Has anyone had a respiratory reaction to chemicals that no one else smells when they have a cold?
Okay, first off, I do not suffer from olfactory or any other type of hallucinations.
I just came down with a cold last week, and this afternoon I had the same experience I had a number of years ago, also during the time of a cold. Today, when I opened the door of the balcony to shoo a pigeon away, my lungs took in one gulp of a horrible smelling chemical that I could not identify - a cross between chlorine, ammonia and something else I can't identify. It took my breath away. When I left the apartment shortly thereafter to run an errand, the smell was overpowering in the hallway and outdoors, even at my destination, which was miles away. I had to put my hand over my nose and mouth. Of course, everyone was acting quite normally and the few people I ventured to ask didn't smell anything. When I got home I eventually recovered and called a tele health number. The nurse, at least, believed me and did not think I was crazy. She actually suggested the paramedics but I said I would go to Emergency once I got mom settled. Which I didn't, but I am definitely going to follow up. I don't know if I'm developing some kind of asthma from environmental triggers or if my body is producing its own chemicals that are interacting with those outside because of my cold. I am convinced there's a logical explanation to this, lol.
Well done, Stacey! You get the Sherlock Hat of the Day!
Sometimes when I get a cold I get a bit of the same smell perversion, which always makes me wonder if I really have the flu. I really dislike the troubling smell.
In terms of factories, there are pockets of industrial parks and quite a lot of traffic; I live on a busy street with a lot of trucks and noise and a gas station right at the corner, which I can smell in my apartment and hallway more often than not. I have my air purifier on right now - turbo setting, but it's so noisy. Interestingly enough, the city councillor news letter mentioned the results of a meeting to deal with complaints of the smell from the Lush manufacturer - quite dreadful, I can smell it from miles away. However, that's not what I smelled today. I think I will write to the Ministry of Environment or Air Quality Control or whatever the relevant department to report my reaction so they can investigate any chemical leaks or excessive emissions.
I would dearly love to wear a mask when I'm working - between the wood burning smoke that burns my nose and throat, and the exhaust of the vehicles - but then apart from the looks I'd get from mothers, children and motorists, I wouldn't be able to blow my whistle, lol. However, I have seriously thought of asking permission from my supervisor to do so, but I don't want to risk losing my job.
Not only do the warmth and fragrance help to clear my nasal passages, but they leave a nice fragrance. I don't know how others may react though if they speak to me and my nose smells like chicken soup.
SendmetoHelp, it sounds like we have the same experience. Isn't that elusive origin enough to drive you crazy? We should report it to our doctors; I bet there are many more people out there going through and the health profession is clueless. I'm going to get myself checked today.
Pre-existing toxins in the sinuses or brain - very interesting theory, although I, like you, show no signs of infection, yet anyway. However, I am exposed to a multitude of toxic chemicals five days a week combined with household allergens/toxins, so they must have accumulated to some extent in my system.
Now this by-product of the metabolism of the illness, like acidosis and what not, is I believe spot on and I wondered the same thing, particularly if its an ammonia type chemical smell that cannot be identified from any source. It's similar to - and I don't know if you have had the same experience - jumping into the pool and suddenly getting a burning and smell of smoke in your nose. I get that when I change positions during yoga exercises sometimes. That's probably some type of ammonia base. I think are body gasses are out of whack and when they come into contact with another chemical in the environment we get a reaction. This would be an excellent research study for the medical scientists, better than some of the drivel that comes out now.
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