Weird thing with my sense of smell

[Kharakov]

The last few weeks, I've noticed I have an almost uncanny sense of smell. I can smell the metal from doorknobs I have touched on my hands while I type, I can easily smell things from across the room that others do not notice.

It's a silly thing, but the odors are distinct and the other people I ask do not notice them. I don't think it's a mental phenomena, as I do not think about it before it happens, so it doesn't seem to be psychosomatic, and what I smell doesn't seem to be an indication of organic brain trauma because I can match the smell to specific objects. Now, it was just high pollen count season and I have been taking a lot of allergy medicine (diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine maleate, sometimes both at once, usually the diphen late at night, chlorphen during the day) and still have a slight sinus infection (due to the severe allergies from peak pollen count a few weeks back, oak tree bukkaki in my area).

I just never really noticed my sense of smell too much before (I always liked smells and tastes, but they weren't quite as powerful, and I've noticed many new ones recently). It's weird.

Anyway.... I don't even know what to ask or say as I don't really know what to make of the whole situation. I guess it's time to search wiki. Are there any terms for the sudden increase in sensitivity of the 5 senses (who knows what is next).

[GenesisNemesis]

I've noticed something like that in the morning when I was waking up. My senses seemed to be functioning at 100 times their normal efficiency. I would hear someone (and "feel" them) coming down the hallway, for example. Maybe that's an exaggeration. Anyways, I think it's ironic that they would be functioning more efficiently in my waking state than at my fully-awake state.

[xaxxat]

Sounds like you were in a state of hyperacuity. I know a guy who experienced it quite often while doing interesting things in the jungles of Viet Nam. It's a great survival tool.

[Tuffa Nuff]

This is an aside, but to me, the sense of smell is subjective. How come when I take a dump, I can sit and do a crossword, and enjoy the experience, (the pungent pong is not noticed by me). When I sniff the smell of poop after someone else's having a go, I turn green at the gills? Yet other people find my doodoo odour odious!!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v58/Tuffa/Animations/PooPoke.gif

[4321lynx]

The last few weeks, I've noticed I have an almost uncanny sense of smell. I can smell the metal from doorknobs I have touched on my hands while I type, I can easily smell things from across the room that others do not notice.

It's a silly thing, but the odors are distinct and the other people I ask do not notice them. I don't think it's a mental phenomena, as I do not think about it before it happens, so it doesn't seem to be psychosomatic, and what I smell doesn't seem to be an indication of organic brain trauma because I can match the smell to specific objects. Now, it was just high pollen count season and I have been taking a lot of allergy medicine (diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine maleate, sometimes both at once, usually the diphen late at night, chlorphen during the day) and still have a slight sinus infection (due to the severe allergies from peak pollen count a few weeks back, oak tree bukkaki in my area).

I just never really noticed my sense of smell too much before (I always liked smells and tastes, but they weren't quite as powerful, and I've noticed many new ones recently). It's weird.

Anyway.... I don't even know what to ask or say as I don't really know what to make of the whole situation. I guess it's time to search wiki. Are there any terms for the sudden increase in sensitivity of the 5 senses (who knows what is next).

The condition is called HYPEROSMIA. There is a very brief thing about it in Wiki at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperosmia

It refers you to

http://www.smellandtaste.org/

which is not very helpful either.

So do you suffer from migraine or cluster headaches? ( Addison's Disease is very rare). Most likely you have cleared your nasal passages successfully & this accounts for your hyperosmia.
I take it that you're not having any treatment with methotrexate, which, rarely, can cause similar symptoms.

[Kharakov]

Thanks all. I'll see what happens. It's very possible that I am just paying more attention to reality than I have in the past: many times I've noticed something I haven't noticed before and then... you know, I am aware that it was there all along but I didn't really pay attention to it in the same manner.

It's not Addison's (relatively sure). I am in extremely good physical condition, besides allergies to pollen, cats, melons, shellfish, dust, and pet dander... and maybe a few other things that I have forgotten.

[Kharakov]

I've noticed something like that in the morning when I was waking up. My senses seemed to be functioning at 100 times their normal efficiency. I would hear someone (and "feel" them) coming down the hallway, for example. Maybe that's an exaggeration. Anyways, I think it's ironic that they would be functioning more efficiently in my waking state than at my fully-awake state.
If your fully awake state includes filtering out phenomena that you do not want to consider because of the implications of this phenomena, then it seems logical that in your fully awake state you would notice less sensitivity.

[skepticalbip]

Have you been bitten by some radioactive critter or had any other odd encounter lately? Do you have an urge to start wearing a cape and mask? - An urge to do battle with and capture arch villains?

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Kharakov]

Actually, I do have a few lumps on my torso, and I did just finish the Spiderman animated series on netflix instant views about 5 days ago.... perhaps the combination of gypsy moth welts and watching the webslinger has resulted in me becoming an annoying pestilence like gypsy moths?

[WilliamB]

I've been taking Benadryl (over the recommended dosage) for years, which is nothing but diphenhydramine, and I've experienced strange things having to do with smell; but not in the way you describe.

For me, some things smell exactly like other things, for some bizarre reason. These are mostly food-related, though there are some non-food instances. I do a lot of cooking, and usually:

Beef-base, as in beef bullion or pastes, smells exactly like peanut butter.

Cumin smells exactly like body odor, and I can barely stand to open the container. I find it odd that people don't agree with me.

Turkey, as in roast turkey, smells like excrement when it's cold. When it's hot, no problem. Not bad or tainted turkey, just perfectly fresh, cooked turkey.

All kinds of cooking smells smell like beer to me. I ask people if they smell beer, and they say no. There are other food smell oddities that I can't recall presently.

I also find I'm hypersensitive to perfumes and colognes. And my ex-wife smelled like watermelon. No-one else thought so.

[javarush]

Parosmia.

OD'ing chronically on Benadryl(tm) or the reason for doing so, could do it.

[Kharakov]

All kinds of cooking smells smell like beer to me. I ask people if they smell beer, and they say no.

Jealousy sets in as Kharakov realizes everything does not smell like beer to him.

[Ljoilae]

This happens to me quite a lot and I've never been on any prescription drugs or anything. I'll smell metals, lots of things smell or taste alcoholic.

Turkey and ham have a habit of smelling like feces to me, so I can't really eat them.