Migraine

Within the past year or so, all of a sudden I will smell a strong, distinct odor of cigarette smoke when there's no one around smoking. It's very bizarre. I read that some people have that in migraine prodome phase, or people with seizure disorder have it too (well, not necessarily cigarette smoke, but some bad odor).

Anyone else have that? Too bad it wasn't like a phantom lilac smell or something, but it's smoke, and as an ex-smoker, it's disgusting to me! Just curious . . .

Beth

Beth,

Does this happen just any time, or does it happen at the beginning of a Migraine attack? What you're describing is called an olfactory hallucination, and it can be part of Migraine aura. You might be surprised by how many people have this aura symptoms. Guess I'm lucky that what I smell is at least pleasant. I usually smell bacon frying.

quote:

Originally posted by porquipine:
Within the past year or so, all of a sudden I will smell a strong, distinct odor of cigarette smoke when there's no one around smoking. It's very bizarre. I read that some people have that in migraine prodome phase, or people with seizure disorder have it too (well, not necessarily cigarette smoke, but some bad odor).

Anyone else have that? Too bad it wasn't like a phantom lilac smell or something, but it's smoke, and as an ex-smoker, it's disgusting to me! Just curious . . .

Beth

The same thing happens to me. I will just start smelling cigarette smoke. I think it is disgusting. Once in a while it will happen before a migraine for me, but it happens at other times too. I have always wondered if this is connected. I have also expierenced tastes and sounds that are not really there also. It is good to know that I am not the only one this happens to.

Ooo, yeah, this is one of my "favorite" auras! It's just so weird. Not that anything associated with a migraine is great, but if I were going to have aura I would prefer to smell what wasn't there than go blind!

I mostly get a burning smell, but I've been known to hallucinate hot dogs and Italian food, with marinara particularly. The hot dogs have always been my favorite. I don't eat hot dogs anymore, but I sure do love the smell of a roasting dog!

But anyway, yeah, it's all just part of aura.

Teri, like Michelle, the cigarette smoke thing happens at times other than before a migraine for me too.

It seems really screwy to me, and I, too, am glad to hear others experience this. I wonder what causes it? Usually if you see things or hear things that "aren't there," you're considered psychotic, right? There's no such thing as olfactory psychosis, is there? Now my mind is just wandering too much. Back to work!

Beth

I thought I was having this once, but then I realized that my neighbor was smoking outside of his house and I could smell it in mine, with all the doors and windows closed. How disgusting is that?!?! My friends said I should out a big ole fan on my front porch and aim it at him to see if he gets the hint. LOL!

Beth,

It's thought that what causes this as well as many of our symptoms is the changes in blood flow and the inflammation of surrounding nerves and tissue that occur during a Migraine attack.

Many of us also have auditory hallucinations. There are times I'd swear someone is walking through the house or that there's a radio or television turned on somewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by porquipine:
Teri, like Michelle, the cigarette smoke thing happens at times other than before a migraine for me too.

It seems really screwy to me, and I, too, am glad to hear others experience this. I wonder what causes it? Usually if you see things or hear things that "aren't there," you're considered psychotic, right? There's no such thing as olfactory psychosis, is there? Now my mind is just wandering too much. Back to work!

Beth

me too. sometimes before a migraine but not always. smells, sounds, funny tastes, feeling like the bed or the ground moved ever so slightly

in the old days this must have been attributed to ghosts and stuff!

Laura
(mig yesterday)

I've never gotten phantom smells, but I have gotten phantom tastes. All of a sudden I will have a random taste in my mouth like peanut butter or pears. It is very weird. I thought this happened to everyone, but then when I would bring it up, I realized no one else I know has this happen.

Jayne

I *think* the only olfactory aura I've ever gotten was the smell of something burning when there wasn't. Usually it's an toasty electric burning smell, though once it was more like wood smoke.

I've never heard anybody mention phantom tastes before. That sounds pretty wicked, yet very intriguing. At least pears and peanut butter aren't nasty tastes. I suppose any of the senses is fair game when our neurons all go wonky during a migraine. It really shouldn't be surprising that taste should be left out.

OMGoodness, I'm SO thankful you mentioned this!! I thought I was the only one.

I also experience smelling & SEEING smoke. The first time this happened it threw me into a panic attack thinking the house must be on fire.

Now I know to just ask one of my kids if they smell anything, if not, I know it's just my screwy brain acting up again!

Really interesting how many of you smell smoke, rather than other things.

It's very weird that everyone who posted talks about smelling things related to fire.

I wonder if that's just a coincidence or there is something there that makes the brain trigger hallucinations like burning or smoke?

There is a lot of smoke, isn't there? That is pretty curious.

I smell clean Pampers and electrical fires. It's very weird, but something I've finally gotten used to. I'm just grateful that I don't smell dirty Pampers!

quote:

Originally posted by porquipine:
Within the past year or so, all of a sudden I will smell a strong, distinct odor of cigarette smoke when there's no one around smoking. It's very bizarre. I read that some people have that in migraine prodome phase, or people with seizure disorder have it too (well, not necessarily cigarette smoke, but some bad odor).

Anyone else have that? Too bad it wasn't like a phantom lilac smell or something, but it's smoke, and as an ex-smoker, it's disgusting to me! Just curious . . .

Beth

This is so cool. I, too smell cigarrettes, taste metal, and hear strange noises in the run up to a migraine. The hearing things one I had thought was either a side effect of one of my meds or my house was haunted, I hadn't realised it was the migraines. I regularly hear doors slamming downstairs when I'm in my bedroom (but the house is empty), the washing machine going (but it isn't), or (my presonal favourite) someone whispering my name in my ear.
There's also this weird thing, where I feel as though my face is covered in tiny hairs, or cobwebs, and if I touch it, it sets off this weird tingling sensation across the entire face. Anyone ever get this?