from watery, burning eyes and throat to chest congestion to feeling like I can't breathe. The last one is particularly bothersome to me because I have panic disorder (although I guess that nobody likes to feel like they can't breathe, huh?)

Regarding cigarette smoke, I've been very sensitive to third hand smoke for several years. I work closely with patients who are heavy smokers and the smell on their skin and clothing is very unpleasant. I have an air filter in my office, which seems to help.

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:14 pm

My worst reaction to smell right now is rancid-smelling movie popcorn. It's all I can do to walk past the concession to the theater, and if someone sits near me with popcorn, it's tough.

Most candles don't bother me unless they are heavy on cinnamon or vanilla. I can wear light perfume such as Origins Ginger, or Jo Malone Lime/Basil/Mandarin, but have abandoned heavier scents I used to wear.

I was a long-time moderate cigarette smoker (quit with Chantix in 2007-8, which is what I believe set off my LC) and now the smell is pretty awful to me. But, strangely, I also used to enjoy an occasional cigar, and I don't find that smell so difficult.

Leni · Post by **Leni** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:18 pm

Hi maestraz. The smell of cigar smoke is one thing that sends me over the edge. Very nauseating for me. Luckily, our patients aren't permitted to smoke cigars.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 4:23 pm

Leni,

I started having sensitivity to scents about 25 years ago. I stopped using dryer sheets then. I use all unscented laundry detergents. I have to have the men I date use unscented laundry detergents. Perfumes, cologne, candles are problematic and I have problems walking in the door at Walmart and smelling the dyes on the clothing.

Brandy

patc73 · Post by **patc73** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:43 am

Hi, Leni! I'm another super-sensitive one. I can't wear or be near colognes or perfumes, so I buy unscented everything, and have for a long time. I react to soaps like Palmolive with scent (I get a rash and swelling). My throat feels like it's closing up when I smell cigarette smoke (so my hubby has to smoke in the garage or outside). I bet it is the chemical, artificial scents that are the offenders, because essential oils don't seem to bother me. Is our sensitivity related to the MC, do you think?