Sense of smell - decreased or increased?

cadharose
cadharose Member Posts: 52
edited June 2013 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I was wondering if anyone who has undergone radiation treatment to the head/neck region noticed an increase in their sense of smell? Or perhaps a decrease?

I read an account online of someone whose smell sense increased during treatment and they thought it likely due to a compensation for the lost of taste, due to the idea that when one of our sensory perceptions is decreased or lost, another increases to compensate for it.

I have noticed an increase in my sense of smell, especially the past week or two (I'm currently entering week 5 of a 7-week treatment course), especially to things like food, plants, and people. I was on my deck last night watering my herbs and the scent of many of them hit me very strongly, something I never noticed before. I have also noticed that people have odors (not pleasant). I have been bugging my son about showering and washing his clothes because I pick up odors when he is around me, and I never noticed them like this before. I assumed it was hit fault, but now I'm wondering if it's just me.

Curious if anyone else has noticed the same thing as me? Or did your smell stay the same or decrease?

 

Comments

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #2
    Truthfully

    I think I smelled the same all through my radiation. Never had any complaints from the Techs.

     

    All kidding aside I never really took notice to my sense of smell changing at all. But then people tell me I make no sense either. However, I am curious if anyone else seen a change.

          Jeff

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #3
    Truthfully

    I think I smelled the same all through my radiation. Never had any complaints from the Techs.

     

    All kidding aside I never really took notice to my sense of smell changing at all. But then people tell me I make no sense either. However, I am curious if anyone else seen a change.

          Jeff

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #4
    OOooo that smell....

    I found that smells were enhanced, good or bad. It was the bad I had/have an issue with. Something that doesn't agree with my nose is bad for my stomach is you know what I mean. And now with the PEG, I get a whiff of sour stomach formula when I open the plug... YUCK!

    "T"

    PS... Jeff... I found I had a funky "chemical" smell during treatment. Marcia didn't notice it but I sure did!

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    DangIt Jeff...

    You are stealing my one liners, LOL....

    T, that smell is O-Zone I believe, or if not it smells exactly like it... Myself and others noticed it during rads as well...

    JG

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    #6
    Smell Increased

    Yes, my sense of smell increased during treatments, as you stated, I basically had no taste, or at least food tasted like cardboard and fluids tasted like aluminum cans......I think I was part Billy Goat for some time....

    The increase of smell did help me mentally as I tried to eat foods that I couldn't taste, going on memory...

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #7
    LOL....Oh yeah...

    It seems bionic noses happen to lots of us.  During rads and for a while after, I could rival my German Shepherd for finding dead rodents in a 5 acre pasture.  On the plus side, I experienced deja-vu more in that time than any time in my life...I liked that part.

    p

  • cadharose
    cadharose Member Posts: 52
    #8
    phrannie51 said:

    LOL....Oh yeah...

    It seems bionic noses happen to lots of us.  During rads and for a while after, I could rival my German Shepherd for finding dead rodents in a 5 acre pasture.  On the plus side, I experienced deja-vu more in that time than any time in my life...I liked that part.

    p

    I know what you mean about

    I know what you mean about rivaling your dog. I think I know now what it's like to be a cat. I'd prefer to have my taste buds back...lol

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
    #9
    WOW

    Thats amazing I feel jipped. I could have challenged the dog in a hunt in the woods for something dead. I can honestly say that my sense of smell (as well as my smell) never changed during or after radiation.

    John I was only able to beat you because I responded before you. It was a slow day at the office. Nobody got in trouble.

          Jeff

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #10
    Duggie88 said:

    WOW

    Thats amazing I feel jipped. I could have challenged the dog in a hunt in the woods for something dead. I can honestly say that my sense of smell (as well as my smell) never changed during or after radiation.

    John I was only able to beat you because I responded before you. It was a slow day at the office. Nobody got in trouble.

          Jeff

    dramatic increase for me

    perfumes, cigarettes, dryer sheets, you name itIi could notice it where I never noticed it before. I can relate to the smelling of peoples odors, weird but it somehow seemed to compensate for the loss of taste as you said. Back to normal now. I wish I had experienced that deja vu phenomonem that p51 had.

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #11
    ratface said:

    dramatic increase for me

    perfumes, cigarettes, dryer sheets, you name itIi could notice it where I never noticed it before. I can relate to the smelling of peoples odors, weird but it somehow seemed to compensate for the loss of taste as you said. Back to normal now. I wish I had experienced that deja vu phenomonem that p51 had.

    Smell

    I noticed a change to some degree. I think this is the 1st year I smelled my minature lilac bushes from a distance. I've had them 10 or 15 years. 

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #12
    can you smell me now?

    cadharose,

    So that was Jeff I smelled and Phrannie I saw digging in the field.

    Bionic nose, guilty as charged. Sometimes a perk sometimes a poison.

    Matt

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    CivilMatt said:

    can you smell me now?

    cadharose,

    So that was Jeff I smelled and Phrannie I saw digging in the field.

    Bionic nose, guilty as charged. Sometimes a perk sometimes a poison.

    Matt

    Perky...

    So ummm, you have a perky nose then Matt..., LOL

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #14
    increase!

    I walked into the garage and said "ugh...a dead mouse"  Sure enough, hubby checked the trap and there he was.  No one else could smell it, but I thought it smelled horrible.  Everything is intensified right now. 

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #15
    CivilMatt said:

    can you smell me now?

    cadharose,

    So that was Jeff I smelled and Phrannie I saw digging in the field.

    Bionic nose, guilty as charged. Sometimes a perk sometimes a poison.

    Matt

    LOLOLOL....Yeah...that was me

    with my nose to the ground, Matt....I followed the little bugger's trail till I found where he'd met his demise.....ha!

  • meaganb
    meaganb Member Posts: 244 Member
    #16
    My sense of smell definiteky

    My sense of smell definiteky increased. It reminded me a lot of pregnancy & hoe sensitive I was to smell then. Food was the worst for me, also other people's body odor...which as you say may have not even been that bad. When I was almost done with treatnent I wouldn't let my husband get that clise to me b/c I felt like my mouth had a bad odor. As much as I rinsed and cleaned I just couldn't get away from it. My husband said he couldn't smell anything at all. 

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #17
    TracyLynn72 said:

    increase!

    I walked into the garage and said "ugh...a dead mouse"  Sure enough, hubby checked the trap and there he was.  No one else could smell it, but I thought it smelled horrible.  Everything is intensified right now. 

    Damn....

    and I live just down the road from Disney....

    They've been looking for Mickey for days now.....

    image

    JG

  • JerryNG
    JerryNG Member Posts: 6
    #18
    funky smell

    Funny that you guys mention the chemical smell. When I returned from my 1st treatment yesterday my English Bull Terrier would not leave me alone, was smelling me like I had a pork chop hidden in my pockets. LOL. I thought he just really missed me. Now it makes sense.   

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #19
    JerryNG said:

    funky smell

    Funny that you guys mention the chemical smell. When I returned from my 1st treatment yesterday my English Bull Terrier would not leave me alone, was smelling me like I had a pork chop hidden in my pockets. LOL. I thought he just really missed me. Now it makes sense.   

    Fried Meat

    Well..., more than likely, if you had rads...umm, he was smelling a pork chop, LOL...you.

    Glad to hear you are doing well Jerry...

    John

Discussion Boards